Small Victories & Caesar Salad of My Dreams

Though my mother is 100% Italian and an excellent cook, we did not have that kind of kitchen relationship that you read about in cookbooks with the word “nonna” in the title. She was too busy going to law school at night — and then, later, racking up the billable hours — to stand at the stovetop and tell me how much garlic went into her marinara. And, to be honest, I was way too busy scrapping my way through a student-athlete’s schedule to ask any questions about the marinara or anything else. All we both really cared about was that there was a meal on the table at the end of our day. And there always was.

This is probably how I got to be 22 years old before I had the lightbulb moment that the pickles I’d eat straight from the Vlasic jar were actually cucumbers that had been steeped in pickling juices. And how around the same time, my aunt asked me to whisk the heavy cream for dessert, and I put it together that Whipped Cream was actually…cream that had been whipped, as opposed to something that was sprayed from a bottle. (With glee, always, but still.) It’s probably why the first time I attempted my mom’s marinara, I grabbed the jar of McCormick garlic powder instead of a fresh clove.

But here’s the thing. On that fateful day — and forgive me for repeating this story, DALS book readers — my mom took the powder and handed me the garlic bulb in its place. It started everything… and it’s what Julia Turshen, the author of a book you’ll be hearing a lot about, might call a “small victory.”

Turshen, a food writer and onetime private chef, who has co-authored some of your favorite cookbooks (by Dana Cowin, Jody Williams, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mario Batali to name a few), has finally weighed in with her own collection of recipes, called, not surprisingly  Small Victories. Each recipe includes a lesson you can translate to another technique, or a shortcut, or a forehead-slapping moment which, like all the best advice, seems so obvious once it’s in front of you, that it’s brilliant. (In her merguez recipe, for instance, she writes “Sausage is just highly spiced meat.” Um, yeah it is! Why wouldn’t I make my own lamb sausage??) In other words, taken together, Turshen’s advice has the overall effect of opening up culinary paths you never thought to trod, and if you take each victory and build on it, you’ll be cranking out some pretty amazing meals. That’s the other thing — her recipes are that masterful blend of simple and sophisticated. Think Corn and Potato Chowder (small victory: snap ears in half to make kernel cutting easier); Zucchini Fritters (small victory: make them small and thin, so by the time they are crispy on the outside, they’re cooked through on the inside); Turkey and Ricotta Meatballs (small victory: ricotta makes them light and tender).

Oh, and then there’s her Caesar. You’ve probably made Caesar Salad before. You might even be eating a sorta sad one at your desk right now while reading this post. It’s in your repertoire already, so what do you need another recipe for, right?

OHMYGOD, WRONG!

We are officially addicted in my house. Her Caesar dressing recipe calls for mayonnaise instead of the customary raw egg — psychologically much easier for most of us to tackle — and ever since I got a copy of the book, there has been a jar of it in my refrigerator. With fresh romaine and sweet cherry tomatoes, the salad is heaven. My 12-year-old loves it so much that when she called home from a mini sleepaway camp last week, the first thing she reported was that “the Caesar was not the same.”

Julia was nice enough to share the recipe with us below, and for those of you who are already dreading the what’s-for-dinner angst that comes with back-to-school chaos, I thought I’d suggest a good meal to have in your back pocket: Julia’s Caesar Salad with a store-bought Rotisserie Chicken. Yes, store-bought. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: If dinner includes a homemade dressing, it doesn’t matter what else on the plate. How’s that for a small victory?


Julia’s Caesar
From Small Victories
Serves 4

These are Julia’s words:
When I used to work regularly as a private chef, the most requested item I prepared for lots of different families was Caesar salad dressing. I was often asked to leave containers in refrigerators all over New York City. My master plan is to one day put it in a bottle (my mother is convinced that it will sell well and then my whole family can live in the “house that Julia’s Caesar built”). But, in the meantime, here’s the most direct way to get it from my kitchen to yours. The small victory here is abandoning convention and swapping a spoonful of mayonnaise for the customary raw egg to make a creamy, thick, luscious dressing without any worry about salmonella or anything like that. Plus, what isn’t improved by a spoonful of mayonnaise?

1 small garlic clove, minced
4 olive oil–packed anchovy fillets, drained
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1/4 cup [60 ml] extra-virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp mayonnaise
¼ cup [25 g] finely grated
Parmesan cheese
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
3 hearts of romaine lettuce, trimmed, washed, dried, and cut into bite-size pieces
A handful of cherry tomatoes, halved

In a blender or food processor, puree the garlic, anchovies, lemon juice, vinegar, olive oil, and mayonnaise until smooth. Add the Parmesan and give the dressing a few pulses just to incorporate the cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Alternatively, finely chop the anchovies, put them in a bowl with the rest of the ingredients, and whisk everything together.)

Put the lettuce in a large bowl and drizzle nearly all of the dressing over it. Use your hands to mix everything together, making sure each and every piece of lettuce is coated with dressing.

Divide the dressed lettuce among four plates. Divide the tomatoes evenly among the salads and drizzle the last bit of dressing over the salads. Serve immediately.


Small Victories
 
by Julia Turshen is out this week! Photo credits (except top one): Gentl + Hyers (Chronicle Books, 2016)

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31 Comments

Virginia

Out of a fear of salmonella, I usually use mayo in my Caesar dressing. But, I have another swap/small victory. I don’t always have a can of anchovies sitting around. What I do have is a giant bottle of fish sauce that I used once. Sometimes I add a tablespoon or so of fish sauce to my Caesar dressing instead of anchovies. The fish sauce gives a similar unctuous basenote as the anchovies, and it gives some use to a much-neglected ingredient.

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Alli

That’s a great idea to use fish sauce! I also rarely have anchovies, but I do have a giant bottle of fish sauce in my cabinet. 😀

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Sara D

Oh my goodness. This is no small victory, at least for my house. This is a monumental revelation. I have all of these ingredients! I no longer need to buy bagged Caesar or bottled dressing. Seriously, life changing.

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marianne

Julia, there are SO many of us waiting for your book who have been following you for years. I’m so happy for you that you now have your OWN book, Julia….front and center. Wish you nothing but all the success in the world!

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marianne

P.S., If I wanted to swap out the anchovies for anchovie paste which for some reason I always have around, how much would you use?

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karen lewis

i just made this with romaine for dinner. we haven’t even eaten it yet, but the sauce is phenom! greatness. thank you!

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Angela

Why do anchovies intimidate me so? I know, I know, but they really do – any advice on how to cowboy up and do this?

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Julia Turshen

Take them out of the tin with a fork! No need to touch them if that makes you feel weird. Or use anchovy paste (see comment above) which is basically like squeezing toothpaste from a tube. You can do it!

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kate s

I made the dressing for dinner last night, it was delicious! I also snapped my corn in two to get the kernels off, so easy!

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Page

This was delicious! First time making my own Caesar dressing. I added some leftover grilled chicken (Jenny’s lemon pepper yogurt marinated) to make it a meal and homemade croutons bc that’s one of my fave things about Caesar. It didn’t emulsify that well in the blender though-separated a bit. Maybe try food processor next time.

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Julia Turshen

Hi Page! I’m so glad you gave it a go. If you use the blender again, I’d suggest making a double or even triple batch— it will emulsify better, I’m sure (and you’ll have extra to enjoy all week long!)

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Lynn

I made this over the weekend and agree about upping the batch size. The batch size listed here was at the lower end of what my food processor could efficiently process. Wish I had doubled it. Still delicious though! Thank you, Julia and Jenny.

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Perrin

I’ve tried this multiple times, even doubling the recipe, and it simply will not emulsify for me in a blender or food processor. Any suggestions? Maybe I should increase the mayo.

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Amy M

I love Caesar Salad and try all recipes. Very picky but this one is a keeper! So easy and delicious. Combined with DAL’s Loaded Chicken Noodle Soup and dinner is served!

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Amy Dolgin

What if I don’t eat dairy? What do you think about making this without the Parmesan cheese? Any substitution recommendations?

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Anita Eades

Yes! So addicting! Really wish I had made a double batch! Used fish sauce since I didn’t have anchovies and a little Umami paste from Trader Joes! So good!

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Nicole

Hello! This is the ONLY Caesar dressing I make and I absolutely love it! Question about the anchovies. Do you pat them or just let the oil drip off? Sometimes I make this dressing and it comes out oilier and not as creamy as I would like. Do I need to blend longer or add more mayo? I can’t figure this one out.

Thanks!

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