Roasted Asparagus Caesar Salad (Printable)

Charred asparagus spears paired with crisp romaine, tangy yogurt Caesar dressing, and crunchy homemade croutons.

# What You'll 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 tablespoons olive oil
06 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Caesar Yogurt Dressing

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

→ Garnish

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

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - Toss bread cubes with 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Spread evenly on one baking sheet.
03 - Arrange asparagus on the second baking sheet. Drizzle lightly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
04 - Roast asparagus for 10 to 12 minutes until tender and lightly charred. Simultaneously roast croutons for 12 to 15 minutes, tossing halfway through, until golden and crisp.
05 - In a medium bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, and egg yolk if using. Whisk until smooth and adjust seasoning to taste.
06 - In a large salad bowl, toss chopped romaine with half the prepared dressing until evenly coated.
07 - Arrange roasted asparagus spears over the dressed romaine. Top with croutons and shaved Parmesan cheese. Drizzle with remaining dressing and finish with freshly cracked black pepper.
08 - Transfer to serving plates and serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The yogurt dressing gives you all that creamy Caesar satisfaction without feeling heavy afterwards
  • Roasting the asparagus transforms ordinary salad greens into something warm and comforting
02 -
  • Let the roasted asparagus cool for just a couple of minutes so it does not wilt the romaine instantly when you toss everything together
  • The dressing thickens as it sits in the fridge, so add a splash of water or lemon juice to thin it out before using leftovers
03 -
  • If your asparagus spears are thick, peel the bottom third with a vegetable peeler for tender results every time
  • Whisk the dressing vigorously for at least 30 seconds to get it perfectly smooth and emulsified
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