A delicious Caesar salad with less guilt
Today we’re sharing a healthier version of one of our favourite salads. It’s a Caesar salad made with Greek yogurt. We are so happy with the outcome, and our pickiest eater at home gave us two thumbs up!
It’s been a bit hard to focus on our blog lately
I’m finding comfort in getting back to the blog today. Liz and I sort of put this on pause for a couple of weeks as we try to adjust to the new temporary ‘normal’ of our lives. I’m pretty sure most people on earth are feeling what our family’s feeling right now during this pandemic. Confusion, uncertainty, anxiety… it’s quite scary. While we are very concerned, we are remaining calm and positive.
We’re doing our best to stay informed and we’re following the recommendations of our Public Health agency. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that the spread of the virus stops and that we start rebuilding soon.
For me, personally, I feel like I sometimes need to shut off from news, work and anything related to the current situation. I need to pause for moments throughout the day, whenever negative thoughts enter my head, so that I refocus my energy on the positive. This is my way of avoiding burnout.
I’m also being socially responsible and not panic-buying, as we’ve seen so much of lately on the news, while at the same time, trying to stay prepared with good food and necessities for my family.
Liz and I are still working–Liz from home, me from my office–but we’re trying to maintain some normalcy at home. Our little guy kept himself busy all week of March Break, mostly with gaming and building toys. Going forward, we need to plan a more structured routine so that he’s spending some time on educational activities each day; much of which will need to be independent work, to allow Liz to continue working at home. We consider ourselves lucky that we can continue working and earning a salary. We feel for all those who are not as fortunate.
We’re also trying to take time to relax and do normal family activities at home. For me, some popcorn and a movie with the family is a great way to escape the reality of the current state of the world. Also, for me, I find cooking to be a great way to relax.
We’re trying to keep meals normal
Although things have been quite busy at work (I work at a hospital), I’m trying to keep our meals healthy and tasty. I feel like, more than ever, we need to eat well, hydrate, and get plenty of rest. I believe that if any of us were to get sick, we need our immune systems to be ready to fight the virus and help us recover quickly.
So, we’ve been sure to have healthy meals that include veggies and salads everyday. And since our little guy has been asking for a healthier version of Caesar salad (because he loves this salad the most and wants more of it), I figured it wash high-time I did something about it.
Caesar salad with Greek yogurt. Yogurt?
Since I’ve been on a health kick over the past year, I keep looking for ways to modify existing recipes so that they still taste great, but are a little better for us.
Our entire family loves Caeser salad, but traditional Caesar salads tend to be higher in fat and aren’t very nutritious. Using Greek yogurt makes this Caesar dressing creamy, delicious and satisfying. And if that wasn’t enough, it’s lower in carbs, higher in protein, it’s great for the gut, has vitamins, and it keeps you feeling full longer. How’s that for a rich and creamy dressing?
Stay safe, friends
We’re all treading uncharted territory at this time. Try to stay positive and calm. Practice social distancing and be socially responsible. Call friends and family to check-in on each other. Take walks, get rest, and eat as healthy as possible. We will get through these dark and uncertain times and see light again. We wish everyone only the best.
Enjoy our take on a healthy salad, and make today yummy.
- 1/2 loaf sourdough bread cut into chunky squares
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter melted
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 3/4 inch cubes
- 1 cup greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 small can Fillets of anchovies with oil 50 grams
- 3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 1/3 cup quality grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 jumbo Romaine lettuce hearts washed and chopped
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese shaved or grated
- Preheat the oven to 425 ºF
- Line a baking sheet with a silicone liner or parchment paper.
- Place all the (crouton) ingredients except for the bread in a medium bowl, and whisk.
- Place the croutons in a large bowl, drizzle the whisked oil dressing over the croutons, and toss until well coated.
- Pour the coated croutons onto the lined baking sheet. Make sure they’re in one layer and not touching.
- Place the baking sheet in the oven on the middle rack, and toast for 10 minutes. Let cool.
- Place all the ingredients for the Caesar dressing in a food processor or blender and blend until creamy. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, add the chopped lettuce, remaining Parmesan, Caesar dressing and croutons.
- Toss to coat all the ingredients and serve. Enjoy!
- This dressing takes 5 minutes to prep
- No mayonnaise
- No bacon in the recipe, feel free to add it if you like
- Made with sourdough bread as a healthier option
- This recipe makes 1 1/2 cups dressing
- Make sure to toss the final ingredients just before serving to make sure the croutons don’t get soggy.
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