Lighter Caesar Salad Recipe | Gimme Some Oven (2024)
Jump To Recipe
22 Comments »
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Happy March, everyone! In case you missed it, we launched our latest monthly dare this week which is a simple one:eat more leafy greens! You can read all about the dare here. (And if you want to participate, be sure to snap some pics of your greens and hashtag them #eatmoreleafygreens on Instagram so that we can cheer you on as you “go green”!)
I have to admit, though. As much as I adore loading up leafy green salads with all sorts of fruit and veggies and nuts and protein and cheeses galore, I think I will forever and always be a Caesar salad girl at heart. Which, on one hand makes me extremely happy (because let’s be real, caesar dressing is king), and on one hand makes me highlyannoyed (because why do I always crave the least-healthy salad on the menu?!?).
It’s true — Caesar salads are consistently some ofthe worst salads you can order out at a restaurant in terms of fat and calorie content. Plus, their dressings are often stuffed with unnecessary processed ingredients. And of course, many people still get iffy about the idea of eating raw eggs in their dressing.
But here’s the secret that restaurantsdon’t tell you — Caesar salad is totally easy to lighten up at home!
And it’stotally delish.
Well, I take that back. Caesar salad is apparentlyhard to show you. Because white dressings always tend to disappear on camera — argh. I promise that this salad is loaded up with creamy dressing that my camera apparently missed. You’ll see it when it’s on your plate at home. ;)
Still, the most important part of lightening up Caesar salad is the dressing.
Traditional Caesar dressing is often packed withtons of olive oil, sometimes cream, a raw egg, and copious amounts of Parmesan cheese, amongst other things. Delicious, but definitely not nutritious.
My favorite Greek YogurtCaesar Dressing is lightened up with lots of creamy nonfat Greek yogurt (replacing most of the olive oil and cream), it’s raw-egg free (I never miss it), and we paira moderate amount of Parmesan with the other flavor boosters in the recipe. You can find the recipe for the dressing here.
The other key, if you’re lightening things up, is to go with homemade croutons. Because first off, homemade croutons are always 10x better than store-bought. But the other benefit is that you can choose your favorite kind of bread (whole wheat, gluten-free, whatever sounds good), and you can control the amount of oil (or butter) and seasonings you use to help crisp them up in the oven.
I’m a big fan of just misting leftover bread chunks with olive oil (using a Misto), sprinkling them with some generous pinches of salt and pepper (and occasionally Italian seasonings and garlic powder), and then baking them up until crispy. You can find a tutorial for making homemade croutons here.
Then once you have those main ingredients all prepped, you’re ready to go with the salad.
Just chop up a head of Romaine lettuce and toss it with the croutons and dressing and some freshly-gratedParmesan cheese…
…andthis healthier and crazy-delicious Caesar salad will be ready to go in no time.
(And I’m pretty positive that no one who tastes it will ever guess that it has been lightened up!)
Iwent ahead and made this batch with the classic ingredients, which I tend to consider a side salad. But feel free to add in your favorite proteins and veggies to make it a main course. Because you can’t go wrong with Caesar.
This lighter Caesar salad recipe is made with a Greek yogurt Caesar dressing, and comes together in just minutes!
Ingredients
Scale
1 head of Romaine lettuce
2 cupscroutons, homemade or store-bought
1 batchGreek yogurtCaesar dressing
1/4 cup freshly-grated Parmesan cheese*,plus more for topping
Instructions
Tossthe Romaine, croutons, Greek yogurtCaesar dressing and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese together until combined. Serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan cheese.
Notes
*Parmesan cheese is much more flavorful when it is freshly grated. So in order to use less cheese, be sure to grate it just before serving!
The bottom line. A classic Caesar salad can fit into any healthy eating plan, but modifications to make it more nutritious may be a good idea if you eat them often. Choose a salad dressing that's low in saturated fat and sodium and consider using a 1-tablespoon (14-gram) serving.
The dressing is a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and garlic. Tip: Skip the shaky cheese. Shaved Parmesan makes a big difference with this dish, elevating both presentation and flavor.
The main differences lie in the type of lettuce used, key components, and dressing. House salads offer a broader range of ingredients and dressings, while Caesar salads have specific components like romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, and a distinct Caesar dressing.
A Caesar salad is a type of salad that typically consists of romaine lettuce, croutons, Parmesan cheese, and a dressing made from garlic, anchovies, egg yolks, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, and black pepper.
Mince 3 cloves of garlic and place in a small bowl. Add mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, anchovies, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard; mix well to combine. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.
These recipes are perfect if you're looking to lose weight, as Caesar salad is packed with protein and fiber. Whether you're looking to drop a few pounds or simply maintain your current weight, adding nutritious caesar salads to your diet can help with those goals.
Lettuce actually needs a good amount of airflow, in addition to a bit of moisture (but not too much!), in order to stay crisp. That's why restaurants store their lettuce in special perforated bins that allow for air circulation while it's held in the fridge.
Most good restaurants season salad carefully — probably adding salt and pepper directly to the greens, not just the dressing. If you don't usually add salt to your salads, try sprinkling in a little flaky sea salt next time and see if it doesn't taste 100% better.
Broken down, a burger is a much better choice. Check out these salad options that are really not so healthy: Crispy chicken Caesar salad: Even before you add the salad dressing (about 200 calories), this salad can easily reach 700-plus calories, just from the crispy chicken pieces.
Both house salad and Caesar salad offer health benefits as they contain leafy greens, fresh vegetables, and lean proteins. However, Caesar salad may have higher sodium content and potential risks of foodborne illness due to raw eggs.
This popular salad is made with crisp romaine leaves, crunchy croutons, Parmesan cheese, and creamy Caesar dressing. It is a classic! You can find it on most restaurant menus, but it is EASY to make at home!
The ingredient typically not found in a classic Caesar salad is Iceberg lettuce. A traditional Caesar salad, made primarily of romaine lettuce, doesn't include iceberg lettuce. It may vary in different recipes.
Arrange the salad - on a large plate, layer the romaine with eggs, chicken, tomatoes, blue cheese, bacon and avocado. Drizzle everything with that classic cobb salad dressing and serve! Alternatively, equally divide all ingredients between serving plates and drizzle with dressing.
Directions. Combine anchovy fillets with garlic in a food processor and pulse several times to form a paste. Process mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, half-and-half, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce with anchovy mixture until dressing is creamy. Refrigerate for 1 hour or more before serving.
Address: 55021 Usha Garden, North Larisa, DE 19209
Phone: +6812240846623
Job: Corporate Healthcare Strategist
Hobby: Singing, Listening to music, Rafting, LARPing, Gardening, Quilting, Rappelling
Introduction: My name is Foster Heidenreich CPA, I am a delightful, quaint, glorious, quaint, faithful, enchanting, fine person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
Then once you have those main ingredients all prepped, you’re ready to go with the salad. 
