Fun Fact: Did you know Caesar salad was invented in Mexico? Despite its Italian name, this iconic dish was created by Italian-American restaurateur Caesar Cardini in Tijuana, Mexico, in the 1920s. That makes it technically a Mexican dish with international acclaim!

Ingredients

Dressing:

• ¼ cup fresh Meyer lemon juice (or 3 parts fresh lemon juice and 1 part fresh orange juice)

• 4 garlic cloves

• 1 to 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard (depending on your taste)

• 3 to 4 anchovy fillets (depending on your taste)

• 1 to 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

• Pinch of salt (be cautious, as the anchovies are already salty)

• 1 to 2 pinches of pepper (depending on your taste)

• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil

• ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan

  Croutons:

• Leftover bread, cut into bite-sized pieces

• Olive oil

• Small amount of butter, melted

• Seasonings: salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and Parmesan (or your preferred blend)

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F. Prepare the croutons by tossing the bread pieces with olive oil, a small amount of melted butter, and your chosen seasonings, such as salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and Parmesan.

2. Spread the seasoned bread evenly on a baking sheet. Place in the oven and bake for 10 to 20 minutes, keeping a close eye after the 10-minute mark. Check every five minutes to prevent burning. Remove when the croutons are golden brown and delicious (GBD). Set aside to cool.

3. To make the dressing, place the Meyer lemon juice, garlic cloves, Dijon mustard, anchovy fillets, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper into a blender. Blend until smooth.

4. While the blender is running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Continue blending until the mixture emulsifies and becomes creamy.

5. Add the grated Parmesan to the blender. Blend for another 20–30 seconds to fully incorporate the cheese.

6. Taste the dressing and adjust the flavor with more Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, salt, or pepper as needed.

7. Toss your salad greens with the dressing and top with your freshly made croutons. Serve immediately and enjoy!