Celery Caesar with Croutons (Printable)

A crisp blend of celery, crunchy croutons, Parmesan, and creamy tangy dressing for a refreshing salad.

# What You Need:

→ Salad

01 - 6 large celery stalks, thinly sliced on the diagonal
02 - 1 small head romaine lettuce, chopped
03 - 1/3 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
04 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Croutons

05 - 2 cups day-old rustic bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
07 - 1/4 teaspoon sea salt

→ Caesar Dressing

08 - 1 large egg yolk
09 - 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
10 - 2 teaspoons lemon juice
11 - 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
12 - 1 garlic clove, minced
13 - 1/2 cup olive oil
14 - 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
15 - Salt and pepper to taste

# Step-by-Step:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Toss bread cubes with olive oil and sea salt, spread on a baking sheet, and bake for 8 to 10 minutes until golden and crisp. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
02 - In a bowl, whisk together egg yolk, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and minced garlic. Gradually drizzle in olive oil while whisking constantly until thick and emulsified. Stir in grated Parmesan and season with salt and pepper to taste.
03 - In a large bowl, combine sliced celery and chopped romaine lettuce. Add half the dressing and toss to coat evenly. Add additional dressing as needed to achieve desired flavor and consistency.
04 - Arrange the dressed salad on a serving platter or individual plates. Scatter croutons over the top and sprinkle with shaved Parmesan and freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Celery gets its moment to shine instead of hiding in the background like it usually does.
  • Homemade croutons mean you control the crunch and they actually taste like something.
  • The dressing comes together in minutes but tastes like you spent hours on it.
02 -
  • If you add the oil too fast when making the dressing, it breaks and separates—patience here is everything, and if it happens, start with a fresh yolk and slowly whisk in the broken dressing.
  • Don't dress the salad too far in advance or the celery will start to soften and the croutons will lose their edge.
03 -
  • If you're worried about raw egg, use pasteurized eggs or look for pasteurized egg yolks sold in some grocery stores.
  • A few anchovy fillets stirred into the dressing take it from good to restaurant-quality, even if you're not an anchovy person usually.
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