This Homemade Caesar Dressing with no anchovies is a favorite of ours and is so easy to make at home! Since anchovy paste isn't something we always keep on hand, this recipe is a great alternative with easy-to-find ingredients that's ready in minutes!
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Ingredients for Caesar Dressing
- Mayonnaise - Duke's or bust! I'm kidding, any kind will do. But I love Duke's!
- Salt and Black Pepper - Start with the suggested amount and then add salt to taste for your liking.
- Worcestershire - For that umami taste that mimics the Anchovy paste.
- Dijon Mustard - A natural emulsifier for thickening up the dressing.
- Parmesan Cheese - Adds a salty umami flavor and helps to keep the dressing creamy.
- Egg - The egg yolk specifically will work with the oil to create a silky texture.
- Garlic Cloves - Minced and added for flavor.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil - To work with the egg and dijon mustard to emulsify.
- Water
- Lemon Juice - fresh is always best, but bottled will work. Love the lemon flavor? Add in lemon zest as well!
Step-By-Step Instructions
- Gather ingredients. Mince garlic, juice lemon, and shred parmesan cheese. Separate the egg yolk from the egg white and dispose of the egg white.
- Add all ingredients to the food processor.
- Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, but best if it sits overnight before serving.
What we substituted for Anchovies in this Caesar dressing
Anchovies add a salty and umami flavor. For this recipe, we are using a combination of Worcestershire sauce and Dijon Mustard to mimic that saltiness.
Other Umami-Flavored Alternatives
- Miso Paste is often used as a substitute. It's known as the "thicker soy sauce" but with more of a punch of umami. If you want a sweeter version of miso paste, use white (shiro) miso.
- Mushrooms are another great option! You can use dried mushrooms, mushroom powder, or sautéed fresh mushrooms. Sautéing shiitake or porcini mushrooms on a higher heat really brings out the earthy umami kick of the mushroom.
- Soy Sauce is rich, bold, and complex in flavor. The salt often hits the palate first, then you taste an earthiness from the fermentation, and lastly a sweeter umami smoothness.
Made this recipe? Let me know how it was!
How to Serve Caesar Salad Dressing
Classically, Caesar dressing is tossed with romaine lettuce and shredded Parmesan cheese, then topped with crunchy croutons. But that doesn't have to be it!
Caesar as a Dip
- We use Caesar dressing as a dip for fried foods like French fries, tater tots, or chicken wings.
- Serve as an appetizer with carrots, celery, bell peppers, cucumbers, broccoli, and cherry tomatoes for dipping.
- Use it to dip warm bread or pizza crust in it!
Caesar as a Dressing
Using Caesar as a dressing isn't just for salads! The possibilities are endless here. Check out these fun ideas!
- You can use it as a condiment on a chicken sandwich or wrap.
- Use it in place of mayonnaise as a tangy addition.
- Use it as a dressing in a pasta salad!
Equipment and Utensils
- Glass Jars - These are clear glass jars with twist lids, perfect for preserving and serving sauces and dressings. Comes in a set of 6.
- Silicone Whisks - Although using a spatula will work for this ranch dressing, the silicone ones keep your metal mixing bowls from getting scratched and still get the job done!
- Metal Mixing Bowls - You'll never need to buy another set again. These come with 5 different sizes, with a non-slip bottom and lids for storing, so you aren't dirtying anything unnecessary just for storage.
- Food Processor - NutriBullet makes a 3-in-1 system. With this, you'll have a food processor, smoothie machine, and blender all in one.
Storing Caesar Dressing
Refrigerate
You can store your Caesar salad dressing without anchovies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. It is a good idea to rewhisk the dressing before serving.
Freezing
It is not recommended to freeze Caesar dressing because it can separate and have a poor texture after it thaws.
Frequently Asked Questions
A typical recipe would call for 1-2 teaspoons of anchovy paste. It would need to be well combined with the other ingredients.
A fun fact is that even though many modern restaurant Caesar dressings do contain anchovies, the original recipe created in the 1920s by Caesar Cardini does not include them. It relied on Worcestershire sauce for flavor.
It is vegetarian if you use a fish-free Worcestershire sauce and include the other standard ingredients like mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese. To make it Vegan, you would need to use a vegan mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, and a vegan Parmesan cheese substitute.
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Recipe
Caesar Salad Dressing (without Anchovies)
Equipment
- Food Processor or blender
Ingredients
- 1 Egg Yolk
- ¼ Cup Parmesan Cheese freshly grated
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice freshly squeezed
- 2 Cloves Garlic minced
- 1 Cup Mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon Water
- 2 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
Instructions
- Gather ingredients. Mince garlic, juice lemon and shred parmesan cheese. Separate the egg yolk from egg white and dispose of egg white.
- Add all ingredients to the food processor and puree.
- Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, but best if it sits overnight before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
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Casey L says
This was so good! I had all the ingredients already so this was perfect!