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Caesar salad is just one of my favorites! Okay, I admit I’m not a big salad eater, but who can say no to a Caesar salad! I have to say that Caesar salad is just like not eating a salad because it’s so delicious! By the way, if you want my Caesar salad recipe, then be sure to check out my Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad recipe! It’ll definitely be a hit at lunchtime for any occasion! If you haven’t signed up for the newsletter, then check it out on the sidebar so you’ll get the Caesar salad recipe right to your inbox as soon as it goes live!
As much as I love a classic Caesar salad, I’m not too fond of actually purchasing a packaged Caesar dressing or making my own authentic one. The packaged ones are loaded with I’m not sure what, and I’d rather not spend my money on it! When you make your own salad dressing, you can control the quantity of the ingredients, including salt, and there are no added ingredients! However, let me tell you a story about me contemplating making a traditional Caesar salad.
Some time ago, I had actually purchased anchovy paste in hopes of making a true Caesar salad. I kept delaying it, and the anchovy paste just kept sitting in my fridge. While I’m very anti-food waste, unfortunately in this case, I thought it was best to just toss the anchovies. While I’ve got a pretty open mind when it comes to food, I don’t know, I just didn’t feel comfortable with working with the anchovies. Maybe someday? But that day won’t be today, and it won’t be in this recipe!
Now how this recipe came to be. I actually made this dressing to pair with my Crispy Panko Chicken Burger, but used one variation to it that I’ll describe later on in the post! I chose to make the baked version of the burger, so to keep it consistent with going with the lighter version of the burger recipe, I wanted to have a lighter side as well. That’s where I thought of the substitution with Greek yogurt for the dressing! Also, to be fair, the anchovies were long gone, and I wasn’t in the mood to go to the grocery store to get some just to use for a salad I had thought to make right in the moment! Not worth the effort!
What Goes in a Classic Caesar Dressing?▼
A classic Caesar dressing consists of anchovies, mayonnaise, egg yolks, garlic, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, olive oil, veggie oil, and Parmesan cheese. To achieve its creamy texture, the egg yolks are emulsified with the other ingredients. This can be tedious and requires a very special technique that may be tricky to achieve! To avoid the stress of this process, let’s just forget about the emulsifying and use ingredients that you can quickly whisk together and have it ready to serve instantly!
This Caesar dressing will use many of the same ingredients, but we will be omitting the anchovies, mayonnaise, egg yolks, and veggie oil. Instead, I’m going to use Greek yogurt for that creaminess, and I won’t add any protein - you’ll actually be getting this from the Greek yogurt! If for some reason you don’t eat eggs, then this dressing is perfect for you as well!
Is This Caesar Dressing WIthout Mayo Healthy?▼
Well, I’d say so! Relatively speaking compared to a traditional Caesar dressing, I’d say this version is much lighter. As I mentioned earlier, store-bought dressings tend to have loads of sodium in order to preserve freshness. . In fact, store-bought dressings even have added sugars for flavour, which I don’t believe is necessary but that’s how it is!
As for the traditional recipe that is made fresh, it is quite high in saturated fats because of the egg yolks and mayonnaise. While this can certainly be enjoyed in moderation, as with anything indulgent!, perhaps it’s not the best choice to use in your every day salad. Let me tell you that compared to the traditional Caesar salad, this healthy and light version is sure to deliver in very similar flavours and texture! While this recipe is not as rich or as creamy as the traditional Caesar dressing, but to be honest with you I’m quite surprised how very close in flavour it is! We’ve still got some very prominent elements that are present in the classic dressing, such as Parmesan cheese, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and garlic!
Here are some nutritional benefits for this Caesar Dressing:
- You won’t miss out on some protein, as Greek yogurt contains 17 grams of protein per cup!
- Greek yogurt has a similar thickness to mayonnaise, without the fat!
- Greek yogurt also calcium and probiotics
- Olive oil contains heart healthy monounsaturated fats, so while we’re omitting the fat sources from the egg yolks and the mayonnaise, we’ll be keeping in the good stuff!
Ingredients for Healthy Caesar Dressing
All ingredients and their quantities and the instructions can be found in the FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD which you can see by scrolling to the bottom of this post or by pressing the “Jump to Recipe” button. The recipe card will also let you scale the recipe based on how much dressing you want to make so that you maintain those proper ratios without doing any mental math!
- Greek yogurt. The key to the dressing’s creaminess here! While it won’t be as rich as if you were to use the mayonnaise and the egg yolks, this definitely will give your dressing the texture quite similar to a classic Caesar dressing!
- Parmigiano-Reggiano. Freshly grated cheese will add a nice saltiness and nuttiness to your dressing. Be sure not to use pre-shredded Parmesan cheese! It certainly won’t deliver in the flavor or texture we’re looking for!
- Olive oil. This is almost a must for any salad dressing! Olive oil adds tremendous flavor to the dressing, but it also contains monounsaturated fats that help keep you full, promote heart health, and promote overall longevity! Can’t go wrong with it!
- Dijon mustard. I love the flavor of Dijon mustard! It helps season the dressing and add a touch of acidity with a hint of heat.
- Worcestershire sauce. The reason why Worcestershire sauce is an alternative to anchovy paste here is because it actually contains anchovies! If you want this recipe to be vegetarian-friendly, then you can opt for vegetarian versions of Worcestershire sauce. This sauce has complete umami flavor which will replicate the flavor of the traditional Caesar recipe.
- Garlic. One clove of fresh garlic, because garlic is just great!
- Lemon juice. Helps adjust the consistency and adds acidity which cuts through the salt and richness of the parmesan and mustard.
How to Prepare Yogurt Caesar Dressing
To prepare the dressing, first add the Greek yogurt in a large bowl, followed by the mustard, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and minced garlic.
Then, add your grated Parmesan cheese and begin whisking until you have a smooth texture.
Add the olive oil and continue whisking until everything is well combined, and there are no lumps.
Yes, it’s that easy! You can have such a tasty and healthy Caesar dressing ready to serve in absolutely no time at all. Quite literally, make it whenever you feel like it!
Serving Suggestions for Greek Caesar Dressing
You can use this dressing in so many ways! Here are a couple of ideas:
- A salad dressing. Kind of obvious, right? Check out my Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad recipe! This is the perfect occasion to serve the dressing to complete your awesome salad!
- In burgers, wraps and sandwiches. As I mentioned earlier in the post, I made this dressing to add to my Crispy Panko Chicken Burger, and I modified the recipe to include some sour cream. To make the sour cream variation, simply follow the same steps as above and add 1/2 Cup of sour cream.
- Use it as a dip. I’m sure this would be great to dip your favourite veggies in! I may recommend you also try to dip some Oven Baked Homemade Crispy Fries, or perhaps even dip your sandwiches or burgers in this if you didn’t get enough inside the actual sandwich or burger! You could follow the sour cream variation for some extra flavor.
- Use as a marinade. This could be fantastic to use as a marinade for chicken, fish or shrimp! Try marinating your protein and then bake or grill it up, and I’m sure you’re in for a world of flavors!
Storing Caesar Salad Dressing with Yogurt
How Long Will This Caesar Dressing WIth Yogurt Last?▼
This dressing will stay fresh for 1 week if stored properly in the refrigerator.
How to Store Healthy Caesar Dressing▼
To store, transfer contents into an airtight container or in a mason jar, and keep cool in the refrigerator. To freshen the dressing up, give it a quick stir or a shake.
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