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You are here: Home / Recipes / Dips and Sauces

Ceasar Dressing Recipe No Anchovies

By Susie Weinrich ยท Date May 16, 2023ยท 3 Comments ยท May contain affiliate links.

Caesar Salad dressing without anchovies Pinterest image with text overlay
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Maybe you canโ€™t find anchovies at the store or maybe you just donโ€™t like the โ€œfishyโ€ flavor in some Caesar Salads!? If you have thought โ€œcan I have Caesar Salad without anchovies?โ€, 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.

a large bowl of Caesar salad with an anchovy free salad dressing

Optionally add some delicious Grilled Chicken for an amazing dinner recipe!

RELATED: Homemade Basil Vinaigrette and Big Italian Salad

Table of Contents hide
1 Ingredient Details
2 How to Make Caesar Salad Dressing Without Anchovies
3 Variations of Homemade Caesar Dressing No Anchovies
4 Storing
5 Listen To The Recipe
6 How To Make A Caesar Salad
7 Frequently Asked Questions
8 Related Recipes
9 Did you make this recipe?
10 Caesar Salad Dressing No Anchovies

Ingredient Details

One ingredient you wonโ€™t find in this Caesar Salad Dressing are anchovies ๐Ÿ™‚

ingredients to make Caesar Salad without 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 Hellmannโ€™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 to Make Caesar Salad Dressing Without Anchovies

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.

a small bowl of caesar dressing that does not include anchovies

Mash the garlic clove with ยผ tsp. kosher salt using the back side of a knife until a
smooth paste forms.
Add ยผ 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.

Variations of Homemade Caesar Dressing No Anchovies

Now that youโ€™ve mastered the basic recipe for anchovy-free Caesar salad dressing, here are some tips and ideas to customize and experiment with the flavors:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Make it Vegan: use a vegan mayonnaise and anchovy free Worcestershire sauce to enjoy this dressing completely vegan!
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.

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.

Listen To The Recipe

Use the audio player below to listen to the full recipe with tips and tricks.

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.

close photo of romaine caesar salad with dressing being spooned on

Caesar Salad Add-Inโ€™s We Love

A classic Caesar Salad is just romaine, croutons and parmesan. But here in the Momโ€™s Dinner kitchen we like to take things up a notch once in a while.

Some of our favorite mix-inโ€™s for Caesar salad are grilled chicken, black olives, artichokes, fresh tomatoes seasoned with garlic powder/onion powder/kosher salt/black pepper.

Frequently Asked Questions

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 entrรฉe, 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.

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    Big โ€˜ol Italian Salad
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    Fresh Basil Vinaigrette- plus ways to use it!
  • a chicken nugget dipping into homemade honey mustard dip
    2 Min. Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
  • Frito Taco Salad in a while bowl
    Frito Taco Salad with Catalina Dressing

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Did you make this recipe?

I would love to hear your review, especially if you have tips and tricks to add! Pop down to the comment section and connect with me

Rate This Recipeโ†’
close photo of romaine caesar salad with dressing being spooned on

Caesar Salad Dressing No Anchovies

An amazing anchovy-free Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe that is great tossed with romaine lettuce, croutons and parmesan cheese. Top with some grilled chicken for a great dinner!
This is enough Caesar dressing for one large head of romaine lettuce, and one large head of romaine serves about 3 people as an entrรฉe and about 5 people as a side salad.
5 from 6 votes
Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes
Servings: 0.5 cup
Author: Susie Weinrich

Ingredients

  • 1 large clove garlic - (mashed with the kosher salt- see instructions)
  • ยผ tsp. kosher salt
  • ยผ cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoon mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • ยฝ teaspoon hot sauce - tabasco or Franks Red Hot
  • ยผ tsp. black pepper
  • ยผ 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, etcโ€ฆ) you can make this in a blender or food processor.
  • Smash the garlic clove with ยผ tsp. kosher salt using the back side of a knife until a smooth paste forms. Transfer to a bowl.
    1 large clove garlic, ยผ 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.
    ยผ cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese, 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice, 2 tablespoon mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce, ยฝ teaspoon hot sauce, ยผ tsp. black pepper
  • Slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil while whisking until the mixture is emulsified.
    ยผ 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.
Did you make this recipe?Connect with me and let me know by commenting below!
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About Susie Weinrich

Susie Weinrich is the recipe developer, food photographer, and content creator behind Mom's Dinner. She has over 20 years experience in the food industry. Currently, Susie shares all her recipes and food knowledge on Mom's Dinner. You will find her recipes are easy to follow and full of tips and tricks to make sure the recipe you are making turns out perfect!

Comments

    5 from 6 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Deborah Moos says

    January 03, 2024 at 12:35 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious, and very easy. Nice that most folks will readily have all ingredients on hand. Not a fan of anchovies, but my husband loves them, so no Cesar salad at our homeโ€ฆuntil now. Followed the recipe, but after tasting, I added a bit more lemon juice. Next time, Iโ€™ll add some capers, as suggested. Thank you!

    Reply
  2. Lo says

    August 14, 2023 at 4:39 pm

    5 stars
    So delicious and savoryโ€”even ppl who like anchovies in their Caesar Dressing won’t miss them in this one! It’s the perfect swap so everyone is happy. Savory, easyโ€”make it every week. Thanks!

    Reply
  3. Lizabeth N says

    July 30, 2023 at 8:49 am

    5 stars
    Easy to make dressing with ingredients on hand. My daughter who has challenges was able to follow the recipe and whip up the dressing for us to have at lunch. Thank you!

    Reply
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