Ceasar Salad w. Crispy Chicken Cutlet

There are few salads as iconic  or as comforting as a Caesar. But when you make it from scratch, with anchovies mashed into a savory paste, freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, and a creamy dressing that clings to every crisp bite of lettuce, it’s on another level.

This version layers in homemade croutons for crunch and golden fried chicken cutlets for heartiness. It’s the kind of Caesar that can stand as a full meal: bold, satisfying, and still fresh. 

The dressing comes together with a slow whisk of oil (I like to mix olive oil with vegetable oil for both flavor and balance), the salad is tossed just enough to coat every leaf, and the crispy cutlet on top turns it into a showstopper salad.

Yield

Serves 4

 

Ingredients

Caesar Dressing

• 3 tbsp freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (plus more for serving)

• 5–6 anchovy fillets, minced into a paste

• 2 garlic cloves, minced and mashed into a paste

• 2 egg yolks

• 2 tsp Dijon mustard

• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

• 1–2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

• ½ cup oil (¼ cup vegetable oil + ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, for balance)

• ¼ tsp Dash of Dacy Salt & Pepper Blend (or similar)

• Dash of white pepper

• 2–3 tbsp mayonnaise (optional, to rescue or thicken dressing)

 

Salad

• 2–3 petite romaine or little gem lettuces, torn into pieces, washed and dried

• ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

• Croutons (see below)

 

Croutons

• ½ French baguette, sliced ¼ inch thick

• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 tbsp melted butter

• ½ tsp Dash of Dacy Garlicky Onion Herb (or similar)

• ½ tsp Dash of Dacy All of the Herbs (or similar)

 

Crispy Chicken Cutlet 

• 2 chicken breasts, sliced lengthwise into 4 thin cutlets (or pounded gently if thick)

• 1 cup flour

• 3–4 eggs, beaten

• 1 cup breadcrumbs

• Oil for frying

• Light seasoning for chicken: Dash of Dacy Garlicky Onion Blend + Adobo Mojo Blend (or similar)

• For dredging station: Dash of Dacy Garlicky Onion, Adobo Mojo, Salt & Pepper, and All of the Herbs (or similar)

 

Method

1.Make the Caesar Dressing.

Mash anchovies and garlic into a paste using the back of a knife.

In a bowl, whisk together egg yolks, mustard, and Worcestershire.

Add anchovy garlic paste and Parmesan.

Slowly drizzle in oils (¼ cup vegetable + ¼ cup olive oil) while whisking until creamy and   emulsified.

Stir in lemon juice, season with Salt & Pepper Blend and white pepper.

Pro Tip: If the dressing breaks or is too thin, whisk in 2–3 tbsp mayonnaise to bring it back together.

 

2. Make the Croutons

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Toss sliced baguette with olive oil, melted butter, and seasonings until lightly coated.

Spread on a baking sheet in a single layer.

Bake 20 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crisp.

 

3. Make the Crispy Chicken Cutlet

Lightly season chicken with Garlicky Onion + Adobo Mojo.

Set up dredging station: flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs in shallow dishes. Season each with the blend mix.

Dredge chicken: flour, egg, breadcrumbs. Shake off excess at each step.

Heat oil in skillet to 350°F. On medium heat, fry chicken 3–4 minutes per side until golden and internal temp reaches 165°F.

Drain on wire rack, sprinkle lightly with Salt & Pepper Blend, and let rest 7–10 minutes.

Slice before serving.

 

4. Assemble the Salad

Place a generous amount of Caesar dressing in the bottom of a large bowl.

Add a bit of Parmesan, then the lettuce. Toss gently to coat.

 Add croutons, plate, and finish with a generous snowfall of Parmesan.

Top with sliced crispy chicken cutlet, if using.

 

Chef’s Notes

• Anchovies are essential: They don’t make the dressing “fishy”.  They give it depth and umami.

• Olive oil + vegetable oil: My preference is to mix the two.  Olive oil brings flavor while vegetable oil keeps the dressing neutral and balanced.

• Egg yolks emulsify: They create the creamy base that clings beautifully to lettuce.

 • Homemade croutons: Butter + oil = golden crunch that store bought can’t touch.

 • Chicken option: This takes the salad from side dish to centerpiece

 

- From Dacy’s Kitchen to yours

May this Caesar bring you crunch, comfort, and confidence in every bite