Caesar salad is rightfully considered one of the most popular dishes, the recipe for its preparation is simple and known even to a novice hostess. Today, chicken, meat, eggs, sweet peppers, tomatoes and other products are added to it.
By experimenting with a set of ingredients, each chef brings in a twist that gives the dish an original flavor. So the Caesar salad with salmon was invented, which, thanks to the gentle combination of fish with other components, is an decoration of any festive table.
The history of the origin of the Caesar salad
The dish was first prepared by an American cook of Italian origin, Caesar Cardini. In 1924, a company entered his restaurant with the intention of having a bite to eat. However, by that time there were no products left in the kitchen, except for white bread, from which the resourceful cook made croutons, as well as the remains of Parmesan cheese, lettuce, romaine, lemon, olive oil, eggs and garlic with Worcester sauce.
The Italian used olive oil, lemon, Worcester sauce and an egg to prepare the fill, and mixed the rest of the products and seasoned them with the resulting sauce. Since then, the salad was called by the name of the cook who invented it.
What is the use of salad?
Salad not only has a pleasant delicate taste, but is a source of protein, vitamins, trace elements and minerals. It can be safely attributed to dietary products. The omega-3 fatty polyunsaturated acid contained in salmon is necessary for the proper functioning of the brain, reducing the risk of cancer, heart and blood vessel diseases, and diabetes mellitus. In addition, it lowers blood cholesterol.
Caesar salad with salmon in the photo has an attractive appearance and at the same time contains a small amount of calories. A dish is included in the diet for someone who wants to lose weight, because it is prepared from natural ingredients without any flavor enhancers.
Salad leaves supply vitamins K, C, folic acid, carotene to the human body, and garlic strengthens the immune system and dissolves cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels.
How to make salad dressing?
Salmon dressing is prepared according to a special recipe. This will require:
- 1 egg
- 2 large cloves of garlic;
- 150 ml of olive oil;
- 1 spoonful of mustard;
- anchovies - 4-5 pcs.;
- 50 g of hard cheese;
- 2 large spoons of lemon juice;
- 1 teaspoon of Worcester sauce;
- salt and pepper.
To get the classic sauce for the Caesar dish with salmon, the egg must be placed in a pot of water and cook for 1 minute. In a properly boiled egg, the yolk should remain liquid. Remove the egg yolk with a spoon and beat with mustard, adding a little olive oil. You get a mass similar to mayonnaise.
Separately, the anchovies with Worcester sauce and lemon juice are crushed with a mixer, grated parmesan and crushed garlic are added. Continuing to beat, both masses are combined, salted and pepper to taste, after which they are used for salad dressing.
How to cook crackers?
The taste of the salad is influenced by which croutons were used in the cooking process. Do not use ready-made crackers with different flavors, as they will kill the smell and delicate taste of salmon. For cooking croutons, it is also not recommended to use old bread.
Real crackers for Caesar with salmon are prepared from 200 g of white or black bread (optional). Peel the bread from the crust, cut into 1x1 cm cubes, then moisten with olive oil, in which 1-2 cloves of chopped garlic were previously infused. Spread the bread on a baking sheet and put in a hot oven for 5 minutes. Rusks should lightly brown, but have a soft center.
Classic Salmon Caesar Salad Recipe
In the classic salad recipe, salmon is not used, but a small amount of red fish will add spice and an unforgettable taste to the dish. In the salad, you can add slightly salted or otherwise cooked fish. For cooking you will need:
- salmon fillet - 300 g;
- romaine lettuce (or lettuce) - 1 head of cabbage;
- white bread or roll - 250 g;
- Parmesan cheese or other hard variety - 50 g;
- olive oil - 3 tbsp. spoons;
- garlic - 2 large cloves;
- 50 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice;
- Worcester sauce - a couple of tablespoons (to taste);
- egg - 1 pc.
Lightly salted salmon fillet is cut into small cubes or plates. If raw fish is used, it is preliminarily fried in oil or, seasoned with salt and spices, cooked in a double boiler, and then cut into small pieces.
A crust is cut from bread or rolls, cut into cubes with a 1 cm rib and, sprinkled with olive oil, dried in the oven until golden. Cheese is grated, lettuce is washed, dried with a napkin and torn into pieces by hand.
The egg is boiled in boiling water for one minute, then the shell is carefully removed and transferred to the bowl of the mixer or blender. Then pour the oil, garlic passed through the press, the juice of half a lemon and Worcester sauce (it can be replaced with soy sauce). The resulting mixture is beaten to a homogeneous mass.
Lettuce leaves are spread at the bottom of the dish, watered with a small amount of filling, slices of fish are placed on the leaves, crackers are placed on top of them, pour the remaining sauce and sprinkle Caesar salad with grated salmon and cheese. When serving, the dish is decorated with olives, olives or slices of cherry tomatoes.
Smoked Salmon Caesar Salad
For Caesar salad with salmon, not only slightly salted fish is used in the recipe. The dish will turn out just as tasty if cooked with smoked salmon. To do this, you need 150 g of smoked fish fillet, 50 g of hard cheese, 7 pcs. cherry tomatoes, a bunch of lettuce, a third of a glass of olive oil, 50 ml of lemon juice, pepper and salt, Provencal herbs.
Smoked salmon fillet is cut into small slices. Then, lettuce leaves are washed and dried on a napkin, then they tear them into large pieces with their hands and spread on a plate. Salmon slices, cherry tomatoes, previously cut into 4 parts, and crackers prepared according to the above recipe are placed on top. For the sauce, mix lemon juice and olive oil with salt and black pepper and beat in a mixer, you can also add Provencal herbs. Salad is poured with sauce and served to the table, sprinkled with grated cheese.
How to cook salmon salad at home?
Home-cooked Caesar salad with salmon will not differ in taste from that served in restaurants, if you take:
- 300 g fillet of slightly salted salmon;
- 6-7 pcs. cherry tomatoes;
- 150 g Parmesan cheese;
- 150 g of white flour bread;
- 1 bell pepper;
- 1 large clove of garlic;
- third of a glass of olive oil.
Salad leaves are washed and poured with very cold water for 30 minutes, so that they remain juicy and crispy. Washed and cut in half tomatoes and julienne pulp of sweet pepper are put in a bowl. Diced salmon fillet is added thereto and mixed.
The leaves of the salad are dried with napkins, torn into large pieces and put on the bottom of the salad bowl. Then spread the fish-vegetable mixture from the bowl, on top of it put pre-fried crackers and grated cheese. Pour Caesar salad with salmon egg dressing, prepared according to the classic recipe.
Useful Tips
Some tips will help change the taste of salmon salad:
- slightly salted salmon fillet in Caesar salad can be replaced with grilled, boiled or fried;
- boiled shrimp, olives or olives can be added to the dish;
- so that crackers do not become sour and retain a crispy taste, they should be put in a salad before serving;
- instead of egg filling in the salad, you can use mayonnaise, adding 1-2 cloves of crushed garlic or a little Provence herbs to it;
- for a better taste in a dish, it is recommended to use romaine lettuce, and in its absence spinach leaves or another type of salad;
- lovers of a sharper taste in the sauce for pouring, you can add a little horseradish or mustard.
Cooking a salad takes a little time, so you need to cook and serve Caesar with salmon to the table before guests arrive.