Roasted Asparagus Caesar Salad (Print page)

Crisp romaine and charred asparagus with creamy yogurt Caesar dressing and golden croutons

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 lb fresh asparagus, trimmed
02 - 2 large romaine hearts, chopped
03 - 1 small garlic clove, minced

→ Croutons

04 - 2 cups day-old baguette or bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
05 - 2 tbsp olive oil
06 - 1/4 tsp salt
07 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Caesar Yogurt Dressing

08 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
09 - 2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 2 tbsp lemon juice
11 - 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
12 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
13 - 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
14 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
15 - 1/4 tsp salt
16 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
17 - 1 egg yolk (optional, for classic creaminess)

→ Garnish

18 - 1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
19 - Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - Toss bread cubes with 2 tbsp olive oil, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Spread on one baking sheet in an even layer.
03 - Arrange trimmed asparagus on the second baking sheet. Drizzle lightly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
04 - Roast asparagus for 10-12 minutes until just tender and lightly charred. Roast croutons for 12-15 minutes, tossing halfway through, until golden and crisp.
05 - In a medium bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, Parmesan, lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon, Worcestershire, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, and egg yolk if using until smooth. Adjust seasoning to taste.
06 - In a large salad bowl, toss chopped romaine with half the dressing until evenly coated.
07 - Arrange roasted asparagus over the dressed lettuce. Top with croutons and shaved Parmesan. Drizzle with remaining dressing and finish with extra black pepper.
08 - Serve immediately while croutons remain crunchy and asparagus is warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The yogurt-based dressing gives you all the creamy satisfaction of traditional Caesar without feeling heavy
  • Roasted asparagus adds a smoky depth that makes every bite feel special
02 -
  • The dressing tastes better after resting for 30 minutes in the refrigerator, so make it first
  • Warm asparagus against cool romaine is the whole point, so timing matters when you serve
03 -
  • Shave the Parmesan with a vegetable peeler instead of grating it for those elegant, restaurant-style shards
  • The dressing keeps in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and actually gets better as the flavors meld
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