Chicken Caesar with Homemade Croutons (Printable Version)
# What You’ll Need:
→ For the Croutons
01 -
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
02 -
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
03 -
1 clove garlic, grated
04 -
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
05 -
4 cups ciabatta bread cubes
→ For the Chicken
06 -
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
07 -
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
08 -
2 teaspoons lemon zest
09 -
1 clove garlic, grated
10 -
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
11 -
680g boneless, skinless chicken breasts
→ For the Dressing
12 -
60ml mayonnaise
13 -
60ml buttermilk
14 -
3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan
15 -
1 clove garlic, grated
16 -
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
17 -
1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
18 -
½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
19 -
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ For the Salad
20 -
2 heads romaine lettuce, roughly chopped
21 -
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan
# Steps to Follow:
01 -
Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F). In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, parsley and garlic; season with salt and pepper to taste. Spread bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Stir in olive oil mixture and gently toss to combine. Bake until crisp and golden, about 13-15 minutes, then set aside.
02 -
In a small bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. In a large resealable bag or bowl, combine chicken and olive oil mixture; marinate for at least 2 hours, turning occasionally.
03 -
Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Drain the chicken from the marinade. Grill chicken, turning occasionally, until completely cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 74°C (165°F), about 4-5 minutes per side. Allow to cool before dicing into bite-size pieces.
04 -
In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, buttermilk, Parmesan, garlic, lemon juice, Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
05 -
Place chopped romaine in a large bowl. Top with diced chicken and homemade croutons. Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss to combine. Finish with a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan.
# Additional Notes:
01 -
For best results, allow the chicken to marinate for the full 2 hours to develop maximum flavor.
02 -
The croutons can be made a day ahead and stored in an airtight container.