Butter Bean Caesar Salad (Printable)
Protein-packed salad with butter beans, romaine, and tangy homemade dressing
# What You'll Need:
→ Salad Components
01 - 1 (15 oz) can butter beans, drained and rinsed
02 - 2 medium heads romaine lettuce, chopped
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
05 - 1/2 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
06 - 1 cup croutons
→ Caesar Dressing
07 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
08 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
09 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
11 - 1 garlic clove, finely minced
12 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
13 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
14 - 1-2 tablespoons water (to thin, as needed)
# Directions:
01 - In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, grated Parmesan, and black pepper. Gradually add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached. Set aside.
02 - In a large salad bowl, add the chopped romaine lettuce, drained butter beans, halved cherry tomatoes, and thinly sliced red onion.
03 - Drizzle the prepared Caesar dressing over the salad ingredients. Toss gently but thoroughly to ensure all components are evenly coated.
04 - Sprinkle shaved Parmesan cheese and croutons over the dressed salad immediately before serving to maintain texture.
05 - Transfer to individual plates or serve family-style. Garnish with additional freshly ground black pepper if desired. Serve immediately for optimal crispness.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The butter beans turn this from a side salad into something that actually keeps you full for hours
- The homemade dressing comes together in two minutes and tastes better than anything from a bottle
02 -
- Dress this salad immediately before serving because the acid will start wilting the romaine within ten minutes
- The butter beans actually taste better after sitting in the dressing for a few minutes so they soak up all that flavor
03 -
- Rinse those butter beans really well to remove any metallic taste from the can
- Let the dressing sit for five minutes before tossing so the garlic mellows slightly