Easy Caesar Salad with Homemade Croutons

• Croutons
• 3 cups crusty bread, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
• 2 tbsp olive oil
  Swaps for olive oil

  Instead of olive oil

  • Avocado oil or another neutral oil: The same amount. No olive flavor; avocado oil handles higher heat.
  • Butter: The same amount. Richer and nutty when browned.
  • A neutral oil + more seasoning: The same amount. Dressings lose the fruity, peppery note; a little extra lemon, garlic or mustard makes up for it.

  More for olive oil

• ¼ tsp garlic powder
  Swaps for garlic powder

  Instead of garlic

  • Fresh garlic: 1 clove for each ⅛ tsp powder, minced fine. Sharper and stronger.
  • Granulated garlic: About twice as much as the powder. The same flavor in coarser grains, which blend better into rubs.

  More for garlic

• 1 pinch kosher salt
  Swaps for kosher salt

  Instead of salt

  • Table salt or fine sea salt: About half as much as Diamond Crystal kosher, about ¾ as much as Morton kosher. The same saltiness when measured this way.
  • Salt by weight: 1 tsp is about 6 grams of table salt, 5 grams of Morton kosher, 3 grams of Diamond Crystal kosher. The most reliable way to swap, especially in baking and brines.

  More for salt

• Dressing
• ½ cup mayonnaise ≈ 110 g
  Swaps for mayonnaise

  Instead of mayonnaise

  • Plain Greek yogurt: The same amount. Tangier and lighter; a bit looser.
  • Egg-free (vegan) mayo: The same amount. Very close.
  • Sour cream: The same amount. Tangier and less rich.

  All 4 swaps for mayonnaise

  Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.

• ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated ≈ 33 g
  Swaps for Parmesan cheese

  Instead of parmesan

  • Pecorino Romano: The same amount. Sharper and saltier (it is made from sheep's milk), so go easy on other salt.
  • Grana Padano: The same amount. Milder and a little softer, very close otherwise.
  • Nutritional yeast: 2 tbsp for each ¼ cup grated parmesan. Nutty and cheesy, but it doesn't melt or brown.

  More for parmesan

  Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.

• 2 tbsp lemon juice
  Swaps for lemon juice

  Instead of lemon juice

  • Lime juice: The same amount. A different, more floral aroma; works almost everywhere.
  • Bottled lemon juice: The same amount. More sour and flatter; fine in cooking and baking, less bright in dressings and drinks.
  • White wine vinegar or white vinegar: Half as much. Sharper, with no citrus aroma.

  More for lemon juice

• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  Swaps for Dijon mustard

  Instead of mustard

  • Another prepared mustard: The same amount. Yellow is milder and more vinegary; Dijon is sharper; whole-grain adds texture; spicy brown is in between.
  • Dry mustard: 1 tsp dry mustard + 1 tsp water + 1 tsp white wine vinegar for each 1 tbsp. Sharper and less smooth.

  More for mustard

• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  Swaps for Worcestershire sauce

  Instead of Worcestershire sauce

  • Soy sauce + vinegar: 1 tbsp soy sauce + ¼ tsp vinegar + a pinch of sugar for each 1 tbsp. Savory and tangy, less complex.
  • Vegan Worcestershire: The same amount. Very close, with no anchovies.

  More for Worcestershire sauce

• 2 anchovy fillets, minced, or 1 tsp anchovy paste (optional)
• 1 clove garlic, finely grated
  Swaps for garlic

  Instead of garlic

  • Garlic powder: ⅛ tsp for each clove. Mellower and sweeter, with no bite.
  • Jarred minced garlic: ½ tsp for each clove. Milder and slightly sour from the preserving liquid.

  More for garlic

• 2 tbsp olive oil
  Swaps for olive oil

  Instead of olive oil

  • Avocado oil or another neutral oil: The same amount. No olive flavor; avocado oil handles higher heat.
  • Butter: The same amount. Richer and nutty when browned.
  • A neutral oil + more seasoning: The same amount. Dressings lose the fruity, peppery note; a little extra lemon, garlic or mustard makes up for it.

  More for olive oil

• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 1–2 tbsp water, to thin
• Salad
• 2 large heads romaine lettuce, or 3 romaine hearts
• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, shaved or grated, for serving ≈ 25 g
  Swaps for Parmesan cheese

  Instead of parmesan

  • Pecorino Romano: The same amount. Sharper and saltier (it is made from sheep's milk), so go easy on other salt.
  • Grana Padano: The same amount. Milder and a little softer, very close otherwise.
  • Nutritional yeast: 2 tbsp for each ¼ cup grated parmesan. Nutty and cheesy, but it doesn't melt or brown.

  More for parmesan

  Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.

Cooking for a crowd? Pans, timing and salt for 12 to 50.

Missing something? Tap Swaps next to an ingredient, or see all substitutions.