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    Home » Most Recently Added » Dinner

    Caesar Salad Recipe with Homemade Mayo

    Published: Aug 24, 2023 · Updated: Aug 24, 2023 by kateschat · This post may contain affiliate links · 37 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Creamy Caesar salad with homemade dressing in a bowl.

    I grew up in a vinaigrette Caesar salad family. Creamy was frowned upon and jokingly beneath us. However, turns out I quite love creamy Caesar, and married a man who does as well!

    White ceramic bowl filled with creamy Caesar salad and a pair of tongs.

    Salad dressings are really one of those items I don't want to buy ready-made. Many of them contain questionable ingredients, but also they are SO expensive. We eat a ton of salad when the kitchen garden is loaded with lettuce, so I can't be buying tiny bottles for a large family. (I realize that large bottles exist, but making salad dressings is a priority for us!)

    Why You Need This Recipe

    • Dirty just two jars and a blender! Super quick and easy.
    • You'll learn to make homemade mayo!
    • No excuses not to eat more veggies when you have a delicious dressing such as this.
    Ingredients to make Caesar dressing on a counter.

    Key Ingredients

    Egg - Farm fresh. Know where your egg is from as we are eating it raw here.

    Lemon juice - We don't usually have great citrus this far north, so I always have a bottle in the fridge.

    Anchovy paste - Yup, you need fish here. It's where the classic flavor of Caesar comes from. Don't skip this!! But check out my hack for more affordable easy swap for anchovy paste.

    Parmesan cheese - while you don't have to make your own, you DO have to grate your own. The green can never belongs in this recipe.

    Oil - I love olive oil for most applications, but not in my mayo. I find it too heavy. Stick with lighter oils like sunflower or avocado. You can definitely use olive for up to half of the required oil, which will make your mayo thicker. Just don't use only olive oil.

    How to Make Caesar Salad

    Egg cracked into a pint jar.

    Step 1: In your jar/blender, add eggs, lemon juice, mustard, and salt. Blend til combined.

    Step 2: With the immersion blender on low, slowly pour in your oil so that it takes about 15-20 seconds to pour it all in. Slowly lift the blender as it emulsifies and you've got mayo!

    Immersion blender in a jar of Caesar dressing.
    The head of an immersion blender with creamy Caesar dressing over a jar.

    Step 3: I have a pint and a half jar with measurements on it, so I use it for the oil, and then I use it for the next step- add the garlic, anchovy, lemon, balsamic, Worcestershire, and mustard. Blend with an immersion blender until well combined.

    Garlic infused oil in a jar next to a jar of Caesar dressing.

    Step 4: Add into the mayo and gently blend.

    Step 5: Add Parmesan, salt and pepper, give a shake or a gentle blend, and taste.

    Step 6: Tear clean lettuce into a very large bowl with room for tossing.

    Step 7: Add dressing and toss to coat, adding more as necessary. Add more cheese and croutons if desired.

    Bowl of freshly torn romaine lettuce.

    Tips and Tricks

    • Use a jar with measurement markings so you can just pour everything in without dirtying little measuring cups.
    • Got leftovers? Making it in a jar means you have an easy lid handy.
    • Yes, you can use store-bought mayo here!

    Substitutions

    It looks like a lot of overwhelming ingredients but I find most of them are standard. You might need to buy one or two, but they last forever in the fridge which means you’re not far from having a great homemade dressing at any time.

    For me, anchovy paste is hard to find and expensive. However, fish sauce is a great alternative and drastically cheaper, so I use that, but you can use either. Maybe my palate is not refined enough, but I don't notice a difference between using one or the other.

    Fresh head of romaine in the garden.

    FAQs

    Do I need to make my own mayo?

    I’m not opposed to buying mayo, but since this uses a good bit of it, I’ve found it's worth the extra couple minutes to make my own mayo. Since you use a lot of overlap ingredients and dishes, it's not too much extra effort.

    I use a jar with measuring marks or measuring cup to measure the oil for the mayo, and then turn around and use that same one to blend the ingredients for the Caesar dressing.

    But yes - I do buy mayo to keep on hand for quick sandwiches, etc. so no shame in using it here!

    Can I use olive oil in my homemade mayo?

    I am an olive oil loving person but 100% olive oil does not make the best mayo in our opinion. You can use up to half, and for the other half use a lighter oil like avocado oil or sunflower oil. This gives you a thicker end product.

    How can I use up homemade mayo?

    Once you start making it as the base of your Ceasar dressing, you'll find yourself wanting to make mayo more often. We enjoy it as a salad dressing, coleslaw dressing, vegetable dip, sauce for wraps or dipping pizza crusts!

    Woman's hand holding a wedge of Parmesan cheese.
    A small square dish filled with freshly shredded Parmesan cheese.

    More Dressings and Dips to Enjoy

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      Mike and Adam's Avocado Bean Chip Dip
    • Tortilla chip dipper into homemade taco dip.
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    • Fruit Dip
      Fruit Dip

    Hey friends, don't forget to follow me over on Instagram, cause if you like me here, I post there a LOT! I'm also on YouTube with tutorials and Facebook for all sorts of things.

    If you like this recipe, I’d love if you reviewed it so others can find it easier. Sharing this recipe on Facebook or Pinterest is another way you can help us out at no cost to you. Thanks, xo Kate

    Tongs in a bowl of creamy ceasar salad with Parmesan.

    Caesar Salad

    Kate Schat
    Homemade mayo quickly turns into a creamy Caesar dressing that's perfect for salad. Salad dressing with no funky ingredients made in minutes.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer, Salad
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 servings
    Calories 149 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Mayonnaise

    • 1 large egg
    • 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
    • ½ teaspoon mustard
    • Pinch salt
    • ¾ cup “light” oil such as sunflower, avocado or canola

    Dressing

    • 1 cup mayo from a jar or the entire homemade recipe above
    • 2-4 cloves garlic preferably fresh
    • 1 teaspoon anchovy paste OR 1 tablespoon Asian fish sauce
    • 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice
    • 2-3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar optional
    • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 teaspoon mustard
    • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper

    Salad

    • Romaine lettuce
    • Parmesan cheese
    • Croutons

    Instructions
     

    Make the Mayo

    • In your jar/blender, add eggs, lemon juice, mustard, and salt.
    • Blend til combined.
    • If using immersion blender, keep blender down in the egg mix, I kind of use the immersion blender with the jar to hold the jar against me with it still on the counter to hold it steady.
    • With the immersion blender on low, slowly pour in your oil so that it takes about 15-20 seconds to pour it all in.
    • Slowly lift the blender up the jar as the liquid level rises. You'll notice it changing from liquid to emulsified mayo!! Woohoo!
    • Give it a few pumps up and down after you’ve added all the oil and voila, you’ve got mayo!
    • If using a blender jar, let it run as you slowly drizzle in the oil.

    Make the Dressing

    • In a quart jar, add the garlic, anchovy, lemon, balsamic, Worcestershire, and mustard.
    • Blend with an immersion blender until well combined.
    • Add in mayo and gently blend.
    • Add Parmesan, salt and pepper, give a shake or a gentle blend, and taste.

    Make the Salad

    • Wash and dry the lettuce and tear into bite-sized bits into 1-2 very large bowls.
    • Add dressing and toss to coat, adding more as necessary.
    • Top with more freshly shredded Parmesan cheese.
    • Add croutons if desired and serve.

    Notes

    • Always, always, shred your own cheese!
    • Light tasting oil is best here. You can use olive oil for up to half of the amount called for in the mayo, but I never like the taste and texture using only olive.
    • This makes about a pint jar of dressing, so you can cover a LOT of lettuce. It's perfect for making for a crowd.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 149kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 2gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.002gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 159mgPotassium: 29mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 57IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 43mgIron: 0.2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Maria Österbacka

      October 27, 2020 at 10:28 am

      Have to try this. Cesar dressing is something we try to always have in our fridge. We use it a lot!
      About the recipe: what does 1/2 c stand for (I’m used to deciliters etc so I have to use my brains a lot here. And maybe buy myself a set of measuring cups to match your recipes)

      Reply
      • kateschat

        October 27, 2020 at 11:07 am

        1/2 cup which is 125ml. 1 cup= 250ml

        Reply
        • whimsicalsquidlet

          November 26, 2020 at 12:52 pm

          This recipe made me find ways to eat Caesar dressing on everything. Easy and delicious.

        • Miranda Wagoner

          November 27, 2020 at 3:09 am

          We make this with or without the parmesan, it's good every time! We also have integrated the mayo recipe into our daily life.

      • Helen Pleavin

        March 20, 2021 at 6:17 pm

        Just like most of Kate's recipes, this one is a hit! Not quite real ceasar salad dressing but very close (and that may have been my fault) and the easy recipe more than makes up for it.

        Reply
    2. Deniz

      November 26, 2020 at 12:38 pm

      I tried this recipe a year ago for the first time and my entire extended family makes it now. Except that our milk is store bought ?

      Reply
    3. Kate P

      November 26, 2020 at 12:42 pm

      This has become our go to dip and we love it!

      Reply
    4. Lori Miller

      November 26, 2020 at 12:46 pm

      We now have a new Ceasar Salad dressing recipe thanks to Kate's recipe. It's so easy to whip up and tastes amazing ! No more store bought for us .

      Reply
    5. Christine

      November 26, 2020 at 3:52 pm

      Loved this dressing!! I have made it a few times now 🙂 Will have to try the addition of balsamic dressing.

      Reply
    6. Kacey

      November 26, 2020 at 4:14 pm

      Great twist on a Caesar dressing, a hit in my house and is now on repeat.

      Reply
    7. Kim

      November 26, 2020 at 5:26 pm

      This is literally THE BEST Caesar dressing, hands down. We LOVE it. And don’t skip the balsamic. It should Not be listed as optional on the ingredient list. So. So. Good!

      Reply
    8. Sarah

      November 26, 2020 at 5:35 pm

      Excellent dressing!! We use it often.

      Reply
    9. Kate

      November 26, 2020 at 5:41 pm

      Had this for Thanksgiving and it was lovely. Ty!

      Reply
    10. Adell Aubert

      November 26, 2020 at 5:57 pm

      So dang good! I've used both fish sauce and anchovy paste, delicious either way!

      Reply
    11. Missy

      November 26, 2020 at 7:26 pm

      Tried it and love this dressing! Worth it to get the anchovy paste.

      Reply
    12. Rachel C.

      November 26, 2020 at 8:34 pm

      I have never had ceaser salad dressing before and I have always wanted to try it. So I decided to try this one and it’s a family hit!!! I even like to just dip my veggies in it as a dip.

      Reply
    13. Alicia Stelling

      November 26, 2020 at 9:38 pm

      I made this recipe recently and and we loved it. I guess you might call me a Ranch dressing snob but I liked this better!!!

      Reply
    14. Cassie Byrd

      November 26, 2020 at 9:48 pm

      Tried this the other night, definitely will be making again...so good!!

      Reply
    15. Alison Westermann

      November 27, 2020 at 8:59 am

      This is a seriously solid recipe. Several youtuber/bloggers have raved about it and I finally tried it for thanksgiving and it was a super hit! The entire salad was gone and my son was begging for more!

      Reply
    16. Nikki

      November 27, 2020 at 9:03 am

      We loveeeee this recipe!!!

      Reply
    17. Andrea Barber

      November 27, 2020 at 4:11 pm

      This is SOOOO good! I will be making this regually! Thank you, Kate!

      Reply
      • Andrea Barber

        November 27, 2020 at 4:12 pm

        *Regularly

        Reply
    18. Hilary

      November 27, 2020 at 5:21 pm

      I can't explain how fantastic this dressing is. Once you make this you'll never ever buy store bought again.

      Reply
    19. mogrma

      December 01, 2020 at 6:05 pm

      Added items to my grocery list!

      Reply
    20. Littlefarmhouseonfelton

      December 04, 2020 at 11:57 am

      This recipe is the absolute BEST! I make it whenever we host another family and it is always a favorite!

      Reply
    21. Mandy

      December 04, 2020 at 12:00 pm

      I was skeptical of this. My husband is not a fan of my homemade dressings! But when I asked him how his salad was the response was “delicious!”. This recipe is a hit at my house!

      Reply
    22. Casey S

      December 05, 2020 at 2:47 am

      Absolutely my favorute dressing recipe I have EVER made! Even used the anchovy paste after much arguing with myself and no regrets, I think it made it better! Highly recommend to everyone!

      Reply
    23. rachel

      December 05, 2020 at 6:05 am

      My favorite recipe! So delicious and easy to make, goes with everything!

      Reply
    24. Emily

      March 07, 2021 at 2:41 pm

      One of our favourite family staples!!

      Reply
    25. Amber

      March 08, 2021 at 9:48 am

      This recipe is great! I've made it twice now, and it's going into our regular rotation.

      Reply
    26. Anna Temporale

      March 08, 2021 at 3:31 pm

      Literally, best dressing ever.

      Reply
    27. Leesif

      April 22, 2021 at 7:18 pm

      Kate. Oh my word, Kate! I’ve been meaning to make this for a year or two and now I’m kicking myself for not doing it sooner. My 2&3 year old boys were fighting over my salad. I couldn’t wait for dinner, so I was dipping peppers in it and my little guy who hates peppers was begging for them with your dressing. This was excellent. 5 stars!

      Reply
    28. Toi

      July 12, 2021 at 1:47 pm

      5 stars
      I was impressed how easy it was to whip up. It was delicious tossed with Romaine Lettuce and grilled chicken breast.

      Reply
      • kateschat

        July 14, 2021 at 9:46 am

        that is my favourite way to use it!

        Reply
    29. wendy

      July 28, 2022 at 12:15 pm

      I just made it despite the fact that I don't have anchovies in the house. I find it hard to believe it would be even better with them. They aren't something I usually buy so I'll have to look for them.

      Reply

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