Sourdough Crouton Caesar Salad (Printable)

Fresh romaine tossed in creamy dressing topped with crunchy garlicky sourdough croutons and shaved Parmesan.

# What You'll Need:

→ Sourdough Croutons

01 - 3 cups day-old sourdough bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 large garlic clove, minced
04 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
05 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Caesar Dressing

06 - 1 large egg yolk or 2 tablespoons mayonnaise for egg-free option
07 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
08 - 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
09 - 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
10 - 2 anchovy fillets, minced, optional
11 - 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
12 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
13 - 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
14 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Salad

15 - 2 large heads romaine lettuce, chopped
16 - 1/3 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
17 - Freshly ground black pepper

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, toss sourdough cubes with olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until evenly coated. Spread on a baking sheet in a single layer.
02 - Bake croutons for 12 to 15 minutes, turning once halfway through, until golden and crisp. Remove from oven and set aside to cool completely.
03 - In a medium bowl, whisk together egg yolk, mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies if using, and minced garlic until combined.
04 - Slowly drizzle olive oil into the egg mixture while whisking continuously to create a smooth, emulsified dressing. Stir in grated Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
05 - In a large salad bowl, toss chopped romaine with half the dressing. Add additional dressing to taste. Top with shaved Parmesan cheese and cooled sourdough croutons.
06 - Finish with freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately while croutons are still crisp.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Homemade dressing tastes nothing like bottled, creamy and bright with a hint of umami that makes every bite count.
  • Those sourdough croutons stay crispy for hours, which means you can actually make this ahead without soggy regrets.
  • It's deceptively simple but tastes like you spent all afternoon on it, perfect for impressing people without the stress.
02 -
  • Don't add the croutons until the moment you serve—they'll soften if they sit in the dressing, and you lose that satisfying crunch that makes this salad worth eating.
  • If your dressing breaks and looks separated, start with a fresh egg yolk in a clean bowl and slowly whisk in the broken dressing bit by bit, it'll come back together.
03 -
  • Make your croutons the day before and store them in an airtight container so they stay crispy and you have less to do when guests arrive.
  • If you're doubling this for a crowd, make extra dressing because people always go back for more, and a Caesar should coat every leaf generously.
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