Anybody who has been to the USA and has had caesar salad knows that it is very difficult to find one that will taste remotely similar, anywhere else in the world.
There is no two ways about it. Nowbody knows how to prepare a proper Caesar like the Americans do.
On my second trip to the USA (my first one with my husband, in 1990), we went to visit friends in Minnesota. All the way up by Duluth, at the Miller Mall, I bought two posters that time, which I framed and are still hanging on my kitchen wall today.
One has the definition of ‘How to be a good cook’ and the second one has the best (anonymous) recipe for ‘Caesar Salad’ ever. I still use these directions as a reference point and my friends love it.
Ingredients (for 2)
•1 egg at room temperature
•1 tsp anchovy paste (or 1 ½ achovy filet, minced)
•2 or 3 cloves of mashed garlic
•1/2 tsp dijon mustard
•a few drops of Worchester sauce
•1/3 cup + ½ tbs good quality olive oil
•1 tsp red wine vinegar
•3 tbs fresh lemon juice
•1 head romaine (or two little gems), torn into pieces
•freshly ground salt and pepper
•12 medium raw prawns (cleaned) and/or 4 x 100g smoked salmon filets
•1/2 tbs of sesame oil
•1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese (optional)
•8 vegetable crackers
Preparation
•Take the egg out of the fridge 10 minutes before placing it in a mug and filling the mug with boiling water; set aside
•with the back of a spoon, mash together the anchovy paste, mustard, garlic, worchestershire sauce and a couple of dashes of salt
•add the olive oil into the mixture, bit by bit
•remove the egg from the water, empty the mug and crack the egg into the mug; whisk
•now add the egg to the oil mixture, then the vinegar and finally the lemon juice (all in that order), while you continue to mix; then put aside
•preheat a pan to medium heat and place the smoked salmon in it; grill all sides;
•if you are using shrimps, preheat a wok to medium heat, pour 1/2 tbs of olive oil and 1/2 tbs of sesame oil into wok, and pan fry the shrimps at high heat, till they are pink
•arrange the lettuce on the individual plates
•carefully pour a generous helping of dressing over the lettuce, grain some pepper over it and then place the salmon and or shrimps on top
Remarks
•if you are not following a strict anti-inflammatory diet, the ‘original’ caesar salad calls to be topped by parmesan cheese. I always leave it out and do not miss it a bit…
•I also ommit the croutons and use vegetable crackers instead (check my post on Lifefood for these!)
