Buffalo Caesar Salad

There is not much better on a summer day than a crisp Caesar salad. Make it buffalo, and you are living the dream.

I used to be very hesitant on making my own Caesar dressing. I’m not the biggest fan of anchovies and it just seemed like a lot to have to buy and dice them so I was buying premade dressing for my salads. One of my friends informed me that anchovy paste is a thing and man does that make everything a lot easier. It comes in a squeeze tube so it’s super easy to measure out and I honestly don’t think it has that strong of a smell. But it is necessary to get that classic Caesar dressing taste and you absolutely cannot skip this step if you are making your dressing from scratch.

Funny story about anchovies. There was a really good wood fired pizza spot in our old neighborhood that we would go to frequently. Their menu rotated about monthly and at one point they had one with anchovies. We met a bunch of friends there one night and one couple was so stoked to see that they had a pizza with anchovies. “We love anchovies” they kept exclaiming. Which go off, do you. Turns out they were getting anchovies confused with artichokes and they did not in fact love anchovies. Luckily the rest of us had enough pizza to share and we all went home with stomachs full of laughter and food.

Once I realized I could use anchovy paste, the rest of the dressing is a breeze. Just throw all the ingredients into a food processor and puree for about 1 minute.

My husband and I are die hard Bills fan and having spent our fair share of time living in upstate NY, making everything buffalo just feels right. And this Caesar dressing is no exception. It jazzes up this classic salad just enough without overpowering the flavor.

The rest of the salad should take under 10 minutes to prepare. Simply chop the Romain hearts into bite sized pieces. I usually use a paper towel to soak up the excess moisture before adding it to a large salad or mixing bowl. Throw in some croutons and shredded/shaved Parmesan cheese. Then add your dressing and toss to combine. Top off each serving with the protein of your choice (my number 1 pick is always chicken cutlets) and you’re done!

If I know I’m going to be bringing some of the leftovers for lunch the next day, I will set aside a portion of salad and a separate portion of dressing. The croutons will get soggy if you combine everything and leave it in the fridge for the next day. I’ll add the dressing to the salad once I’m ready to eat!

This Buffalo Caesar Salad is the perfect marriage of cool crunch and spicy boldness. Whether you’re grilling out, packing a picnic, or just craving something with a bit of bite, this salad brings the heat without weighing you down.

Buffalo Caesar Salad

Serves: 4

Prep time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

½ cup mayo
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp anchovy paste
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp Dijon mustard
2 tbsp lemon juice
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
¼ Franks Hot Buffalo sauce
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper
3 romaine hearts
2.5 oz Croutons (or more as desired)
½ cup shaved or shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Add dressing ingredients (mayonnaise, garlic, anchovy paste, Worcestershire sauce, dijon mustard, lemon juice, grated parmesan cheese, Frank’s Hot Buffalo sauce, salt, and pepper) to a food processor. On puree setting, process mixture until combined, about 30-60 seconds. Dressing should be thick and creamy. Transfer dressing to a container with a lid and set aside in the refrigerator.
Chop the romaine hearts then add to a large salad or mixing bowl after using a paper towel to soak up the extra moisture. Add in croutons and shaved/shredded parmesan cheese. Using salad tongs, toss to combine. Mix in dressing and toss until salad mixture is fully coated with dressing.
Serve with an added protein of choice if desired, such as grilled chicken or chicken cutlets. Enjoy!

Tips for the best Buffalo Caesar Salad

Add a protein. I love to add in grilled chicken or chicken cutlets. Beefs up the salad a bit
Serve as an app. Perfect salad to serve at a dinner party or backyard barbecue.
Mix up the greens. Classic Caesar salad is made with romaine lettuce, however, you can substitute that for other greens you have on hand such as kale or drizzle the dressing over spinach.