This Spicy Caesar Salad gives a flavorful twist to the regular salad and tastes even better than you can imagine. Crisp lettuce is tossed with a homemade spicy, creamy Caesar dressing made with Sriracha sauce, garlic, and mayonnaise, topped off with our homemade spicy croutons.
It's shining bright outside Pennsylvania, even though it's only mid-March. We're bringing you a spicy Caesar salad with our special secret dressing to celebrate this beautiful sunshine.
Imagine crisp, crunchy romaine lettuce tossed generously in a spicy, tangy, creamy sauce that's so flavorful and addictive you'll find yourself returning for more.
Whether you're looking for a delicious side dish or a flavorful salad with grilled chicken or salmon(or this special Bang Bang salmon bites), this spicy Caesar salad is an excellent choice.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
⭐️First, it's simple but incredibly flavorful.
⭐️Second, it's very easy to prepare-all you need to do is gather the ingredients;
⭐️And finally, It's satisfying, tasty, and complements your main dishes perfectly!
Ingredients
- Lettuce: Romaine or iceberg lettuce works perfectly.
- Croutons: Homemade spicy croutons are the highlight of this recipe. They take just two minutes of prep time(see below for the instructions). However, you can also use regular store-bought croutons if you prefer.
- Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan cheese adds flavor to both the dressing and as a tasty topping.
- Crushed Red Peppers: I chose crushed red peppers for heat; you can adjust this to your preference.
- Mayonnaise: I recommend using Japanese Kewpie mayo for its umami flavors. I got mine from Costco, and I've also seen it in Wegmans. Regular mayonnaise works just fine as a substitute.
- Dijon Mustard: These ingredients add bright flavors to the dressing.
- Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice tastes excellent, but bottled juice will also work.
- Worcestershire Sauce: My favorite addition for a tangy depth of flavor.
- Hot Sauce: I used Sriracha sauce for that spicy punch, but feel free to swap it with your favorite hot sauce.
- Smoked Paprika: Adds a wonderful smoky flavor, complementing all the other ingredients.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is my go-to choice.
How To Make Spicy Caesar Salad
- Cut the bread into cubes and toss them with olive oil and crushed red peppers.
- Air fry the croutons at 375°F for 5 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until golden and crispy.
- In a bowl, mix mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Sriracha sauce, smoked paprika, garlic, salt, and ground black pepper.
- Combine roughly chopped lettuce, spicy croutons, grated Parmesan, chopped jalapeños, and spicy Caesar dressing in a large bowl.
Spicy Caesar Salad Tips
- You can easily adjust the heat level in this recipe by increasing or decreasing the amount of crushed red peppers or hot sauce. If you love extra heat, add chopped jalapeños to enhance the spiciness.
- Swap our spicy croutons with regular ones to tone down the heat if you prefer a milder salad.
- Want to turn this salad into a meal? Add proteins like grilled chicken or salmon, and you'll have a hearty dish.
The Leftovers
This spicy Caesar salad tastes best when enjoyed fresh.
If you'd like to prepare it beforehand, store the lettuce, dressing, and croutons separately in the refrigerator and toss everything together before serving.
The dressing is good to store in the refrigerator for up to five days.
FAQ
This salad has moderate heat thanks to the crushed red peppers and the punch from the Sriracha sauce. You can easily adjust these two ingredients to match your spice tolerance.
Absolutely! I recommend dressing ahead of time and storing it in the refrigerator. It stays fresh for up to 5 days. Give it a gentle whisk before serving to bring back its creamy texture.
You can make this salad vegetarian by swapping regular mayonnaise for Greek yogurt or your favorite plant-based mayo alternative.
Great topping ideas include avocado, bacon bits, cherry tomatoes, sunflower seeds, nuts, and even edible flowers if you're feeling fancy.
This spicy Caesar salad pairs perfectly with various dishes, such as grilled meats, seafood, pasta, and soups.
More Salad Recipes To Try
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know your thoughts in the 📝 comments section below the recipe.
📖 Recipe
Spicy Caesar Salad
Ingredients
For the Spicy Croutons:
- 2 slices bread cut into cubes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper adjust to taste
For the Spicy Caesar Dressing:
- ½ cup mayonnaise Kewpie or regular
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce adjust to taste
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt adjust to taste
For the Salad:
- 1 head romaine lettuce chopped
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1 tablespoon jalapeños chopped(optional for extra heat)
Instructions
For the Spicy Croutons:
- In a bowl, toss the bread cubes with olive oil and crushed red pepper.
- Air fry for 5 minutes at 375°F, shaking the basket halfway through, until golden and crispy. Set aside.
Make the Spicy Caesar Dressing:
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Sriracha, smoked paprika, garlic, salt, and ground black pepper until smooth. Set aside.
Assemble the Salad:
- In a large bowl, combine chopped romaine, spicy croutons, grated Parmesan, and chopped jalapeños.
- Drizzle with the spicy Caesar dressing and toss well to coat evenly.
- Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Adjust Heat Level: Add extra crushed red pepper or Sriracha for more heat, or reduce for a milder taste.
- Make it a Meal: Add grilled chicken, shrimp, or salmon to turn this into a hearty main dish.
- Make Ahead: Store lettuce, croutons, and dressing separately to keep them fresh. The dressing lasts up to 5 days in the fridge.
- Customize Toppings: For extra texture and flavor, try avocado, bacon bits, cherry tomatoes, sunflower seeds, or nuts.
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