Roasted Asparagus Caesar Salad (Printable)

Charred asparagus with crisp romaine, tangy yogurt Caesar dressing, and golden croutons.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 lb fresh asparagus, trimmed
02 - 2 large romaine hearts, chopped
03 - 1 small garlic clove, minced

→ Croutons

04 - 2 cups day-old baguette or bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
05 - 2 tbsp olive oil
06 - 1/4 tsp salt
07 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Caesar Yogurt Dressing

08 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
09 - 2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 2 tbsp lemon juice
11 - 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
12 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
13 - 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
14 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
15 - 1/4 tsp salt
16 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
17 - 1 egg yolk (optional for creaminess)

→ Garnish

18 - 1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
19 - Freshly cracked black pepper to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - Toss bread cubes with 2 tbsp olive oil, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Spread evenly on one baking sheet.
03 - Arrange trimmed asparagus on the second baking sheet. Drizzle lightly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
04 - Roast asparagus for 10-12 minutes until tender and lightly charred. Roast croutons for 12-15 minutes, tossing halfway through, until golden and crisp.
05 - Whisk together Greek yogurt, grated Parmesan, lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, and egg yolk if using until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning to taste.
06 - Place chopped romaine in a large salad bowl. Toss with half the Caesar dressing until evenly coated.
07 - Arrange roasted asparagus over the dressed romaine. Top with golden croutons and shaved Parmesan. Drizzle remaining dressing over the top and finish with extra cracked black pepper.
08 - Serve immediately while croutons are still crisp and asparagus is warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The yogurt based dressing gives you all that tangy Caesar flavor with less guilt than the traditional version
  • Roasted asparagus adds a smoky sweetness that turns a standard salad into something memorable
02 -
  • Do not overcrowd the baking sheets or your asparagus will steam instead of roast, losing those desirable charred edges
  • The croutons continue crisping as they cool, so remove them from the oven when they look slightly less done than you want
03 -
  • Grill the asparagus instead of roasting for an even deeper smoky flavor
  • Add a half teaspoon of anchovy paste to the dressing if you want that authentic Caesar taste
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