Skip to main content

Tomato Caesar

4.6

(40)

Tomato Caesar salad recipe
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Micah Morton, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime

To stand up against juicy tomatoes, we made this Caesar dressing variation extra thick. A blender will get you the best results, but if you’re hand-whisking, add another 1 Tbsp. mayonnaise for the consistency you need. Tomato slices are better than wedges here; laid flat, they hold the dressing in place.

All products featured on Bon Appétit are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through the retail links below, we earn an affiliate commission.

What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 Servings

Ingredients

3

oil-packed anchovy fillets

1

small garlic clove

cup extra-virgin olive oil

3

Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1

Tbsp. mayonnaise

1

tsp. Dijon mustard

2

Tbsp. finely grated Parmesan, plus shaved for serving

Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

lb. mixed tomatoes, sliced, quartered, or halved

½

cup basil leaves

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Purée anchovies, garlic, oil, lemon juice, mayonnaise, mustard, and 2 Tbsp. Parmesan in a blender until smooth. Season dressing with salt and pepper. (Or, finely chop anchovies and garlic and whisk together dressing in a medium bowl.)

    Step 2

    Arrange tomatoes on a large plate; drizzle dressing over. Top with basil and shaved Parmesan; season generously with pepper.

Sign In or Subscribe
to leave a Rating or Review

How would you rate Tomato Caesar?

Leave a Review

Reviews (40)

Back to Top
  • It was very good, especially when tomatoes are in season. I did use 1T less olive oil and thought the dressing was fine.

    • jsbjk

    • Winnetka, IL

    • 6/28/2024

  • I actually like anchovies, in Caesar salads and elsewhere, but the three fillets in this dressing were too many for me. My husband, who is on the fence about anchovies, couldn’t eat it. Next time I’ll start with one fillet, taste, and only add more if it seems to need it.

    • Anonymous

    • 8/27/2023

  • This made a delightful summer lunch on a bed of croutons, using only one gorgeous heirloom tomato.

    • Jean White

    • Indianapolis

    • 7/23/2023

  • Hello, I made three batches of this basic dressing. First followed your recipe exactly. Those who ate your exact recipe said it was good but, said it lacked body and the velvety creamy mouth feel. Second I left out anchovies, added egg yolk and Worchestershire. Of the 2 this was a bigger hit as it added some of the body and creamy feel without the fishy taste. Third I made with anchovies (rubbing the wooden bowl) and egg yolk. This was the true favorite. Before serving, each were in fridge 30 minutes. Also, as brands have different amounts of salt I left it out until all else was blended and tasted. Thanks for sharing!raf Just an FYI, I worked in a restaurant which served "custom" Caesar Salads. The gentleman who made each one reported, requests were very close for, anchovies or not. No one ask to have the egg yolk left out. One table of regulars always asked to have, beer added.

    • Roberta

    • Los Angeles, Ca.

    • 10/15/2021

  • Anonymous - thanks for turning an ingredient added to a recipe into anti-American bigotry. Yeah, you don’t have too many issues.

    • JP

    • Portland

    • 10/11/2021

  • I made this and followed the recipe. I had a 6 ounce grilled chicken breast leftover, so I shredded it and split it between 2 salads. I thought this was wonderful. I tried to split the dressing for 4 servings, but after the two salads I probably only have enough dressing left over for 1 more salad. I enjoyed the other reviews - all the banter about what a real Caesar dressing is. I like this recipe.

    • bullcitybob

    • Durham, NC

    • 8/25/2021

  • I made this for a family picnic, and it was delicious. The dressing may not be traditional, but it is great, anchovies and all. I made a big batch in the food processor so I can make a quick salad when I bring in tomatoes and basil fresh from the garden. There is nothing quite like a tomato when it is still warm from the sun.

    • Marko52

    • South Range, WI

    • 8/24/2021