Enjoy a classic Caesar Salad without the carbs! This low-carb creamy salad has just 3 net carbs, swapping croutons for extra Parmesan or other keto-friendly alternatives like frizzled prosciutto, toasted nuts, or crispy bacon—all tossed in a creamy anchovy dressing with crisp romaine.
Jump to:
- How Many Carbs Are in Caesar Salad?
- Why Choose a Low-Carb Caesar Salad?
- About Olive Oil
- Why Are Anchovies in Caesar Salad?
- How to Shave Parmesan Cheese
- Homemade Caesar Dressing Recipe
- How to Cut Romaine Lettuce
- Assembly of The Caesar Salad
- Can I Make the Salad Ahead of Time?
- Low-Carb Alternatives to Croutons
- Serving Suggestions
- Disclaimer:
- Caesar Salad with Fish and Seafood
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Low Carb Caesar Salad
If you're cutting carbs, you don’t have to give up a great Caesar salad. Traditional versions come with croutons and dressings that sneak in extra carbs, but a few simple swaps make it low-carb and just as delicious.
How Many Carbs Are in Caesar Salad?
There are 2.7 carbs in this Caesar salad. In a classic Caesar salad with croutons you are looking at about 40 carbs per serving.
A moment on your lips, forever on your hips.
Long Island proverb
Why Choose a Low-Carb Caesar Salad?
Caesar salad is a classic full of crisp romaine, creamy dressing, and plenty of Parmesan. Skip the croutons and keep the flavor without the extra carbs. It’s easy to make, full of flavor, and a great option for keto, gluten-free, and low-carb diets.
Plus, it's easy to prepare and full of flavor, making it a delicious meal for any occasion.
About Olive Oil
A good olive oil makes all the difference in a Caesar salad. Some of the best come from the Mediterranean, and if you see monovarietal on the label, it means the oil is made from a single type of olive which the sign of better quality.
In the grocery store, the top-shelf oils are usually the best quality, while the cheaper options sit at eye level. It’s worth picking a good one!
Why Are Anchovies in Caesar Salad?
Anchovies give Caesar dressing its signature savory, umami flavor. Some recipes leave them out or use anchovy paste, but I love the bold taste they add and always use them in my dressing.
According to The Spruce Eats, Caesar salad, the traditional recipe created by Caesar Cardini, the salad's creator, includes anchovies as a primary ingredient.
How to Shave Parmesan Cheese
I'm starting with cheese because it is a main component of the dressing. Buy a wedge of fresh imported Italian Parmesan cheese from the specialty aisle or gourmet cheese section at your grocery store.
I grated the cheese in two different ways. I use shaved parmesan as a salad topper instead of croutons, and I finely grated parmesan cheese to mix into the dressing.
To create shaved Parmesan, use a vegetable peeler or cheese slicer to gently shave thin slices from the narrow side of the block. Make approximately 12 strips and break them into bite-sized pieces.
The remaining cheese should be grated using the small (teardrop-shaped) holes of a box grater. You need 2 tablespoons for the dressing.
Homemade Caesar Dressing Recipe
- Anchovies
- Garlic
- Salt
- Egg yolks
- Lemon juice
- Dijon mustard
- Worcestershire sauce
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Romaine lettuce hearts
- Parmesan cheese
- Drop anchovies, salt, and garlic into a food processor. Pulse on low for a few seconds until the garlic is finely minced. Scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula.
- Add egg yolks, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Pulse until combined. Scrape down the sides again.
- With the machine running on low, slowly add in the olive oil through the feeding tube. Continue processing until the mixture is emulsified.
- Mix in 2 tablespoons of finely grated cheese and add some freshly ground black pepper.
- Refrigerate in a covered jar until ready to use.
- When ready to serve, toss with chopped romaine lettuce and top with shaved parmesan.
How to Cut Romaine Lettuce
Cutting romaine lettuce is simple when you do horizontal cuts instead of tearing the leaves individually.
For this, you can either use two heads of chopped romaine lettuce with the dark outer leaves removed or three heads of romaine hearts.
Begin by placing the lettuce on a cutting board. Remove and discard the stem. Then, slice the lettuce horizontally into 1-inch pieces for your Caesar salads.
Place all the lettuce in a salad spinner. Remove the inner perforated bowl, rinse the lettuce with cold running water, and then place it back in the spinner.
Spin a few times until the excess water is removed. If you don't have a spinner, you can swish the lettuce in a large bowl of water, and lift it out, leaving debris behind. Then, place it on a clean dish towel and pat it dry.
Assembly of The Caesar Salad
Gently toss the romaine with half of the dressing in a large bowl using tongs or a rubber spatula. Add more dressing, a little at a time, until the lettuce is evenly coated and as creamy as you like.
Serve extra dressing at the table along with a pepper mill.
Top each serving with shaved Parmesan.
Can I Make the Salad Ahead of Time?
Caesar dressing can be made one day ahead of time. Pour it into a small covered glass jar and refrigerate until needed.
For the lettuce, it's best to prep it when you are assembling your meal. If you are preparing the salad a few hours ahead, wash the lettuce, spin it, and place a few wet paper towels over it in a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.
Low-Carb Alternatives to Croutons
- Tiny pieces of roasted cauliflower roasted with olive oil make a crispy"crouton" alternative.
- Light and crispy kale chips can be broken into pieces and sprinkled over your salad for a healthy, flavorful topping.
- Toasted Nuts & Seeds such as almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds can be toasted to bring out their natural flavors while adding crunch.
- Cook bacon until crispy, then crumble it over your salad for a salty, smoky crunch.
- Crush pork rinds into bite-sized pieces for a zero-carb crunch that mimics the texture of croutons.
- Thin slices of prosciutto crisped up in a skillet or oven add a salty crunch that melts in your mouth.
Serving Suggestions
I topped this salad with Pan Seared Chicken Breasts. You can make the chicken before preparing the salad in a cast-iron grill pan and serve it warm or cold with the salad.
More Creamy Salad Recipes
Disclaimer:
CONTAINS RAW EGGS: Take caution when consuming raw and lightly cooked eggs because of the slight risk of salmonella or other food-borne illness.
Caesar Salad with Fish and Seafood
Caesar Salad makes a great base for any seafood dinner! Try these popular low-carb shrimp and fish recipes for your next dinner.
Cook the fish (or shrimp) and and top your salad with any of the following:
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditional Caesar dressing contains ingredients like anchovies, garlic, mustard, egg yolk, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, and lemon juice, which are generally gluten-free. When purchasing bottled Caesar dressing, be sure to check for any fillers that may contain gluten.
Yes, Caesar dressing contains fewer than three carbs per serving. While homemade Caesar salad dressing is naturally low in carbs, adding croutons increases the carb content significantly so consider alternatives if you want to keep the overall carb count low.
Freshly grated Parmesan should be refrigerated, and it is at its best when consumed within a week or two. Storing it in an airtight container or sealed bag in the refrigerator will help maintain its quality for a short period. Always be sure to check for any signs of spoilage, such as an off smell or mold, and discard if spoiled.
Try Parmesan crisps, frizzled prosciutto, toasted nuts, pork rinds, or crispy bacon for a crunchy, low-carb topping.
Low Carb Caesar Salad
Ingredients
- 6 oz parmesan cheese
- 6 anchovy filets packed in oil, drained
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 garlic clove, peeled and smashed
- 2 raw egg yolks
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (juice of 1 lemon)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- freshly ground black pepper
- 3 heads Romaine lettuce hearts or 2 heads of Romaine lettuce. Remove dark outer leaves.
Instructions
FOR THE PARMESAN CHEESE
- Using a vegetable peeler, gently shave thin slices of the cheese from the narrow side of the block. Make about 12 strips and break them into bite sized pieces.
- Process a little more cheese with a box grater using the tiny teardrop holes, not the large ones. You need 2 tablespoons for the dressing.
FOR THE DRESSING
- Drop anchovies, salt, and garlic into a food processor. Pulse on low for a few seconds until the garlic is finely minced. Scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula.
- Add egg yolks, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Pulse until combined.
- Scrape down the sides again. With the machine running on low, slowly add in the olive oil through the feeding tube. Continue processing until the mixture is emulsified.
- Mix in 2 tablespoons of finely grated Parmesan cheese and add a few grinds of freshly ground black pepper.
- Refrigerate in a covered jar until ready to use. When ready to serve, toss with lettuce and extra Parmesan cheese.
FOR THE SALAD
- Remove the tough outer leaves of the lettuce. Place the lettuce on a cutting board and slice the lettuce horizontally into 1" pieces. Make sure to remove the "stump" from the bottom of the lettuce.
ASSEMBLY
- Gently toss the Romaine with half of the dressing in a large bowl using tongs or a rubber spatula. Add more dressing a little at a time until the lettuce is evenly coated and as creamy as you like.
- Plate your salads and scatter shaved parmesan cheese and some freshly ground black pepper over each salad.
Joy Freeman says
Perfect! Used frizzled prosciutto on top. Salty and crispy My husband loved it!