Gordon Ramsay Caesar Salad with creamy dressing, charred romaine, and croutons

Gordon Ramsay Caesar Salad – 1 Tableside Twist You Must Try

Charred romaine, bold anchovy dressing, and crisped croutons — Ramsay’s Caesar isn’t a side, it’s a scene-stealer.
Into-front presentation of Gordon Ramsay Caesar Salad with dressing and leaves ready to toss
5/5 - (2 votes)

I used to think Gordon Ramsay Caesar salad was just a boring prelude to the main dish. Lettuce, dressing, maybe a crouton if the kitchen felt generous. It was the limp handshake of salads. Then Gordon Ramsay came along and slapped the tongs out of my hand.

I watched him grill the lettuce. Grill it. Like it owed him money. Then came anchovies—those tiny, salty bombs I used to skip. A yolk. Mustard. Parmesan that didn’t come in a green shaker. And when he spooned that golden dressing over a blistered romaine heart? I knew I’d been living a lie.


This isn’t health food. It’s flavor warfare. And it starts with fire. Let’s make Gordon Ramsay Caesar Salad the way it deserves: loud, proud, and dressed to impress.

Why This Works

You think you know Caesar salad? Yeah, so did I—until I realized I was basically just tossing lettuce in bottled glue and calling it gourmet. But Gordon Ramsay’s Caesar Salad? That thing has layers. It’s bold. It’s smoky. It bites you back in the best way. The charred romaine adds depth, the anchovy-garlic punch makes your tastebuds stand at attention, and the Parmesan? It’s not a topping—it’s a commandment.

This isn’t your grandma’s soggy side salad. This is Gordon Ramsay Caesar Salad: fire-kissed greens, silky sharp dressing, and crunch that talks back. And once you nail it, you’ll never go back to the bottled stuff.

What I Got Wrong (And Fixed)

Here’s the brutal truth: I used to treat Caesar salad like an afterthought. Bagged lettuce. Shaky Parmesan dust. “Dressing” from a bottle I hadn’t replaced since Obama’s first term.

Then I watched Gordon whip his Caesar to life with smoke, acid, anchovies, and actual flavor. The game changer? Char the damn romaine. I mean it—get it hot, get it blistered. The contrast between the crisp and the char turns this from “meh” to mouth-drop.

Now my Gordon Ramsay Caesar Salad starts with fire and finishes with a punch. I don’t make salad. I make a statement.

The Gear

If you don’t bring the right tools to this salad fight, you’re going home soggy. Here’s what you need:

  • Grill pan or open flame: for blistering that romaine like it owes you money.
  • Blender or immersion blender: to emulsify the dressing until it’s silk.
  • Microplane or veggie peeler: for those long, luxurious Parmesan curls.
  • Tongs: so you can flip and finesse without crushing the life out of your lettuce.
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If you skip the grill pan, you’re just making lettuce soup.

Into-front presentation of Gordon Ramsay Caesar Salad with dressing and leaves ready to toss

Gordon Ramsay Caesar Salad

Charred romaine, bold anchovy dressing, and crisped croutons — Ramsay’s Caesar isn’t a side, it’s a scene-stealer.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Modern European
Calories: 320

Ingredients
  

For the Salad
  • 2 romaine hearts halved lengthwise
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil for brushing
  • 0.5 cup croutons preferably homemade
  • 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
For the Dressing
  • 1 egg yolk room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 anchovy fillets finely chopped
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice fresh
  • 0.25 cup olive oil for emulsifying
  • salt and pepper to taste

Equipment

  • Grill pan
  • Mixing bowls
  • Tongs
  • Whisk

Method
 

  1. Preheat grill pan over medium-high heat.
  2. Brush romaine hearts with olive oil and grill cut-side down for 2–3 minutes until lightly charred.
  3. To make dressing, whisk together egg yolk, mustard, anchovies, garlic, and lemon juice. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking to emulsify. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Plate grilled romaine. Drizzle dressing generously, top with croutons and Parmesan.

Nutrition

Calories: 320kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 8gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 430mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 120mgIron: 1.5mg

Notes

Use room temp egg yolk for better emulsion. Grill adds smoky depth. Go generous on the cheese.

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The Cast of Characters

Let’s break it down by flavor powerhouses—every ingredient has a job:

  • 2 hearts of romaine lettuce, halved lengthwise (don’t shred it like a savage)
  • 2 slices of stale sourdough, torn into crouton-worthy chunks
  • Olive oil, enough to coat your conscience
  • 1 clove garlic, smashed for crouton flavoring
  • 1 egg yolk, raw and glorious
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar or lemon juice, for that acid snap
  • 3–4 anchovy fillets, packed in oil (yes, anchovies—you need ‘em)
  • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan, and more for shaving on top
  • 1/2 cup neutral oil, like grapeseed, for emulsifying
  • Salt and freshly cracked pepper, because of course

Don’t skimp. Don’t swap. Caesar isn’t forgiving.

The Execution

Step 1: The Croutons
Start with your bread. Toss those sourdough chunks with smashed garlic and olive oil. Roast them till they sing—golden outside, chewy inside. This is the crunch that anchors your salad. No sad cubes allowed.

See also  Gordon Ramsay French Fries: 5 Steps to Perfect Crispiness

Step 2: The Dressing
Now it’s time for the real work: Gordon Ramsay Caesar Salad dressing. Into your blender goes egg yolk, mustard, vinegar, anchovies, and Parmesan. Blend it smooth like your best apology. Then drizzle in your oil slowly, like it’s your life savings. You want a thick, shiny, emulsified beast of a dressing. Season to taste. It should slap you—in a good way.

Step 3: Char the Romaine
Get your grill pan smoking. Lightly oil the cut sides of the romaine and slap them face-down into the fire. You want grill marks, some blister, maybe even a bit of burn. Pull them off before they wilt into wet paper towels. This is the signature move of a Gordon Ramsay Caesar Salad.

Step 4: The Assembly
Plate those romaine halves with pride. Drizzle on your dressing. Scatter the croutons like you’re Jackson Pollock in a bistro. Top with shaved Parmesan—use the good stuff—and a crack of black pepper.

Then take a step back and look at your work. You just turned Caesar into a king.

Real-Life Adjustments

Short on anchovies? Use a teaspoon of anchovy paste.
No grill? Use a dry cast iron skillet—just make it hot enough to brand a cow.
Don’t want raw egg? Sub mayo. It’s not Ramsay-pure, but it’ll still rock.

Variations That Actually Hold Up

  • Chicken Caesar: Add grilled thighs. Don’t even think about dry breasts.
  • Spicy Caesar: Add a dash of hot sauce or cayenne to the dressing.
  • Vegetarian-ish: Skip anchovies—but double the umami with miso or capers.

Serving Suggestions

Serve it warm. Serve it bold. Serve Gordon Ramsay Caesar Salad as the star, not the side. Pair with crusty bread and white wine that’s cold enough to crack glass.

Texture detail of crispy charred Caesar salad leaves and croutons
Gordon Ramsay Caesar Salad Texture Close-Up

Recipe FAQs

Q: Can I make Gordon Ramsay Caesar Salad dressing ahead?

Yes. Keep it in the fridge, sealed, up to 3 days. Bring to room temp and stir before using.

Q: What makes Gordon Ramsay Caesar Salad different?

That charred romaine and the bold anchovy dressing—it’s smoky, creamy, tangy, and nothing like the bottled stuff.

Q: Can I use bottled lemon juice?

Sure, if you hate flavor. Use fresh. Always.

The Ramsay Result

What hits the plate isn’t just salad. It’s swagger. It’s texture. It’s balance. This Gordon Ramsay Caesar Salad doesn’t whisper—it yells, in a British accent, “I’m bloody perfect!”

Your Turn

Stop tossing limp lettuce. Char it. Dress it like it matters. Taste it before you serve. This is your new Caesar standard. If you loved it, try more iconic Ramsay techniques at our chicken section—you won’t look at poultry the same way again.

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