If you’ve bitten into a Caesar salad, you know it’s delicious and popular, but you may be wondering if it’s good for you. Even though it’s a salad, it does come with creamy dressing, cheese, and croutons. In this article, we take a closer look at this beloved dish and provide more information about what Caesar salad is, what its nutrition profile looks like, and how to make it healthier.
What is Caesar Salad?
Caesar salad’s origins are a bit of a question mark. While there’s some uncertainty around who invented the famous salad, we know the basic elements. The salad typically includes romaine lettuce, croutons, Parmesan cheese, and a dressing made of anchovies, olive oil, garlic, lemon, egg yolks, and Dijon mustard. But not all Caesar salads are created equal in today’s creative culinary world. Chefs and home cooks have been experimenting with the recipe, reinventing it in ways to simplify the process and in some cases, make it more nutritious. Sometimes you’ll see kale and other lettuces used alongside or instead of romaine, or you’ll find croutons made from cornbread or a whole-grain ciabatta. You also might find additions, such as avocado, tomatoes, and bell peppers. Caesar salad is often served with a protein source like grilled chicken, blackened salmon, nuts, or sautéed tofu.
Summary
Caesar salad is traditionally made with romaine lettuce, croutons, Parmesan cheese, and a creamy dressing made with anchovies and egg yolks. You can add variety and nutrients by using other lettuces, vegetables, and lean proteins.
Nutritional Profile of Caesar Salad
While the nutritional composition will vary based on the ingredients and dressing used, a prepackaged 100-gram serving (about 1 1/4 cups) of Caesar salad provides (1, 2, 3, 4, 5):
Keep in mind that these values can change significantly based on the specific ingredients and portion sizes used. For example, adding grilled chicken breast will increase the protein content, while using a "light" dressing can reduce the fat and calorie content.
Read also: Risks of Salad Dieting
Caesar Salad Dressing
Caesar salad is typically served with its own dressing, which is called Caesar dressing. It’s made from anchovies, garlic, egg yolks, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, oil, salt and Parmesan cheese. Several varieties of Caesar dressing are available, including regular, light, and fat-free. You can also find vegan dressings that are made with avocado oil or other plant-based oils instead of eggs. Homemade dressing is also an option.
Here are the nutritional profiles of 2 tablespoons (about 30 grams) of 3 types of Caesar dressing (4, 6, 7):
The Creaminess Factor
What makes Caesar dressing so creamy? Traditionally, the dressing gets its creaminess not from any cream, but from egg yolks, which get combined and emulsified with mustard and oil. The use of raw egg yolks in traditional Caesar dressing can be a concern when it comes to food safety. That’s why you’ll find many modern versions don’t use them at all. Raw eggs can contain salmonella, a bacteria that can be on the shell or inside of the egg that can make you sick. If you want to make Caesar dressing with raw eggs but avoid this foodborne illness, it’s best to keep eggs refrigerated at 40°F (4°C) and to cook them until the whites and yolk are fully set. That happens when they reach about 160°F (71°C) (8). Many of today’s commercially-available Caesar dressings use plain yogurt, kefir, or buttermilk to create the classic creaminess. Some versions add other emulsifiers, such as xanthan gum, to keep the dressing from separating.
Summary
The creaminess in Caesar salad dressing comes from egg yolks emulsified with mustard and oil. To avoid salmonella concerns from raw eggs, some variations instead incorporate yogurt, kefir, or buttermilk for the same creamy texture.
Potential Downsides
Traditional Caesar salads are mostly lettuce and can lack variety. One of the main benefits of salads is that they offer an easy way to eat a lot of vegetables. Veggies are some of the best sources of many nutrients that your body needs - including fiber, vitamins, and minerals - while remaining low in fat and calories. Eating a sufficient amount of vegetables is associated with lower risks of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, some forms of cancer, and other conditions (11, 12, 13, 14). It’s recommended to consume around 400 grams of fruit and vegetables per day, which equals about 3 servings of veggies and 2 servings of fruit. Consuming a variety of fruits and vegetables may be the most beneficial (14). Caesar salads, however, offer little in vegetable variety. While many salads provide a mix of vegetables, Caesar salad consists primarily of romaine lettuce. Romaine is plenty healthy, but that lack of variety means you’ll be getting less of a mix of nutrients. We recommend modifying the recipe to add more vegetables if you eat Caesar salads often as a vegetable source. Consider adding some of these healthy vegetables to your next Caesar salad to help boost your veggie intake.
Read also: Healthy Tuna Salad
It can be easy to overdo it on the dressing. Caesar dressing is made with egg yolks, salt, and oil. These ingredients produce a dressing that is often high in saturated fat and sodium. While light and fat-free Caesar dressings exist, they typically only reduce fat and not sodium. Of course, enjoying Caesar salad dressing in moderation shouldn’t pose any health concerns. Just remember that it can be easy to consume large amounts of it at once, which may lead to over-consuming saturated fat or sodium. Consider using smaller portions of dressing or making your own if you’re watching your intake of those nutrients.
Maximizing Nutrition
Choosing a Caesar salad can be a filling way to get some extra vegetables into your day. Salads provide opportunity for more vegetables Caesar salad can be modified to maximize veggie intake by adding more veggies, such as carrots and cucumbers, or increasing the amount of lettuce. More vegetables means more nutrients, including some essential vitamins and minerals many Americans are lacking. Those nutrients replenish and fuel your body, and they’re necessary for preventing illness and promoting good health (9).
Caesar salad can be satiating. Caesar salads can be satisfying as a main dish or side. The fiber and water content in the lettuce and other added vegetables help you feel full. Plus, the crunchy texture of the croutons and raw vegetables may make salads more enjoyable to eat, according to researchers (10).
Summary
Choose your salad ingredients in a way that can maximize nutrition. Opt for a bigger portion or mix of lettuce, and add vegetables. Keep your salad dressing portion to 1-2 tablespoons if you want to keep saturated fat and sodium low.
Tips for a Healthier Caesar Salad
It’s easy to make a few simple changes to boost the nutritional value of your Caesar salad.
Read also: Delicious Pasta Salad
Make your salad at home or adjust pre-made versions: Prepackaged salad kits make creating salads at home simple, but consider making a modification or two:
- cutting back on dressing provided or mixing it with Greek yogurt to add protein
- replacing croutons with a more nutrient-dense crunchy topping, such as nuts or seeds
- buying a bag of mixed greens or other veggies to pair with it
Go heavy on the veggies: Yes, traditional Caesar salad only contains one vegetable: romaine lettuce. However, it’s your salad, so you can build it how you want. Most vegetables taste great with it, such as tomatoes, baby lettuces, cucumbers, and radishes. Those veggies are packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients your body needs. At the same time, they’re low in calories, which means they’re considered nutrient-dense (15).
Add a source of protein: Tossing in some protein ensures your salad is satisfying, thanks to the boost of protein they provide (16). Some lean protein options include:
- chicken breast
- beans or legumes
- nuts and seeds
- salmon, shrimp, or shellfish
- tofu or tempeh
Make homemade croutons: Croutons are delicious, but many store-bought varieties are made with refined grains and can be high in both saturated fat and sodium. Not to mention, serving sizes can be small - usually 6-7 croutons - so they can be easy to consume in excess. Try making your own croutons with a loaf of whole-grain bread and a little olive oil. You could also skip the bread and use other crunchy toppings, such as roasted chickpeas or nuts, instead.
Go light on the dressing: Too much salad dressing can overpower the flavors of the other, more nutritious ingredients in your salad and can contribute more calories, saturated fat, salt, or added sugar than you may have been planning on. It’s best to stick with about 1 tablespoon (14 grams) of dressing per 1 1/2-2 cup (375-500 mL) serving of salad. And if you need a little extra flavor after that, consider a squeeze of lemon juice or add a bit lemon zest. Making simple modifications like these can help you reduce your sodium and saturated fat intake, which can benefit heart health (17).
Don’t skip the cheese: Parmesan cheese, the type traditionally used in Caesar salads, adds flavor and provides a bit of calcium. A two-tablespoon serving of shredded Parmesan cheese provides 10% of the daily value (DV) of calcium, contributing to the goal of 1,300 milligrams per day (18). Because the cheese is so flavorful, you won’t need a lot. A tablespoon or two is likely all you’ll need for your salad.
Summary
Caesar salad can be more nutritious with a few modifications. Consider adding more vegetables, keeping dressing portions small, making your own croutons or using another crunchy topping instead, and adding some lean protein.
Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken Breast: A Closer Look
Caesar salad with grilled chicken breast contains 409 calories per 264 g serving. This serving contains 29 g of fat, 23 g of protein and 14 g of carbohydrate. The latter is 3 g sugar and 2.9 g of dietary fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrate. Caesar salad with grilled chicken breast contains 4.5 g of saturated fat and 29 mg of cholesterol per serving. 264 g of Caesar salad with grilled chicken breast contains 6.1 mg vitamin C as well as 2.69 mg of iron, 200.64 mg of calcium. Caesar salad with grilled chicken breast belong to 'Pickles, Olives, Peppers & Relishes' food category.
Ingredients
A typical Caesar salad with grilled chicken breast might include:
- Romaine lettuce
- Grilled chicken breast strips [chicken breast meat (boneless skinless chicken breast, water, salt, sugar and sodium phosphate) Blended oil (soybean oil, olive pomace oil and annatto) Salt Black pepper]
- Caesar dressing [canola oil Water Parmesan cheese (skim milk, culture, salt, enzymes) Egg yolk Dijon mustard (water, mustard seed, distilled vinegar, salt, white wine, citric acid, turmeric, tartaric acid, spices) Distilled vinegar Dried garlic Lemon juice concentrate Sugar Salt Anchovies Spice Anchovy powder (maltodextrin, anchovy extract, salt) Xanthan gum Mustard flour Caramel color Annatto extract]
- Shredded parmesan cheese [imported parmesan cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes) Powdered cellulose]
- Homestyle cheese & garlic croutons [enriched flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid) Canola and/or sunflower oil Whey Salt Yeast High fructose corn syrup Dehydrated parsely Garlic powder Calcium propionate Natural and artificial flavor Parmesan cheese and enzyme modified cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes) Cultured nonfat milk Annatto (color) Extractives of tumeric and paprika (color) Enzymes Ascorbic acid Tbhq]