Short-Cut Caesar Salad

Caesar salad was invented in Tijuana, in the Mexican state of Baja California, by Italian brothers Alex and Caesar Cardini in the 1920s.  The original recipe called for whole Romain lettuce leaves and garlic crostini, and a thin dressing made from eggs, olive oil and lime juice (similar ingredients in mayonnaise); this recipe did not use bacon or cooked chicken, but it included anchovies, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce (which contains anchovies.)   In a post from 2020, I shared my version for an old-fashioned Caesar salad, skipping the anchovies, and using my vegetarian Worcestershire sauce, to keep it vegetarian.  This time, I am sharing a simplified version, also vegetarian, with chopped lettuce, croutons, and a creamier dressing, with a closer resemblance to contemporary Caesar salads. The big short cut is that, instead of having to cook eggs, mince garlic, and carefully mix with olive oil to emulsify, store-bought mayonnaise and garlic powder are used.  

Short-Cut Caesar Salad- Ensalada César Rápida

Printable recipe:  Short-Cut Caesar Salad

Ingredients (for 2-4 portions)

6 cups Romaine lettuce; washed and disinfected, rinsed in cold water, drained, and chopped
½ cup mayonnaise
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice, or more, to taste
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese; preferably freshly grated
2 cups croutons (for example: white crusty bread, cubed and toasted)

Mix mayonnaise, garlic powder, lime juice and black pepper in a bowl or jar; adjust seasoning with salt and more lime juice, if needed, to taste. Divide lettuce into individual serving bowls; drizzle dressing over lettuce.  Top with parmesan cheese and croutons:

This salad may also be served as a side, for example, in the photo below, with grilled trout and fried plantain:

Even if the main components of this dressing were store-bought, using freshly squeezed lime juice, and real parmesan cheese freshly grated at serving time, distance the salad from one with just Caesar salad dressing being ejected from a bottle.

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I am bringing my recipe to Full Plate Thursday #737 with Miz Helen @ Miz Helen’s Country Cottage.

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I am sharing my post at Thursday Favourite Things #701, with Bev @ Eclectic Red Barn, Pam @ An Artful Mom, Katherine @ Katherine’s Corner, Amber @ Follow the Yellow Brick Home, and Linda @ Crafts a la Mode.

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I am joining Fiesta Friday #580 with Angie @ Fiesta Friday.