Caesar Salad with Crispy Chicken
Romaine lettuce, creamy Caesar dressing, Parmesan croutons and juicy chicken breast, the salad classic.
- Preparation
- 20 min
- Cook/bake time
- 15 min
- Total
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 861 kcal
- Servings
- 2
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cooking & baking
- 15 min
Romaine lettuce, creamy Caesar dressing, Parmesan croutons and juicy chicken breast, the salad classic that fills you up. The original dressing with anchovies, garlic and Parmesan is freshly mixed here in 5 minutes and beats any bottled version by a mile.
Why this works
The dressing is an emulsion. The lecithin in the egg yolk holds the oil and lemon juice together, which would otherwise separate immediately. That is why the oil is stirred in slowly. If added too quickly, the fat droplets can no longer find a coating and the dressing breaks. You cannot taste the anchovies, but they provide free glutamic acid and thus the savory base note that distinguishes a Caesar dressing from mayonnaise.
Step-by-step instructions
- 1
Fry the chicken
Salt the chicken fillets and season them with the paprika powder. Fry them in olive oil over medium heat for about 6 to 7 minutes per side until they are golden brown and just cooked through on the inside. Let them rest for a few minutes afterwards so the juices stay in the meat, and then cut them into strips.
- 2
Toast the croutons
Cut the stale white bread into small cubes. Toast them in the same pan with a little oil over medium heat until golden brown and crispy, turning them occasionally. This way, the croutons absorb the fine roasted flavor from the chicken right away.
- 3
Mix the dressing
Chop the anchovies and garlic very finely and mix them with the egg yolk, Dijon mustard and lemon juice. Now pour in the olive oil in a thin stream and whisk everything until creamy and a glossy dressing forms. Finally, stir in the finely grated Parmesan.
- 4
Serve
Tear the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces and toss it loosely with the dressing so that every leaf is coated. Arrange the salad on plates and distribute the chicken, the crispy croutons and the Parmesan shavings on top. It is best to enjoy it immediately while the croutons are still crunchy.
Our best tips
- The dressing is easiest to make with a whisk in a bowl with a damp cloth underneath.
- For meal prep, store the dressing separately and only mix it in shortly before eating.
- Do not leave out the anchovies. They do not taste fishy, but provide the typical umami depth.
Tasty variations
With shrimp
Instead of chicken, sear 250 g of shrimp, ready in 4 minutes.
Pure low-carb
Replace croutons with toasted sliced almonds.
What is left over?
This recipe only uses the yolks. The whites keep for three days in the fridge and freeze well – nobody has to throw them out.
Nutrition facts
| Calories | 861 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 73 g |
| Carbohydrates | 19 g |
| – of which sugar | 3 g |
| Fat | 54 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
Where the 861 kcal come from
per serving
Calculated from the ingredients – how we do it
We add up reference values for every ingredient and divide by the number of servings. These assumptions are baked in:
- Reference values per 100 g – for the raw ingredient, exactly as listed.
- Tinned goods count at drained weight, bone-in meat at purchase weight: you eat about 70 per cent of a chicken thigh and leave the rest.
- Water evaporates as you cook. The energy stays in the pot, the weight does not – so the figure is per serving, not per 100 g of finished dish.
- Anything listed without a quantity – “salt and pepper” – is not counted.
A guide value, not a lab measurement: no two onions weigh the same, and fat content varies from pack to pack.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make the dressing without raw egg yolk?
Yes, replace the egg yolk with 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise or Greek yogurt. The dressing will then be slightly milder, but remains creamy.
How does the salad stay crunchy?
Spin the romaine lettuce thoroughly dry after washing and only mix it with the dressing immediately before serving.
How much protein does the salad have?
With chicken breast, egg yolk and Parmesan, one portion comes to around 52 g of protein, ideal after a workout.
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