Romaine Caesar Bowl (Printer-friendly)

Crisp romaine with creamy Caesar dressing, crunchy croutons, and protein for a satisfying meal.

# Required Ingredients:

→ Salad Base

01 - 2 large heads romaine lettuce, washed, dried, and chopped
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - ½ cup shaved Parmesan cheese

→ Croutons

04 - 3 cups day-old bread, cubed
05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
06 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
07 - ¼ teaspoon salt
08 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Protein

09 - 2 grilled chicken breasts, sliced, or 1 can chickpeas drained and roasted, or 8 ounces grilled shrimp

→ Caesar Dressing

10 - ¼ cup mayonnaise
11 - 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
12 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
13 - 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
14 - 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
15 - 1 garlic clove, minced
16 - 2 anchovy fillets, finely minced
17 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
18 - Salt and black pepper to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Toss bread cubes with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and bake for 8 to 10 minutes until golden and crisp. Cool completely.
02 - In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, anchovies, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper until smooth and combined.
03 - Prepare protein of choice: grill chicken breasts and slice; or roast chickpeas at 400°F tossed with olive oil, salt, and pepper for 20 minutes; or grill shrimp until just cooked through.
04 - In a large bowl, toss chopped romaine with half the Caesar dressing. Add cherry tomatoes and shaved Parmesan cheese.
05 - Top salad with croutons and prepared protein. Drizzle remaining dressing over top and serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The homemade dressing tastes nothing like bottled, with a balance of tang and richness that keeps you coming back for bites.
  • You control the protein, so whether you're feeding omnivores or vegetarians, everyone gets exactly what they want on their plate.
  • Crispy, golden croutons you made yourself beat store-bought every single time, and your kitchen smells incredible while they toast.
02 -
  • Wet romaine is the enemy—moisture dilutes the dressing and makes the whole salad sad, so really commit to drying those leaves thoroughly with paper towels or a salad spinner.
  • The dressing gets better if you make it 30 minutes before serving, giving all the flavors time to mingle and deepen.
03 -
  • Make the dressing the morning of if you can—the flavors meld and mature, tasting even better than when first whisked.
  • Save extra dressing to drizzle on grilled vegetables or to use as a dip for bread another night, because it's too good to waste.
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