There are as many recipes for Caesar dressing as there are recipes for brownies. All seem to be pretty good, but some are worth writing about. And the other night I prepared a Caesar salad dressing worthy of its’ own blog posting. Plus it was ever so easy to prepare.
But before I go any further, I would like to tell you about one of my favorite kitchen tools. I first witnessed what this amazing ¾ quart food processor could do at the home of our dear friends Paul and Angela. Paul used it to whip up some kind of sauce and then proceeded to tell me that I simply had to get one for myself. (I already owned one of those cheap mini food processors that were all the rage about 15 years ago, but along with sounding like a 747 warming up, it didn’t work worth a damn!) So the thought of buying another mini food processor, especially one that cost over a hundred dollars just didn’t appeal to me at all. But because Paul told me I had to have one, I went out the very next week and purchased one for myself. (Always must listen when someone as qualified as Paul gives me culinary advice!)
Well I have never regretted for one single minute the cost of my Waring Commercial Pro Prep Chopper-Grinder by Cuisinart. It’s small, easy to handle and works ever so efficiently. And my ear drums don’t take a “beating” each time I use it. (Only the ingredients I put in the prep bowl take a beating, and a pretty fair one at that!) Also it’s easy to clean. (I really like that part.) And for someone like myself who lives for good salad dressing and savory sauces, there is simply no better helper on the market. And yes, I do have a big food processor. But mixing a small salad dressing in a large food processor is like using a bath tub to wash 2 potatoes. Just way over-kill.
So do yourself a favor. If you are the kind of person who always uses minced fresh garlic, fresh herbs, fresh ginger, etc. in your recipes and for whom salad dressings and sauces are part of the very core of your being, get thee on to the internet and purchase one of these fabulous beasties. Better yet, let your honey buy you one for Valentine’s Day. But be forewarned. Internet is probably the best way to find one of these food processors. They simply aren’t sold in most small appliance stores because they are more of a specialty item and most often used in commercial kitchens. So in other words, they can’t be purchased at 11:00pm on February 13th! But not to worry, I’ve given you plenty of time to provide your loved one with the necessary information to order one of these amazing kitchen tools long before Valentines’ day. I promise you will not be disappointed, unless of course you are one of those people who think receiving a kitchen tool for Valentines’ Day is barbarian. Then of course, you wouldn’t have mentioned it in the first place. Duh Patti! But for those of you who do appreciate practical gifts, this is a sure fire winner. As is this salad dressing recipe, I might add.
- 1 T. mayonnaise
- 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
- 1 small garlic clove, chopped
- 1/2 tsp. anchovy paste, or to taste
- 1/4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1 T. fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- scant 1/2 c. vegetable oil
- 1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
Place mayonnaise, mustard, chopped garlic, anchovy paste, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in the bowl of an electric food processor. Process until smooth and well blended. While the food processor is still on, very slowly pour in the vegetable oil. Blend until thick and creamy. Add Parmesan cheese and pulse 5 or 6 times. Makes enough for about 4 servings of salad.
Caesar Salad: Combine the dressing with really cold chopped romaine lettuce, additional grated Parmesan cheese, and homemade Garlic Croutons. Serve immediately.
Garlic Croutons: Chop up some small bite sized pieces of a chewy, artisan baguette. Place in a frying pan with butter or olive oil (or a combination) and sauté over low heat until each crouton is crunchy. Add more butter or oil as needed. When desired crunchiness is attained, sprinkle with granulated garlic. Allow to cool completely before placing in an airtight container.