Roasted Asparagus Caesar Salad (Printer-Friendly)

Charred asparagus spears, crisp romaine, creamy yogurt Caesar dressing, and crunchy homemade croutons in one fresh salad.

# 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 tablespoons olive oil
06 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Caesar Yogurt Dressing

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

→ 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 tablespoons olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Spread evenly on one baking sheet.
03 - Arrange asparagus on the second sheet. Drizzle lightly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
04 - Roast asparagus for 10 to 12 minutes until tender and lightly charred. Simultaneously roast croutons for 12 to 15 minutes, tossing halfway through, until golden and crisp.
05 - In a medium bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, and egg yolk if using until smooth. Adjust seasoning as needed.
06 - In a large salad bowl, toss chopped romaine with half of the prepared dressing.
07 - Arrange roasted asparagus over the dressed romaine. Top with croutons and shaved Parmesan cheese. Drizzle with remaining dressing and finish with freshly cracked black pepper.
08 - Serve immediately while croutons remain crisp.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The roasted asparagus brings this incredible smoky sweetness that you just cannot get from raw vegetables
  • That yogurt based dressing delivers all the creamy satisfaction of traditional Caesar but feels somehow lighter and fresher
02 -
  • Overcrowding the baking sheet is the fastest way to end up with steamed sad asparagus instead of beautifully charred spears
  • The dressing thickens slightly as it sits, so whisk in just a teaspoon of water if it seems too thick to drizzle
03 -
  • Use a vegetable peeler to create those gorgeous Parmesan curls instead of buying pre shaved cheese
  • Wash and dry your romaine thoroughly, preferably in a salad spinner, because wet leaves will make your dressing slide right off
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