Making Caesar salad dressing: classic recipe + lighter version

A good Caesar salad dressing is creamy, fresh and savory. The classic dressing is made with mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, lemon, Dijon mustard and anchovies. Those anchovies provide the characteristic umami flavor, but are not indispensable. Don’t like anchovies or prefer to eat vegetarian? There are fine alternatives that approach the same full flavor.

Below you’ll find both the classic recipe and a lighter version with Greek yogurt.

Classic Caesar salad dressing

Serves: 4 portions

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp finely grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 small garlic clove, pressed
• 2 anchovy fillets, finely chopped
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 to 3 tbsp water (to thin the dressing)
• Freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

1. Mix the mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, Dijon mustard and the lemon juice in a bowl.
2. Add the garlic, anchovies and Worcestershire sauce.
3. Stir everything well until a smooth dressing forms.
4. If desired, add a few tablespoons of water if you want the dressing a bit thinner.
5. Season with freshly ground black pepper. Extra salt is usually not necessary because the anchovies and Parmesan cheese are salty enough.

Caesar dressing without anchovies

Not everyone likes anchovies, while the rest of the flavors are very popular. Fortunately, you can also make the dressing without anchovies.

Replace the anchovies with one of these alternatives:

• ½ teaspoon capers, finely chopped
• ½ teaspoon miso paste
• An extra teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (note: many Worcestershire sauces themselves contain anchovies)
• For a fully vegetarian variant: a few drops of vegetarian Worcestershire sauce or a small splash of soy sauce

This preserves a savory, full flavor without pieces of fish.

Healthier Caesar dressing

Want a Caesar salad with fewer calories? Use Natural Spices Nice to Mayo Zero instead of regular mayonnaise. This keeps the dressing deliciously creamy while saving a lot of calories. For an extra fresh taste you can also replace part of the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.

Ingredients

• 100 grams Greek yogurt (0% or 5%)
• 2 tbsp Natural Spices Nice to Mayo Zero
• 2 tbsp finely grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 small garlic clove
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 anchovy fillet (optional)
• Freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

Mix all ingredients together until a smooth dressing forms. Add one or two tablespoons of water if the dressing is too thick.

This variant is fresher, contains less fat and goes excellently with a main-course salad.

Make it a complete Caesar salad

Now that you know how to make a Caesar salad dressing, you only need to assemble the salad. Combine the dressing with crisp romaine lettuce, grilled chicken, Parmesan cheese and crunchy croutons.

Tip: Also check our complete recipe for Caesar salad and put a delicious main-course salad on the table within 20 minutes:
https://www.naturalspices.nl/caesar-salade-recept

Of course this dressing is indispensable with a classic Caesar salad, but it also tastes great with:

• Grilled vegetables
• Potato salad
• Wraps
• Sandwiches

Tips for the tastiest Caesar dressing

• Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the most flavor.
• Press the garlic finely so it blends well into the dressing.
• Let the dressing rest in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld.
• Is the dressing too thick? Thin it with a little water or extra lemon juice.
• Like extra kick? Add a pinch of freshly ground black pepper.

Frequently asked questions

1. Must there be anchovies in Caesar dressing?

Traditionally yes. Anchovies give the dressing its characteristic savory umami flavor. If you don’t like that, you can simply omit them or replace them with capers, miso paste or a vegetarian Worcestershire sauce.

3. Is Caesar dressing healthy?

The classic version contains relatively a lot of fat because of the mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese. With Greek yogurt you can easily make a lighter variant with less fat and more protein.

4. How long can you store Caesar dressing?

Store the dressing for a maximum of 2 to 3 days in a closed jar or container in the refrigerator.

5. Can I freeze Caesar dressing?

No, we advise against it. The mayonnaise and yogurt can change texture after thawing.

6. Can I make Caesar dressing without mayonnaise?

Yes. Replace the mayonnaise entirely with Greek yogurt or skyr. The dressing becomes a bit fresher in taste but remains deliciously creamy.