I grew up in a vinegarette 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!
I came up with this recipe, which comes together quickly, and if doubled, makes a quart jar full. It lasts a good week or so in the fridge…if it really lasts that long before you use it up!
I ALWAYS make a double batch, but if your family isn’t XL with XL appetites, here’s a smaller batch for you. We enjoy it as a salad dressing, coleslaw dressing, vegetable dip, sauce for wraps or dipping pizza crusts!
Are all the ingredients necessary? ewww do you have to use anchovy paste? If you want the end product to taste how I intend, yes. But it will still be yummy…just slightly different…
If you made this recipe when I first posted on instagram years ago, there was no balsamic vinegar in it...that a newer addition, that I think you should give a try, as it gives it an extra pop.
I included a basic mayo recipe below as well, so that you can try making your own. I dont always make my own, but for a dressing that uses so much...I think its worth my time to make a batch.
Kate's Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 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 worcestshire sauce
- 1 teaspoon mustard whatever you’ve got!
- 1 cup mayo homemade or store-bought
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese NOT powdered shelf stable please
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- My favourite method is this- in a quart jar, put the garlic, anchovy, lemon, balsamic, worchestshire 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.
- Alternatively you could put the garlic through a garlic press and mix by hand. Or put the first ingredients in a blender and blend well before adding the mayo etc.
Nutrition
Simple Mayo
I’ll admit- we buy mayonnaise…we often dont use a lot of mayo, just a bit needed for a sandwich or something, and its handy to have a jar in the fridge. However, when I need to make a salad dressing like my creamy Caesar or ranch dip…it uses a lot more mayo and its worth my time to make mayo.
You can do this in a jar with an immersion blender (my preferred method) or in a blender. An ‘asparagus jar’ or pint and a half jar is the perfect size for this!
Simple Immersion Blender Mayo
Ingredients
- 2 whole eggs
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon mustard whatever you've got
- 1 fat pinch salt
- 1 ½ cup “light” oil such as sunflower avocado or canola oil. Olive oil can be used for upto half of this but we dont like it as the main oil…and I love olive oil, so just trust me here.
Instructions
- 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!
- It will get a bit thicker after it is in fridge and cold.
Troubleshooting
- If you mayo doesnt come together and stays runny/separated, get a new jar, and put everything but the oil in it.
- Blend it, and then instead of using oil to slowly pour in, slowly pour in your “failed” mayo, it should come together well!
- Keeps in fridge about a week.
Nutrition
Want more dressings and dip ideas?
Maria Österbacka
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)
kateschat
1/2 cup which is 125ml. 1 cup= 250ml
whimsicalsquidlet
This recipe made me find ways to eat Caesar dressing on everything. Easy and delicious.
Miranda Wagoner
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
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.
Deniz
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 ?
Kate P
This has become our go to dip and we love it!
Lori Miller
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 .
Christine
Loved this dressing!! I have made it a few times now 🙂 Will have to try the addition of balsamic dressing.
Kacey
Great twist on a Caesar dressing, a hit in my house and is now on repeat.
Kim
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!
Sarah
Excellent dressing!! We use it often.
Kate
Had this for Thanksgiving and it was lovely. Ty!
Adell Aubert
So dang good! I've used both fish sauce and anchovy paste, delicious either way!
Missy
Tried it and love this dressing! Worth it to get the anchovy paste.
Rachel C.
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.
Alicia Stelling
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!!!
Cassie Byrd
Tried this the other night, definitely will be making again...so good!!
Alison Westermann
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!
Nikki
We loveeeee this recipe!!!
Andrea Barber
This is SOOOO good! I will be making this regually! Thank you, Kate!
Andrea Barber
*Regularly
Hilary
I can't explain how fantastic this dressing is. Once you make this you'll never ever buy store bought again.
mogrma
Added items to my grocery list!
Littlefarmhouseonfelton
This recipe is the absolute BEST! I make it whenever we host another family and it is always a favorite!
Mandy
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!
Casey S
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!
rachel
My favorite recipe! So delicious and easy to make, goes with everything!
Emily
One of our favourite family staples!!
Amber
This recipe is great! I've made it twice now, and it's going into our regular rotation.
Anna Temporale
Literally, best dressing ever.
Leesif
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!
Toi
I was impressed how easy it was to whip up. It was delicious tossed with Romaine Lettuce and grilled chicken breast.
kateschat
that is my favourite way to use it!
wendy
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.