Caesar Salad - A Mexican salad that sells like hot cakes in America

Caesar Cardini would never ever have imagined in his wildest dreams that the salad created by him on the fourth of July in 1924 would turn out to be one of the most popular salad dishes of America. The salad dish was an instant hit that day and was named as Caesar salad after its inventor. The basic ingredients used in the Ceaser salad are croutons and romaine lettuce that are dressed with a mixture of lemon juice, olive oil, garlic pods, raw egg, Worcestershire sauce, Parmesan cheese, and black pepper. Nowadays, there are plenty of variations to the Caesar salads. Most of the restaurants these days prepare Caesar salad at the table side.

The popularity of the Caesar salad has made it an important item in the menu lists of any occasion. Caesar salad is popular all over the world and many variations like use of mayonnaise, chicken, capers, and different types of lettuces have also been widely accepted by the salad lovers. Some people believe that the raw egg used to prepare Caesar salads may cause salmonella infection and hence people prefer yoghurt as a substitute. The Caesar salad has its share of health benefits as they provide the consumer with proteins, minerals and vitamins A and C.  The leafy vegetable romaine lettuce is low in calories and has numerous health promoting ingredients like beta carotene, folate, calcium and fibers. The phytonutrients present in the romaine lettuce has antioxidant property that is helpful in the prevention of cardiac diseases and cancer related diseases.

Fibers present in the Caesar salad recipe helps in easy bowel movements and will also help in cleansing the digestive system. The Caesar salad is a good option for people who are diet conscious and are ideal for people who are interested in staying fit and healthy. The garlic used in traditional Caesar salad not only provides rich aroma to the salad but also helps in reducing LDL cholesterol. It also helps in lowering blood pressure and has antiseptic properties. The most common toppings that are used on Caesar salads are grilled shrimp, marinated steak, grilled chicken, bits of bacon etc.

Traditional Caesar salad is made and served in a wooden bowl. The preparation of the traditional Caesar salad is as follows: The romaine lettuce leaves are first thoroughly washed and are torn into 1” pieces and are refrigerated for 30 minutes to make them crispier. Crush the garlic cloves with 4 tablespoons of oil and a pinch of salt in a bowl and add anchovy fillets along with olive oil, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce. Boil two cups of water and cook the eggs for a minute. Add the eggs to the prepared mixture and whisk till it becomes creamy. Now add the romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, and croutons to the mixture. Now, the traditional Caesar salad is ready to serve. People who do not like the flavor of anchovy can use the milder flavored anchovy paste or can use the shrimp toppings to increase the taste.

Caesar Salad Recipes