It’s no secret around these parts that I love Caesar salad. I’ll never forget the time I first tried one. My family was on vacation and we were enjoying a girls’ night out at what was surely the fanciest restaurant I’d dined at up to that point in my thirteen years of life. I had been so excited for the meal but then was hit by a pretty severe stomachache just before we left for dinner. I sucked it up and went anyway, hoping I would feel better along the way. Unfortunately while we were ordering I still felt pretty bad so I just glanced over the salads and for no reason I can recall, I ordered a Caesar salad. When it arrived I took a few bites and before I knew it, my stomachache had disappeared. I’m sure it was coincidental timing, but it didn’t hurt that the salad happened to taste fabulous. I’ve been hooked ever since. Good thing no one told thirteen year old me there were anchovies in it.
I have a few variations of Caesar salads that I make depending on what ingredients we have on hand, but this is hands down my favorite. In fact, this is pretty much the only version I make anymore with regularity (except for in the past, when I have been pregnant and raw eggs were a no-no. Sadness.) The dressing is rich and luxurious without feeling heavy, and it pairs so well with fresh, crisp romaine leaves and our favorite croutons. A perfect compliment to almost any meal, at least in my mind.