Original Cesar Cardini Caesar Salad Recipes

Steps:

• Remove tough outer leaves of the lettuce.
• Wash the tender leaves, sprin dry (or dry in a large clean tea towel) and place in a plastic bag and put in the refrigerator to crisp.
• To make croutons -.
• Preheat oven to 180°C.
• Cut baguette into thick slices.
• Mash the anchovy fillets and garlic with the butter and spread over the bread slices.
• Place on a baking tray and bake until pale and gold and crisp.
• For the Dressing -.
• With the exception of the egg mix/whisk or put in a jar, seal and shake, all the ingredients together to make the dressing.
• Coddled egg -.
• Lower the egg into a small saucepan of simmering water and simmer for 1 minute, lift out with a slotted spoon.
• Arrange the crisp lettuce leaves in a bowl.
• Add the croutons and break in the coddled egg and add the dressing and turn the salad gently, until the dressing coats the lettuce leaves evenly.
• Serve as soon as possible after dressing (better immediately) - keeps o'kay but not the best. (haven't done myself but from family members that have).

Steps:

• Rub crushed garlic around salad bowl. (A wooden bowl is great for this.).
• Add salt, pepper, parmesan cheese, oil, vinegar, worcestershire, egg yolk, bacon bits to bowl and mix together.
• Toss with lettuce right before serving.
• Garnish with shaved parmesan.
• NOTES: If you prefer a more evolved dressing, add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 3-4 anchovies minced finely and then mashed into a paste and mixed well into the dressing. You can also add in croûtons.

Steps:

• Croutons: This is one of the keys to this recipe. Start with about 1/2 loaf of a crusty Italian bread with a large cell-structure, e.g. big holes. I really like to use Pugliese or Ciabatta. Cut the bread into cubes of about 1 inch square and lay out onto a a cookie sheet and toast in the oven, preferably under a broiler. Turn the croutons about half-way through to ensure both sides get toasted. The most important thing here is to not over-toast -- you want croutons that are crunchy on the outside and still soft in the center.
• Chop the Romaine hearts into sections about 1 inch by the width of each leaf.
• Dressing: Squeeze the juice of the lemon into a mixing bowl and add the anchovy paste. I know some people are squeamish about anchovy paste, but the taste really isn't strong here. Ive served this to anchovy haters who loved it. Finally, the paste serves as an important emulsifier in this recipe. Using a whisk slowly drizzle the olive oil into the lemon-anchovy mixture while whisking, all the ingredients should come together in a thick, greenish brown dressing.
• Assembly: Place romaine in a large salad bowl. Add still warm croutons on top of lettuce. Pour grated cheese on top of pile and then drizzle dressing on top of whole. Toss and serve.

Steps:

• Preparing the salad components:
• You will probably need 2 large heads of romaine for 3 people - or use a commercially prepared package of "romaine hearts," if they appear fresh and fine. From a large head remove the outside leaves until you get down to the cone where the leaves are 4 to 7 inches in length - you'll want 6 to 8 of these leaves per serving. Separate the leaves and wash them carefully to keep them whole, roll them loosely in clean towels, and keep refrigerated until serving time. (Save the remains for other salads - fortunately, romaine keeps reasonably well under refrigeration.
• To flavor the croutons, crush the garlic clove with the flat of a chef's knife, sprinkle on 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and mince well. Pour about a tablespoon of olive oil on the garlic and mash again with the knife, rubbing and pressing to make a soft purée.
• Scrape the purée into the frying pan, add another tablespoon of oil, and warm over low-medium heat. Add the croutons and toss for a minute or two to infuse them with the garlic oil, then remove from the heat. (For a milder garlic flavor, you can strain the purée though a small sieve into a pan before adding the extra croutons. Discard the bits of garlic.)
• To coddle the egg, bring a small saucepan of water to a simmer. Pierce the large end of the egg with a pushpin to prevent cracking, then simmer for exactly 1 minute.
• Mixing and serving the Caesar:
• Dress the salad just before serving. Have ready all the dressing ingredients and a salad fork and spoon for tossing.
• Drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the romaine leaves and toss to coat, lifting the leaves from the bottom and turning them towards you, so they tumble over like a wave. Sprinkle them with a generous pinch of salt and several grinds of pepper, toss once or twice, then add the lemon juice and several drops of the Worcestershire, and toss again. Taste for seasoning, and add more, if needed.
• Crack the egg and drop it right on the romaine leaves, then toss to break it up and coat the leaves. Sprinkle on the cheese, toss briefly, then add the croutons (and the garlicky bits in the pan, if you wish) and toss for the last time, just to mix them into the salad.
• Arrange 6 or more leaves in a single layer on individual plates, scatter the croutons all around, and serve.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Put bread on an ungreased baking sheet, bake until crisp, 30 minutes.
• Baste bread with 1 1/2 tbsp of olive oil.
• return to oven to brown 15 minutes.
• Crush together the garlic and anchovy filets,gradually add 1 tbsp of oil.
• Spread this mixture on the toasted bread& cut into cubes, set aside.
• Cover the egg in boiling water and cook for 1 minute only.
• Tear the lettuces leaves into a salad bowl,worcestershire sauce and any remaining oil In the last minute toss in the bread crumbs and the parmesan cheese.
• Toss and serve- do not let the croutons get soggy.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray mini-muffin tins with cooking spray. Melt the butter in microwavable safe dish and stir in garlic salt. Set aside.
• Place each wrapper into a section of a mini-muffin tin. Gently press each wrapper into the tin and arrange so that it forms a cup shape. The wrapper will overlap itself and stick up out of the cup. Brush insides with the garlic butter and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until browned and crisp. (time may vary according to your oven, so keep a close eye on them) Remove from the tin and allow to cool while preparing salad.
• Finely chop the romaine lettuce. If you have a food processor, use it. You really need a fine fine chop in order to fill the cups properly, so don't be lazy with this step!
• Pour on caesar salad dressing and stir until all pieces are coated. Adjust dressing (adding more or less) to suit personal preference.
• Spoon salad mixture into cooled wonton cups and sprinkle with freshly grated parmasan cheese. Garnish with fresh lemon, if desired.
• Bon Appetit! :).