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The Last Caesar Salad Recipe You'll Ever Need

This is an unbelievable, restaurant-quality, creamy Caesar salad dressing that will make you swear off of anything store-bought again. Great for your classic Caesar salad, or as a dip for all kinds of veggies. Will NOT disappoint! To serve, toss with chopped romaine in a salad bowl and shave Parmesan cheese on top of salad; season with salt, black pepper, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 32 people
Calories 1922.7 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Food Processor Essential for creating a smooth anchovy-garlic paste and emulsifying the dressing.
  • 1 Measuring Cups and Spoons For accurate ingredient measurement.
  • 1 Rubber Spatula For scraping down the sides of the food processor and ensuring all ingredients are incorporated.
  • 1 Airtight Container For refrigerating the dressing and allowing flavors to meld.
  • 1 Cutting Board and Knife For finely chopping garlic.

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 2 anchovy fillets
  • 2 cloves garlic chopped, or to taste
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ cup half-and-half
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Instructions
 

  • Combine anchovy fillets with garlic in a food processor and pulse several times to form a paste. Process mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, half-and-half, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce with anchovy mixture until dressing is creamy. Refrigerate for 1 hour or more before serving.

Notes

For superior flavor, use high-quality oil-packed anchovy fillets; they provide umami without excessive salt. For an even more complex garlic note, consider gently roasting the garlic cloves before adding them to the food processor—this sweetens the garlic and mellows its pungency. The quality of your mayonnaise significantly impacts the final taste and texture; a good-quality store-bought or even homemade mayonnaise will elevate this dressing. Don't skip the refrigeration step; it's crucial for allowing the flavors to fully meld and for the dressing to achieve its optimal creamy consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning (salt, pepper, lemon juice) after chilling to balance the flavors perfectly.