Maybe you can’t find anchovies at the store or maybe you just don’t like the “fishy” flavor in some Caesar Salads!? If you have thought “can I have Caesar Salad without anchovies?”, the answer is yes! This Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing WITHOUT Anchovies recipe is going to be for you! Whip it up in minutes and toss it with some crisp romaine lettuce, croutons and shaved parmesan cheese for a great Caesar Salad.
Optionally add some delicious Grilled Chicken for an amazing dinner recipe!
RELATED: Homemade Basil Vinaigrette and Big Italian Salad
Ingredients
One ingredient you won’t find in this Caesar Salad Dressing are anchovies : )
Just a few simple ingredients blend together to make a perfectly balanced, garlicky and tart Caesar dressing:
- Mayonnaise: This creamy base acts as a foundation for the dressing. Look for high-quality mayonnaise. We love Hellmann’s or Dukes (although we also love Aldi brand mayo!).
- Parmesan Cheese: The nutty and salty taste of grated Parmesan adds depth and richness to the Caesar dressing. Opt for freshly grated Parmesan for maximum flavor.
- Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice provides a tangy and bright element that enhances the overall taste of the dressing.
- Garlic: Always garlic!
- Dijon Mustard: contributes a subtle tanginess and emulsifies the ingredients, creating a smooth and creamy texture.
- Worcestershire Sauce: This pantry staple adds a hint of umami, complexity, and depth to the dressing. It traditionally contains some anchovy, so if you are trying to go completely fish free, find an option that does not contain anchovy.
- Tabasco: adds a nice tang to the dressing.
How Much Caesar Dressing To Make?
How much dressing you make will depend on how many people you are serving. This recipe will coat about 1 large head of romaine lettuce.
I recommend that one large head of romaine will feed about 2-3 people as an entrée, especially if you are adding chicken.
I recommend that one large head of romaine will feed about 4-5 people as a side salad.
If you need to make more than one recipe (double or triple batch), you can make it in a blender or food processor.
Step by Step
If you are making one recipe just use a whisk in a bowl. If you are 2x,3x or 4x the recipe you can use a blender or food processor.
Mash the garlic clove with ¼ tsp. kosher salt using the back side of a knife until a
smooth paste forms.
Add ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and pepper. Stir to combine.
Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking until the mixture. Season dressing with additional salt and pepper if needed.
Storing
Keep your Homemade (Anchovy-free) Caesar Salad Dressing in the fridge, in an airtight container like a salad dressing jar or a mason jar, for up to a week.
If it has separated at all in the fridge you may need to add a little lemon juice and re-emulsify it by whisking before serving.
How To Make A Caesar Salad
A traditional Caesar salad is composed of four main parts: romaine lettuce, croutons, parmesan cheese and Caesar dressing.
To make a Caesar Salad add washed and cut romaine to a large bowl. Pour desired amount of dressing over top. Toss with tongs or two large forks. Add in the croutons and parmesan cheese, toss again.
Caesar Salad Add-In’s We Love
A classic Caesar Salad is just romaine, croutons and parmesan. But here in the Mom’s Dinner kitchen we like to take things up a notch once in a while.
Some of our favorite mix-in’s for Caesar salad are grilled chicken, black olives, artichokes, fresh tomatoes seasoned with garlic powder/onion powder/kosher salt/black pepper.
Variations
Now that you’ve mastered the basic recipe for anchovy-free Caesar salad dressing, here are some tips and ideas to customize and experiment with the flavors:
- Experiment with Herbs: Consider adding fresh herbs like chopped parsley, basil, dill or chives to the dressing for an added burst of freshness and complexity.
- Creamy Yogurt Twist: For a lighter version of the dressing, you can replace a portion of the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt. This substitution adds tanginess and creaminess while reducing the overall fat content.
- Capers for Umami: If you enjoy the umami taste that anchovies bring to the table, you can add a small amount of capers. These briny and tangy gems can provide a similar depth of flavor.
- Make it Vegan: use a vegan mayonnaise and anchovy free Worcestershire sauce to enjoy this dressing completely vegan!
- Anchovy-Free Caesar Vinaigrette: If you prefer a lighter dressing, consider transforming the recipe into a vinaigrette by reducing the amount of mayonnaise and incorporating more lemon juice and olive oil.
- Avocado for Creaminess: For an indulgent twist, try adding ripe avocado to the dressing. Blend it with the other ingredients to create a creamy and luscious texture.
- Infuse with Roasted Garlic: Roasting garlic cloves before mincing them can add a sweet and caramelized flavor to your dressing. Simply wrap a few unpeeled garlic cloves in foil and roast them in the oven until soft and golden.
Related Recipes
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Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe WITHOUT Anchovies
Ingredients
- 1 large clove garlic (mashed with the kosher salt- see instructions)
- ¼ tsp. kosher salt
- ¼ cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce tabasco or Franks Red Hot
- ¼ tsp. black pepper
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
Serving for Caesar Salad
- large head romaine lettuce
- crountons
- additional parmesan cheese
- **optional add-in's: grilled chicken, black olives, artichokes, fresh tomatoes seasoned with garlic powder/onion powder/kosher salt/black pepper.
Instructions
- If you are making more than one recipe (double, triple, etc…) you can make this in a blender or food processor.
- Smash the garlic clove with ¼ tsp. kosher salt using the back side of a knife until a smooth paste forms. Transfer to a bowl.1 large clove garlic, ¼ tsp. kosher salt
- Add Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and pepper. Whisk to combine. Note: some Worcestershire sauce contains small amounts of anchovy. To have a completely anchovy free Caesar dressing look for Worcestershire without anchovy.¼ cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese, 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice, 2 tablespoon mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce, ½ teaspoon hot sauce, ¼ tsp. black pepper
- Slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil while whisking until the mixture is emulsified.¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Taste for additional seasoning: salt and pepper.
Storing
- Use right away or store in the fridge in an airtight container (like a mason jar), for up to a week.
Caesar Salad
- To use this anchovy-free Caesar dressing on a salad, wash and chop the romaine lettuce.large head romaine lettuce
- Pour the dressing over the romaine and toss with tongs.
- Add in the croutons and shaved or shredded parmesan cheese, toss again with tongs.crountons, additional parmesan cheese
- Serve!
- Great topped with Grilled Chicken!**optional add-in's: grilled chicken, black olives, artichokes, fresh tomatoes seasoned with garlic powder/onion powder/kosher salt/black pepper.
If nutrition facts are provided they are calculated as an estimate to the best of our knowledge.
We would love to have you comment & rate the recipe!