Creamy Caesar Dressing from Scratch
A quick and easy homemade creamy Caesar dressing made with simple ingredients like garlic, anchovies, lemon juice, and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for salads, dips, or drizzling over grilled dishes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: About 3/4 cup (approximately 8 servings, 2 tablespoons each) 1x
- Category: Condiment
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large egg yolk (room temperature)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 anchovy fillets, finely chopped or mashed
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Whisk the egg yolk and Dijon mustard together in a mixing bowl until smooth and pale, about 1 minute.
- Add the minced garlic and finely chopped anchovy fillets. Whisk to combine and break down the anchovies.
- Pour in the fresh lemon juice and whisk again to combine.
- Slowly drizzle in the olive oil drop by drop while whisking vigorously to create an emulsion. Once thickened, add the oil in a slow, steady stream over 3-4 minutes.
- Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until smooth.
- Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, adjusting carefully due to saltiness from Parmesan and anchovies.
- Taste and adjust seasoning; add more lemon juice for tanginess or a teaspoon of warm water to loosen if too thick.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Stir well before serving.
Notes
Add olive oil very slowly at first to ensure proper emulsion. Use room temperature ingredients for best results. If dressing breaks, start with a fresh egg yolk and slowly whisk in the broken dressing to re-emulsify. Refrigerate and stir before serving as dressing thickens when chilled.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 150
- Sodium: 210
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 1
- Protein: 2
Keywords: Caesar dressing, creamy dressing, homemade dressing, easy Caesar dressing, anchovy dressing, salad dressing, quick dressing