Homemade Caesar Salad with Bacon and Almonds Recipe
A delicious and crunchy homemade salad combining fresh romaine, juicy grape tomatoes, flavorful Swiss and Parmesan cheeses, crispy beef bacon, toasted slivered almonds, and crunchy croutons, all tossed in a tangy lemon-garlic vinaigrette.
- Prep Time: 20 Minutes
- Cook Time: 20 Minutes
- Total Time: 40 Minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Salad
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 3 large romaine hearts, chopped into bite-size pieces
- 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
- 1/2 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 1/2 cups croutons
- 1 cup slivered almonds
- 10 oz beef bacon
Vinaigrette
- 3/4 cup light olive oil
- 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 1/2 tsp honey
- 3/4 tsp salt, or to taste
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook Beef Bacon and Toast Almonds: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Cook the beef bacon on a baking sheet for 15-20 minutes until crispy. Drain on paper towels and crumble into bite-sized pieces. Meanwhile, toast the slivered almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently until golden brown. Allow to cool.
- Prepare Salad Base: Wash and thoroughly dry the chopped romaine lettuce. Place it in a large salad bowl. Add the halved grape tomatoes, shredded Swiss cheese, and finely shredded Parmesan cheese.
- Add Bacon and Almonds: Incorporate the cooled toasted almonds and crumbled beef bacon evenly into the salad bowl, mixing gently.
- Make Vinaigrette: In a medium bowl or jar, whisk together the light olive oil, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until the mixture is well combined and emulsified.
- Toss Salad: Just before serving, drizzle about half of the vinaigrette over the salad ingredients. Gently toss to coat all components evenly. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Add Croutons and Serve: Add the croutons to the salad and toss gently one final time to distribute. Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Use paper towels to drain bacon well for a crisp texture without excess grease.
- Make sure lettuces are dried thoroughly to prevent a soggy salad.
- Toast almonds carefully to avoid burning; they should be golden brown and fragrant.
- Adjust the amount of vinaigrette dressing according to your taste preferences.
- Serve immediately after adding croutons to keep them crunchy.
