Cook's Illustrated

Lighter Chicken Caesar Salad

Published April 2, 2007.

Because Chicken Caesar Salad is a salad, many assume it's a safe bet when watching fat and calories. Think again.

The Problem

Some chicken Caesar salads can be more fattening than a bacon cheeseburger.

The Goal

We wanted a lower-fat version that came close to our ideal—crisp romaine lettuce spinkled with grated Parmesan cheese, tossed with toasted garlic croutons, the whole coated with a dressing containing garlic, anchovy, and lemon juice, boosted by the zip of Worcetershire sauce and bound together by a rich emulsion of egg yolks and olive oil.

The Solution

Our biggest challenge was the dressing. We found we could replace most of the fat in the dressing with buttermilk and reduced-fat mayonnaise. We also reduced fat by cooking the chicken in just 1 teaspoon oil, first browning the chicken, then poaching it. We also replaced traditional high-fat croutons with a new recipe for low-fat croutons.

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