Smokey Caesar Salad With Rosemary

1. 1

   If making the mayo from scratch, place the first 4 ingredients into a mixing bowl, and using a whisk, mix them all together. Add the oil slowly, starting with just a few drops at a time, while whisking vigorously. When the emulsion becomes creamy, you may increase the speed with which you add the oil to a thin stream. From the beginning the mixture should be thick enough to hold its shape and look luscious and creamy. Add the oil too quickly and it will break, turning thin and soupy, so be careful. When all the oil is incorporated add remaining lemon juice to taste. If the mayonnaise is too thick, it can be thinned by whisking in a little water.

2. 2

   Next, take 1 cup of your mayo (fresh or store bought) and add the next 9 ingredients to it, thin with a little water to achieve a salad dressing consistency. Taste for seasoning and reserve.

3. 3

   For the croutons, preheat your oven to 375 F. Place the next 4 ingredients into a large bowl, and toss with your hands until all the bread cubes are coated with the oil. Pour the cubes onto a baking sheet and arrange in a single layer. Place the sheet tray in the oven and bake the croutons until golden brown, approximately 10-12 minutes. Remove them from the oven and let them cool on a rack to room temperature before placing in an air-tight container for storage. This recipe will make more than you will need for a single salad, but these things are so good, you'll be very happy to have extras.

4. 4

   Wash and dry the romaine leaves, then tear them into bite sized pieces, place them in a bowl and cover them with a damp cloth. keep refrigerated until you are ready to dress your salad.

5. 5

   To serve, toss the lettuce with just enough dressing to fully coat the greens, but not enough to drown them. Plate the salad, and top with a sprinkling of croutons and a few slivers of freshly peeled parmesan.

No additional tips available.