Seasoning for Caesar salad: how to choose the perfect bouquet of spices
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Lettuce, eggs, cheese, garlic, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce and slices of bread - at first glance, it seems that it is impossible to cook something worthwhile from this limited set of products. However, Italian-American restaurateur Cesar Cardini from the small town of Tijuana accomplished the impossible: when only these products were left in his restaurant, he managed to create a salad that is now on the menu of restaurants all over the world. Later he was offered to add anchovies to the dish, and the recipe received classic status.
Culinary authorities say: the secret to the appetizer’s popularity lies not in the combination of ingredients, but in the signature sauce. And it can make a dish more interesting if you add well-chosen herbs and spices to it.
Spices and seasonings suitable for Caesar salad
Today, the popular snack has many variations of preparation. They go well with the main set of products: chicken, red fish, shrimp and other seafood. Taking into account the main composition, seasonings for Caesar are selected accordingly.However, there are several varieties of spices that perfectly complement the appetizer, regardless of whether it is vegetable, fish or chicken.
| Variety | Description |
| Black pepper | It is considered a universal spice because it goes well with any dish. In Caesar salad it must be used in small quantities and in ground form. |
| Parsley | A common spicy herb, it is present in many appetizers, salads, first and second courses. In a salad with chicken pieces, fresh or dried herbs can enhance the taste. |
| Dill | The popular garden herb has a bright aroma of freshness, emphasizes the aroma of vegetables, and gives the salad a piquant note. |
| Basil | Due to their aromatic content, the leaves and stems are used as a seasoning for Caesar salad. Even with a small amount of fresh or dried spices in the dressing, the snack takes on notes of Mediterranean cuisine. |
| Paprika | The mild sweet taste of the spice harmoniously combines with the flavors of vegetables, fish, meat and poultry. It is an indispensable component for preparing spicy Caesar sauce. |
| Garlic | Without it, the appetizer will not look like the legendary salad, since the classic dressing recipe calls for the use of this ingredient. Garlic passed through a press can be added directly to the sauce, or sent to a frying pan or baking sheet while preparing the croutons. |
| Mustard | Gives the salad a piquant, slightly tart taste and spicy aroma. It is added to the finished sauce in the form of powder, seeds or thick paste. The ingredient goes well with all types of meat and fish products, so it is added to the salad regardless of its composition. |
Popular ready-made mixtures for Caesar from popular manufacturers
Beginning housewives who are just learning the basics of cooking and have difficulty selecting spices for preparing different dishes can use ready-made mixtures. They can be bought in any supermarket, especially since almost every manufacturer indicates on the package the purpose of the seasoning, its composition, and the most popular recipe for the dish for which it is intended as an additive. At first glance, the set of ingredients seems the same, but in reality it is not identical.
Maggi
Created specifically for the preparation of the legendary Caesar salad, Maggi dry seasoning has a rich taste of herbs and spices that are easily recognizable in your favorite dish.
It contains the following ingredients:
- parsley;
- dill;
- cilantro;
- garlic;
- onion;
- sugar;
- flour;
- citric acid;
- iodized salt;
- vegetable oil.
Knorr
Similar products from Knorr successfully compete with seasonings from Maggi. Its assortment includes a spicy Caesar mixture, which contains:
- dried dill;
- rosemary extract;
- corn starch;
- garlic flavor;
- dried and chopped onions;
- corn maltodextrin;
- dry yeast.
Kotanyi
But Kotanyi seasonings are the most popular and in demand. Dry mixture of herbs and spices "Caesar" from an Austrian manufacturer contains:
- granulated tomatoes;
- mustard seeds;
- basil;
- thyme;
- chives;
- paprika;
- allspice;
- dried garlic;
- sugar;
- iodized salt;
- dextrose;
- corn starch;
- citric acid;
- rapeseed oil.
As you can see, with the exception of some 2-3 specific components, the ready-made mixtures include the most affordable ingredients, by purchasing which you can independently create your favorite bouquet.
All-purpose Caesar salad dressing
Ingredients:
- 50 g green basil;
- 50 g dill;
- 50 g parsley;
- 3-4 cloves of garlic;
- 10 g sweet paprika;
- 5 g black peppercorns.
How to prepare:
- The greens are thoroughly washed, shaken off any drops and sent to dry in a ventilated area or in a dehydrator. When the leaves are dry, they are separated from the stems.
- The garlic is cut into plates and also sent to the oven or dehydrator.
- Do the same with paprika.
- The prepared ingredients, along with peppercorns, are sent into a blender bowl, beaten to a powder state, poured into a dry glass jar and hermetically sealed.
How to prepare dressings based on popular mixtures
To make a popular salad tasty and aromatic, you need not only to select and cut the ingredients correctly, but also to prepare a signature sauce.
Option 1
MAGGY CROWN CAESAR SALAD seasoning will help you prepare a sauce with the rich taste of Parmesan cheese, herbs and spices. The bright bag contains not only the aromatic mixture, but also crispy crackers.
How to prepare:
- Pour the contents of the Maggi packet into a deep bowl.
- Pour in 3 tablespoons of hot water.
- Cover with a lid and let it brew.
- After 10-15 minutes, add vegetable oil (preferably olive) and mix thoroughly.
- Place the finished sauce in the refrigerator for half an hour.
This volume is enough for 500 g of ready-made salad.
Option 2
With Knorr seasoning, salad dressing is even easier and faster to prepare. But despite this, it turns out light, aromatic, and acquires a piquant taste.
How to prepare:
- Pour 3 tablespoons of olive oil into the bowl.
- Squeeze the juice from one lemon there (being careful not to squeeze out the seeds).
- Pour the contents of a Knorr sachet into the finished dressing.
- The sauce is stirred and left for 5-10 minutes so that the mixture has time to dissolve.
- The dishes are put in the refrigerator while the main products are being cut.
Add croutons from the bag to the finished salad, season with sauce, and sprinkle with grated Parmesan.
Option 3
With Kotanyi's aromatic spice blend, it tastes just like a classic Caesar salad with croutons. The sauce is prepared in a matter of minutes and eaten even faster. According to the manufacturer, the seasoning contains only natural ingredients, and, on the contrary, there are no preservatives or flavor enhancers.
How to prepare:
- Place 250-300 ml of natural yogurt into a deep bowl.
- Add the contents of a packet of Knorr Caesar Salad Dressing.
- Cover the dish with a lid and leave for 5-10 minutes at room temperature.
- Once the flavors and aromas have mixed, cool the dressing for half an hour.
Before serving, lettuce leaves are mixed with sauce and placed on a flat plate. The rest of the products are placed on top. The remaining sauce is evenly distributed over the surface of the salad.
Original recipes
There are many options for preparing the legendary snack, but the croutons and unique sauce remain unchanged.
Caesar salad with chicken, mushrooms and bacon
Ingredients:
- 1 chicken carcass, baked in the oven or grilled;
- 3-4 slices of bacon;
- 400 g champignons;
- 3 eggs;
- 1 head of romaine lettuce;
- ¼ cup olive oil;
- 2 tbsp. l. wine vinegar;
- 1 tsp. Dijon mustard;
- 2 tsp. powdered sugar;
- 1/3 cup classic Caesar dressing;
- 100 g crackers;
- 50 g grated parmesan;
- salt, pepper - to taste.
How to prepare:
- Peeled champignons are cut into slices and placed in a deep bowl.
- Pour in a marinade of oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, mustard and leave for half an hour.
- Eggs are hard-boiled and shelled. Bacon is fried in a dry frying pan. Place on a paper towel.
- The skin, bones and other substandard parts are removed from the chicken.
Place in a deep salad bowl: torn Romano leaves, chicken, mushrooms, bacon, and eggs, cut into 4-6 pieces. Gently mix and season with sauce. Serve sprinkled with grated Parmesan.