Better-for-You Caesar Salad With Lemon-Parmesan Croutons

Name: Better-for-You Caesar Salad With Lemon-Parmesan Croutons
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 (8-oz.) baguette, torn into bite-size pieces (about 3 cups); 1.5 teaspoon lemon zest, plus 2½ Tbsp. fresh juice (from 1 lemon), divided; 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided; 2 ounces (about ½ cup), plus 1 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese, divided, plus more for serving; 0.75 teaspoon fine sea salt , divided; 1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt; 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard; 1 small garlic clove, grated (about ¼ tsp.); Freshly ground black pepper; 1 large (about 1 lb.) head romaine lettuce, trimmed and chopped (about 7 packed cups)

4.0

(6)

2 Reviews

A Caesar salad doesn’t have to be indulgent, it just needs that familiar zing and irresistible flavor, and it's possible that it can have healthful properties. This creamy dressing is made with good-for-your-gut yogurt. Look for yogurt that contains live and active cultures (it should say so on the label). These are the probiotics—read, friendly bacteria—that may improve gut health. You’ll get some protein from the yogurt as well, but this salad will go great alongside or topped with seared tofu, grilled chicken or salmon.

By

Ananda Eidelstein

Updated on May 8, 2018

Hands On Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

15 mins

Yield:

4 (serving size: 1½ cups)

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

1 (8-oz.) baguette, torn into bite-size pieces (about 3 cups)
1 ½ teaspoon lemon zest, plus 2½ Tbsp. fresh juice (from 1 lemon), divided
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 ounces (about ½ cup), plus 1 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese, divided, plus more for serving
¾ teaspoon fine sea salt, divided
1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 small garlic clove, grated (about ¼ tsp.)
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large (about 1 lb.) head romaine lettuce, trimmed and chopped (about 7 packed cups)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Toss baguette pieces with lemon zest, 1 tablespoon each of the oil and Parmesan, and ¼ teaspoon of the salt on a parchment paper-lined rimmed baking sheet. Spread in a single layer. Bake in preheated oven until golden and crispy, 14 to 16 minutes, tossing halfway through.
Whisk together yogurt, Dijon, garlic, lemon juice, and remaining 1 tablespoon oil and ½ cup Parmesan in a large bowl. Season with remaining ½ teaspoon salt and several grinds black pepper.
Toss lettuce with ½ cup of the dressing, adding more to taste. Divide among 4 plates, and top with croutons and more Parmesan. Reserve any remaining dressing as a dip for crudités or chips.

This Caesar salad’s dressing is made with yogurt, which packs probiotics for a healthy gut. It’s cheesy, delicious, and doubles as a dip for cut up veggies or chips. Get the recipe:Caesar Salad With Yogurt-Parmesan Dressing. Alison Miksch

Chef's Notes

Stock your pantry with the ingredients you need for easy Better-For-You meals. We gathered everything for you in one place on Amazon to make it even easier.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

312	Calories
13g	Fat
37g	Carbs
12g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Calories 312
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 13g	17%
Saturated Fat 4g	22%
Cholesterol 18mg	6%
Sodium 1184mg	51%
Total Carbohydrate 37g	13%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 12g

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.