Caesar salad

Caesar salad is a green salad made with romaine lettuce, croutons, and a distinctive dressing that commonly includes ingredients such as lemon juice, olive oil, egg, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies, garlic, mustard, Parmesan, and black pepper.

Caesar salad is a green salad built around romaine lettuce, croutons, and a rich, emulsified dressing. It is widely credited to restaurateur Caesar Cardini, who created it in Tijuana, Mexico, in 1924.

What it is

The salad's core ingredients are romaine lettuce, croutons, and a distinctive dressing that typically includes lemon juice, olive oil, egg, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies, garlic, mustard, Parmesan, and black pepper. It was originally prepared tableside as a theatrical presentation in fine dining.

Why it matters

Caesar salad is one of the best-known composed salads in North American restaurant cuisine, and it is a common menu staple in Canadian casual dining and steakhouses. Its origin story—a July 4, 1924, improvisation by Cardini—adds to its cultural cachet, though some details remain debated.

Key details

The name refers to Caesar Cardini, not Julius Caesar. Classic recipes vary, but anchovy, egg, Parmesan, garlic, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce are frequent components. The salad is now served internationally in both traditional and modified forms, often with added chicken, bacon, or shrimp.