Vegetarian Classic Caesar Salad with Homemade Croutons and Dressing

Elevate your salad game with this Vegetarian Classic Caesar Salad featuring homemade croutons and a luscious, from-scratch dressing. Crisp Romaine hearts are tossed in a creamy Caesar dressing made with simple pantry staples like Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and a hint of Worcestershire sauce—without anchovies, making it perfect for vegetarians. The crunchy croutons, infused with garlic and oregano and baked to golden perfection, add irresistible texture, while freshly grated Parmesan cheese ties it all together. Ready in just 30 minutes, this salad is ideal as a quick weeknight meal or a stunning side dish for entertaining. Serve it fresh and watch it steal the spotlight at your table!

Nutriscore Rating: 70/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 hearts Romaine lettuce
• 0.5 cups Parmesan cheese
• 0.5 cups Olive oil
• 2 cloves Garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons Lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
• 1 whole Egg
• 4 cups Baguette or country bread
• 2 tablespoons Butter
• 1 teaspoon Dried oregano

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Step 2

Cut the baguette or country bread into 1-inch cubes, yielding about 4 cups.

Step 3

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and 2 tablespoons of olive oil together. Add the minced garlic and dried oregano, stirring for 1 minute until fragrant.

Step 4

Add the bread cubes to the skillet, tossing to coat them evenly with the garlic butter mixture.

Step 5

Spread the coated bread cubes on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until golden and crisp. Stir halfway through cooking.

Step 6

While the croutons bake, prepare the dressing. In a blender, combine 1/4 cup olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and one raw egg.

Step 7

Blend the mixture on high speed until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning to taste as necessary.

Step 8

Wash and dry the romaine lettuce hearts, then chop them into bite-sized pieces.

Step 9

In a large salad bowl, toss the romaine lettuce with the creamy Caesar dressing until well coated.

Step 10

Add the baked croutons and parmesan cheese, tossing gently to combine.

Step 11

Serve immediately. Optional: garnish with additional parmesan cheese and black pepper if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2450.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	4305.7

Total Fat 164.0g	0%
Saturated Fat 42.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 14.0g
Cholesterol 306.3mg	0%
Sodium 7549.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 589.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 42.2g	0%
Total Sugars 25.3g
Protein 125.5g	0%

Vitamin D 52.5IU	0%
Calcium 1131.6mg	0%
Iron 36.7mg	0%
Potassium 3664.4mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 34.0%

Protein: 11.6%

Carbs: 54.4%