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caesar dressing

Classic Caesar Dressing

Wife with the Knife
This is a classic Caesar dressing that’s garlicky, lemony, loaded with Parmesan, and perfectly savoury. It’s creamy, bold, and full of flavour. It comes together in about 10 minutes with simple ingredients and instantly upgrades any salad, sandwich, or wrap. Once you make it from scratch, the bottled stuff just doesn’t compare.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Condiments, Dip, Dressing, Topping
Cuisine Italian-American
Servings 1 cup

Equipment

  • Whisk

Ingredients
  

  • 2 egg yolks (or mayo, see notes)
  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
  • ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2-3 cloves garlic (minced or mashed into a paste)
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp anchovy paste (or 1–2 anchovy fillets, very finely minced)
  • 1-2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper (to taste)
  • 1 tsp finely minced capers (optional, but recommended for extra briny depth)

Instructions
 

  • In a medium bowl, combine the egg yolks, garlic, anchovy (or capers for vegetarian), Dijon, and Worcestershire.
  • Whisk in the lemon juice until fully combined.
  • Option 1: Whisk by hand – Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking continuously until the dressing emulsifies and thickens.
  • Option 2: Blender – Blend the egg yolks, garlic, anchovies (or capers), Dijon, Worcestershire, and lemon juice, then slowly drizzle in olive oil while blending.
  • Stir in the grated Parmesan.
  • Season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste.
  • Use immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

Mayonnaise Shortcut: Replace the egg yolks and olive oil with ¼ cup mayonnaise for a quicker version. The dressing stays creamy while simplifying the process.
Vegetarian Version: Omit the anchovies and use 2 teaspoons finely minced capers for a briny, savory bite. Be sure to use vegetarian Worcestershire sauce.
Emulsifying Tip: If whisking by hand, add the olive oil slowly for a smooth, creamy texture.
Adjusting Consistency: If the dressing is too thick, thin with a splash of water, extra lemon juice, or olive oil.
Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5–7 days. Shake or whisk before serving if separation occurs.
 
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Keyword Anchovy, Caesar Dressing, Classic Caesar, Classic Dressing, Creamy Dressing, Egg Yolk, Lemon, Olive Oil, Parmesan Cheese, Salad Dressing