Caesar salad

Caesar salad is a green salad made with romaine lettuce, croutons, and a distinctive dressing that commonly includes ingredients such as lemon juice, olive oil, egg, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies, garlic, mustard, Parmesan, and black pepper.

Caesar salad is a green salad made with romaine lettuce, croutons, and a distinctive dressing that commonly includes ingredients such as lemon juice, olive oil, egg, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies, garlic, mustard, Parmesan, and black pepper. It is widely credited to restaurateur Caesar Cardini and is commonly associated with its creation in Tijuana, Mexico, in 1924, though some details of its origin remain debated.

Origin

The best-known account says Caesar Cardini created the salad on July 4, 1924, at his restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico. Some sources note alternative origin claims, but Cardini is the most widely accepted inventor.

Ingredients

Classic Caesar salad centers on romaine lettuce and croutons tossed with a creamy dressing. The dressing often includes egg, oil, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and black pepper.

Preparation and serving

The salad was traditionally assembled tableside as a restaurant presentation. This style helped make it a distinctive and theatrical dish in fine dining settings.

Cultural impact

Caesar salad became a popular North American dish and is now served internationally in both traditional and heavily modified forms. It remains one of the best-known composed salads in restaurant cuisine.

Canadian context

Caesar salad is common in Canadian restaurants and home cooking, and it is especially familiar as a menu staple in casual dining and steakhouse cuisine across Canada.