Geoffrey Zakarian Caesar Salad Recipes

CAESAR SALAD WITH RED ROMAINE

Steps:

• Make the dressing: Blend the lemon juice, anchovies, Worcestershire sauce, egg yolk, canola oil, garlic, lemon zest, mustard, honey, hot sauce and vinegar in a blender until well incorporated and fluffy. If the dressing is too thick, blend in a little cold water. Gently fold in the parmesan. (Store leftover dressing in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 1 week.)
• Make the salad: Slice the baby romaine lengthwise into spears, leaving some of the stem intact so the leaves don't separate. Put the lettuce in a large bowl, drizzle with 1 to 2 tablespoons of the dressing and gently toss with your hands (do not over-toss). Transfer to a large platter or bowl. Sprinkle with the grated parmesan. Add some croutons, crumbling them slightly as you add them. Sprinkle fresh lemon juice over the entire salad right before serving. Bon appetit!

CAESAR PASTA SALAD

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.

KALE CAESAR SALAD

Steps:

• For the dressing: Put the vinegar, Parmesan, Worcestershire, anchovies, egg yolk, lemon zest and juice and garlic in a blender and blend to combine. With the blender running, slowly drizzle in the oil to emulsify. Season with salt, pepper and hot sauce (if desired). Note: if the dressing is too thick, you can thin it by adding a few drops of water while the blender is running.
• For the salad: Put the baby kale in a large mixing bowl and add the lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Using your hands, gently massage the kale with the lemon juice for 1 minute, then allow to sit for 5 minutes. Dress to taste with the Caesar dressing and additional salt and pepper. Serve in individual bowls topped with the Pecorino-Romano and croutons.
• Any extra dressing can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

TABLESIDE CAESAR SALAD

Steps:

• For the croutons: Preheat a convection oven to 400 degrees F or a regular oven to 425 degrees F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• Toss the bread in the oil, salt and pepper in a bowl. Spread on the lined sheet pan
• and toast, turning the pan halfway through, until evenly golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the croutons to a bowl and toss with the Parmesan. Allow to cool, then place in an airtight container.
• For the dressing: Combine the egg yolk, anchovies, roasted garlic and salt in a large mixing bowl. Using the back of a spoon, mash the ingredients together to form a uniform paste. Add the mustard and Worcestershire and continue to blend until fully combined. Season with salt and pepper. Add the Parmesan and whisk together. Slowly add the olive oil while whisking to emulsify. Add the vinegar and lemon juice and whisk until combined. Adjust the consistency with up to 1/2 cup water if needed. Season to taste.
• For the salad: Add the lettuce to the bowl with the dressing and toss lightly until coated. Arrange the lettuce on chilled salad plates. Garnish with the croutons and shaved Parmesan.