Basil Caesar Salad Recipes

Steps:

• Make the dressing: In the bowl of a food processor, combine the egg yolk, mustard, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Pulse to blend. With the machine running, pour the lemon juice and caper brine into the mix. Slowly pour in the olive oil, then the canola oil, blending until smooth. Transfer the dressing to a bowl and taste for seasoning. Stir in the anchovies and anchovy oil. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use, or up to 1 day.
• Prepare the salad: Cook the bacon in a small skillet over low heat, stirring, until crispy, 12 to 15 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
• Heat 1 inch canola oil in a medium heavy-bottomed pot until a deep-fry thermometer registers 350 degrees F (or alternatively, use a deep fryer). Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Put the capers in a small metal strainer, submerge them in the hot oil and fry until crispy, 1 to 2 minutes. Drain on the paper towels. Add the Brussels sprout leaves to the hot oil in small batches (step back because they will splatter oil) and fry until crispy, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to the paper towels using a slotted spoon. Season the leaves with salt.
• Assemble the salad: Pour about three-quarters of the dressing into a large salad bowl. Add the romaine, basil and grated parmesan and toss to coat. Shave additional parmesan over the salad. Top with the remaining dressing, the bacon, capers and Brussels sprout leaves. Serve immediately. Photograph by Kang Kim

Steps:

• Place salmon in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Spoon the salad dressing over fillets; sprinkle with pepper. , Combine the croutons, Parmesan cheese and basil; sprinkle over fillets and gently press into dressing. Drizzle with oil. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Steps:

• Clean lettuce thoroughly and wrap in paper towels to absorb moisture. Refrigerate until crisp, at least 1 hour or more.
• In a bowl or jar combine oil, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, mustard, garlic and lemon juice. Whisk until well blended.
• Coddle egg by heating 3 cups of water to boiling. Drop in egg (still in shell) and let stand for 1 minute. Remove egg from water and let cool. Once cooled crack open and whisk egg into dressing. Whisk until thoroughly blended.
• Mash desired amount of anchovies and whisk them into the dressing. If desired set aside a few for garnish.
• To assemble, place torn lettuce leaves in a large bowl. Pour dressing over the top and toss lightly. Add the grated cheese, garlic croutons and freshly ground pepper, toss. Serve immediately!

Steps:

• For the croutons: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl, gently toss the bread cubes with the oil, salt and pepper. Spread the cubes in an even layer on a baking sheet. Bake until golden, turning once about halfway through, 12 to 15 minutes total. Toss with the Parmesan while still hot and set aside to let cool.
• For the caesar dressing: In a blender, combine the garlic, capers, anchovies, mustard, Parmesan, vinegar and Worcestershire and blend until smooth. Add the olive oil and blend to emulsify the dressing. Season with salt as needed.
• For the salad: Heat a grill over medium-high heat. Drizzle the romaine heart halves with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill until lightly charred and softened, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Chop into bite-sized pieces.
• In a medium bowl, toss the pasta with 1 tablespoon oil and salt and pepper to taste. Add the romaine and dressing to taste and toss to coat.
• In a large bowl, toss the Bibb lettuce with the lemon juice, remaining tablespoon oil, salt and pepper to taste and the basil. Add the croutons and gently combine. Add the pasta and romaine salad and Parmesan to the Bibb salad and gently toss together. Garnish with more cheese and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat a grill pan over high heat.
• Brush or rub each cob with some canola oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the corn on the hot grill and char each side, 2 to 3 minutes per side. You want the corn to get great char marks! Once the corn has charred, set aside until cool enough to handle. Once the corn has cooled, stand each ear up, stalk end down, in a wide, shallow bowl and, using your knife, slice the corn kernels off the cob.
• Meanwhile, make the vinaigrette. In a food processor, add the basil and garlic and pulse until the basil starts to break down. Add the vinegar. Continue pulsing while adding the oil in a steady stream and process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the corn, tomatoes and red onion. Drizzle the basil vinaigrette over the salad and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper.

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 450 degrees, with one rack in the middle and one at the top. Place a sheet pan on the middle rack to heat.
• In a shallow tray that will fit the chickpeas snugly in a single layer, add the chickpeas and ½ cup of extra virgin olive oil. (A 9-by-13-inch pan works well here.) Grate the peeled clove of garlic into the chickpeas. Using a vegetable peeler, peel 2 to 3 thick strips of rind from the lemon into the chickpeas. Season with ¾ teaspoon kosher salt and a good grind of black pepper, and stir. Place the chickpeas on the top rack of the oven and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
• Place the cabbage wedges on a plate and drizzle with 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil, turning them to coat. Season with salt and black pepper. Take the hot sheet pan out of the oven and add the cabbage wedges, cut side down. Add the 5 unpeeled garlic cloves to the tray. Place on the middle rack and roast for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the mayonnaise and capers into a small bowl. Cut the lemon, and squeeze the juice of one half into the bowl, and add 1 tablespoon of water. Whisk to combine. Taste and season with salt, if needed.
• After 15 minutes, remove the tray of cabbage from the oven, flip the cabbage wedges, then return to the oven. Roast for another 8 to 10 minutes, until the cabbage is golden and tender. The chickpeas should be crispy in parts and ready, too.
• Remove the tray of cabbage from the oven. (Remove the chickpeas from the oven or leave them there for a few more minutes to continue crisping while you finish the dressing.) Carefully remove the skin from the garlic, then smash them with the flat side of a knife until you have a paste. Add the garlic paste to the mayonnaise and capers, and stir. Taste and season with salt and black pepper, if needed.
• To serve, place two cabbage wedges on a plate. Top with chickpeas and some of the chickpea roasting oil. Top with Caesar dressing, Parmesan and herbs. Squeeze the other lemon half over the top and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle.
• Toss bread with 2 tablespoons oil and 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper in a large 4-sided sheet pan, then spread out in 1 layer. Toast in oven, stirring halfway through, until golden, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, with motor running, drop garlic into a food processor and finely chop. Add egg, lemon juice, anchovy paste, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and pulse until combined. With motor running, add remaining 6 tablespoons oil in a slow stream, blending until emulsified. Add herbs and blend until dressing turns green and herbs are finely chopped.
• Toss romaine with dressing, croutons, and half of cheese in a large bowl. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.