Chicken Caesar Salad
This is probably my favourite salad. I love it, always have. I remember going out for lunch 'in the olden days-pre husband and kids' and this is the salad I always ordered. The flavours to me are lovely. I love it by itself, but to make a complete meal it is lovely with the chicken.
This salad is always a hit at parties, a real crowd pleaser, it is always the first salad to go. In all honesty, I have not met anyone that doesn't like it. When I do take it to parties I tend to make each stage separately at home, and when I get to the party I dress and add all the other elements in just before serving, so it doesn't get to the party with soggy croutons and limp salad.
For the dressing a blender works best, but you can make it in a small food processor. The dressing can be made in advance, just keep refrigerated until needed. If it is too thick, you can thin it down by adding a teaspoon of water (at a time) and mixing it in, just don't add too much water.
Add as many anchovies as you like, I like all five in, but my kids like it with only three.
Give my Caesar salad ago, it is really good.
This salad is always a hit at parties, a real crowd pleaser, it is always the first salad to go. In all honesty, I have not met anyone that doesn't like it. When I do take it to parties I tend to make each stage separately at home, and when I get to the party I dress and add all the other elements in just before serving, so it doesn't get to the party with soggy croutons and limp salad.
For the dressing a blender works best, but you can make it in a small food processor. The dressing can be made in advance, just keep refrigerated until needed. If it is too thick, you can thin it down by adding a teaspoon of water (at a time) and mixing it in, just don't add too much water.
Add as many anchovies as you like, I like all five in, but my kids like it with only three.
Give my Caesar salad ago, it is really good.
Recipe
Serves 4-6
40cm breadstick
60g butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 bacon rashers
4 chicken thigh fillets
Small piece parmesan cheese
1 cos lettuce
Caesar Dressing:
1 egg
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup (20g) grated parmesan cheese
3-5 anchovy fillets, drained
3/4 cup olive oil
40cm breadstick
60g butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 bacon rashers
4 chicken thigh fillets
Small piece parmesan cheese
1 cos lettuce
Caesar Dressing:
1 egg
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup (20g) grated parmesan cheese
3-5 anchovy fillets, drained
3/4 cup olive oil
Croutons: Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan forced. Split the breadstick in half, then chop up the breadstick into bite sized croutons. Place the bread on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Melt the butter, add the oil to it. Pour the butter mix and garlic over the bread, mix to coat the bread with the butter. Place in the oven for 10 minutes, remove from the oven and allow to cool.
Bacon: Fry the bacon in a non stick frying pan until crisp, drain on absorbent paper or in a colander. Chop up into smaller pieces.
Chicken: Add the chicken to the same frying pan the bacon was cooking in. Fry on both sides until browned and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes per side. If your pieces are thick, either butterfly them open or once you start frying the second side, cover the pan with a lid for 4-5 minutes of the cooking time. Slice into 1cm thick slices.
Bacon: Fry the bacon in a non stick frying pan until crisp, drain on absorbent paper or in a colander. Chop up into smaller pieces.
Chicken: Add the chicken to the same frying pan the bacon was cooking in. Fry on both sides until browned and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes per side. If your pieces are thick, either butterfly them open or once you start frying the second side, cover the pan with a lid for 4-5 minutes of the cooking time. Slice into 1cm thick slices.
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Parmesan: Using a vegetable peeler, peel flakes of parmesan, you will need approximately 1/2 cup of these.
Caesar Dressing: Blend or process the egg, garlic, juice, mustard, cheese and anchovies until smooth. Add the oil in a thin stream while the motor is running, blend or process until thick. You can add a little water to the dressing if you think it is too thick. (If you don't have a blender/processor with an opening at the top, just add 1/4 cup of oil at a time, mixing after each addition, don't add the oil in too quickly, or it won't emulsify). This makes a lot of dressing, you may not need it all, place leftovers in the fridge.
The Salad: In a large bowl combine the lettuce, bacon, chicken, croutons and parmesan. Drizzle with the dressing, toss to combine.
Or if you prefer, place the lettuce on a platter and drizzle with a little dressing, then start adding the bacon, chicken, croutons and cheese on top. Drizzle with more dressing.
Caesar Dressing: Blend or process the egg, garlic, juice, mustard, cheese and anchovies until smooth. Add the oil in a thin stream while the motor is running, blend or process until thick. You can add a little water to the dressing if you think it is too thick. (If you don't have a blender/processor with an opening at the top, just add 1/4 cup of oil at a time, mixing after each addition, don't add the oil in too quickly, or it won't emulsify). This makes a lot of dressing, you may not need it all, place leftovers in the fridge.
The Salad: In a large bowl combine the lettuce, bacon, chicken, croutons and parmesan. Drizzle with the dressing, toss to combine.
Or if you prefer, place the lettuce on a platter and drizzle with a little dressing, then start adding the bacon, chicken, croutons and cheese on top. Drizzle with more dressing.
Enjoy!
