Simple, Scrumptious Caesar Salad With Quick Garlic Croutons
- Garlic croutons
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 2 cups baguette or 2 cups Italian bread
- 1 pinch salt
- Salad
- 3 romaine lettuce hearts, about 10 generous cups (remove any dark green outer leaves and reserve for another use)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 1/2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 5 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- fresh ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, plus extra for sprinkling (preferably Parmigiano-Reggiano)
- To make croutons: Heat large skillet over low heat. With motor running, drop garlic cloves through feeder tube of food processor to mince. (A blender works as well.) Scrape down sides of bowl and add oil through feeder tube. Continue to process so that garlic releases its flavor into oil, about 30 seconds. Strain garlic from oil through a fine-mesh strainer; reserve half of garlic for dressing and set aside remaining half for another use. You should have about 3 tablespoons of garlic oil.
- Raise heat under skillet to medium. Place bread cubes in medium bowl. Drizzle 2 tablespoons garlic oil evenly over bread, along with a big pinch of salt; toss to coat. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil; toss again. Add bread cubes to hot skillet and toast, turning cubes and shaking pan often, until crisp and golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Return croutons to bowl and set aside to cool while preparing salad.
- To prepare salad: Cut off bottom 1 1/2 to 2 inches of core from bottom of each romaine heart. Separate heart into individual leaves. Put leaves in large bowl.
- Whisk lemon juice, mayonnaise, Worcestershire and reserved garlic in a small bowl. Drizzle lettuce with oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss lightly, carefully, and thoroughly so that lettuce is evenly coated with oil. (Clean hands work well.).
- Drizzle lemon mixture over lettuce; toss again. Sprinkle 1/4 cup Parmesan over greens; toss again. Sprinkle croutons over salad, toss, and serve, sprinkling each portion with a little more Parmesan cheese.
garlic, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, baguette, salt, salad, romaine lettuce hearts, lemon juice, mayonnaise, worcestershire sauce, olive oil, salt, fresh ground black pepper, parmesan cheese
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/simple-scrumptious-caesar-salad-with-quick-garlic-croutons-166280 (may not work)