Homemade Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing
Homemade salad dressings are some of the tastiest, easiest and healthiest ways to get better nutrition. The store-bought salad dressings can serve a purpose – always look for the ones with the most authentic real ingredients – but making your own is very satisfying, versatile and budget-friendly.
My Homemade Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing is one of these. A few ingredients, 2 minutes and you have a delicious and healthy dressing to top your romaine, or to use in many other ways – dollop on a sandwich, a bit on a hard-boiled egg is so yummy, top a burger (may I suggest my Best Black Bean and Quinoa Burger) or use as a sauce when cooking meat. Plus, there’s no excuse to not include a salad with your meal when you have a dressing ready to go in the fridge! Boost your nutrition everywhere you can!
This recipe is made with mayonnaise, and you can easily substitute vegan mayo as there are a number of really good ones available now – or make your own! And it uses parmesan cheese – you can use a vegan parmesan, it’s still delicious yet it does change the flavour a bit from the original.
Fresh garlic is an antioxidant, an antibiotic and has been found to reduce inflammation. Studies have shown that allicin can help promote a healthy heart by lowering bad cholesterol and the antioxidants in garlic may help protect against dementia.
Lemons are a good source of VitC which protects your heart from disease and stroke, are good against the formation of kidney stones as it increases pH making a less hospitable environment for the formation of kidney stones, the citric acid in lemons help absorb iron better in the body, and studies have shown that citrus fruits help to fight certain cancers.
Dijon Mustard We know mustard mostly as the bright yellow tangy condiment, low in calories. Mustard is made to be a culinary delicacy in parts of the world, and has a long history as a remedy in traditional medicine dating back to ancient Greece and Rome. Modern science has more recently included studying mustard and its health benefits. The mustard plant is a rich source of many nutrients – both the leaves and the seeds. They are a source of beneficial antioxidants and anti-inflammatories that protect the body against disease, damage and deterioration. Studies are underway that are showing promising results that mustard may protect against cancers, may help to lower blood sugar, are beneficial for skin health, and are antibacterial and antifungal.
As always, when you make this recipe, I would love to see your creation so please post a photo of your Homemade Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing goodness and tag my IG account #RenataCollective or leave a comment with your thoughts!
Prep Time: 5 minutes / Cook Time: No cook time / Makes: a little more than 1 cup
Ingredients
3 Cloves Garlic – minced and set aside to work its nutritional magic
1 teaspoon anchovy paste -optional but classic (Look for the tube in a box by the anchovies in your store)
2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard
1½ teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
¾ Cup Mayonnaise - conventional or vegan
½ Cup Parmesan Cheese – grated - use the best quality you can find - or vegan parmesan
A Generous Pinch Herbed Seasoned Sea Salt or Plain Sea Salt
Generous Grinds of Fresh Black Pepper
How It’s Made
In a 2-cup measuring cup or a medium bowl, whisk all the ingredients, except the parmesan cheese, salt and pepper, together until smooth.
Add the parmesan cheese and whisk again until well incorporated. parm and mix well.
Season with the Herbed Seasoned Sea Salt and grinds of black pepper.
Use right away or store in a mason jar – label and date.
This dressing will keep for at least 5 days in the fridge.
Enjoy!
