Chicken Caesar salad is made healthier here with wholemeal croutons and a lower calorie dressing. It's basically the same taste as the delicious original, you just wont be counting the impact of the calories with this version!
I don’t know if you’re anything like me, but if I’m out for lunch, one of my biggest “go-to” restaurant menu options that I’ll look for is the classic chicken Caesar salad.
Now, you would think that opting for a salad would be the healthiest option on the menu. Unfortunately sometimes, that’s not so.
One of the problems with ordering out isn’t that there’s anything wrong with the food. It’s normally prepared to the highest quality.
No, it can be the things they add to your food, without you asking or knowing. And the portion size.
For example did you know that the dressing alone can be up to 70% of the calories of the whole meal?
The amount of parmesan cheese is often excessive and the croutons often made from white bread unhealthy processed grains and then cooked in excessive oil or butter.
But, it’s not all bad news.
So, I’m sorry if the above has sounded that way.
You can ask the restaurant for your dressing to be on the side, and the ingredients I’ve mentioned to be removed or added, in just a small quantity.
Then of course, you could make your own delicious, healthy chicken Caesar salad recipe, like this one here. which is ideal for packed lunches too!
Plus, this chicken Caesar salad ideal for packed lunches, which saves you having to eat lunch out at all, and will save you money too!!
My classic chicken Caesar salad recipe still uses all of the original ingredients of this wonderful dish.
But takes it back to the basic healthy salad it should be.
The creamy dressing quantity is just enough for two, and not excessive.
And, by using just a little reduced fat cheese, and healthy hearty wholegrain wholemeal bread to make the croutons, you surely won’t miss out on any of the qualities or taste you’re looking for.
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Chicken Caesar Salad Recipe
You can easily double up the quantities below to cater for more people. The dressing also makes an excellent substitute for mayonnaise in coleslaw recipes.
I’d love to hear what you think of my recipe in the comments below and please do rate my recipe 5* if you like it! 🙂
Chicken Caesar Salad Recipe
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Equipment
Ingredients
Dressing ingredients:-
- 2 tablespoon low fat mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon 0% fat Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- Freshly ground salt and pepper
Salad Ingredients:-
- 2 slices of wholemeal bread cut into cubes (see notes)
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- 2 baby gem lettuce hearts or similar romaine type lettuce
- 4 spring onions topped and tailed and finely sliced
- 1 tablespoon chopped flat leaf parsley
- 200 g cooked chicken roughly chopped up
- 40 g hard cheese like reduced fat cheddar
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 180C / 350F / Gas Mark 4.
- Make the dressing by placing all of the ingredients into a jar, shake well, season to taste and leave in the fridge until required.
- Make the croutons by placing the cubed wholemeal bread into a bowl and adding the olive oil and garlic then mixing together well until all of the oil is absorbed.
- Place the wholemeal cubes onto a baking tray, place into the oven and bake for 10 – 15 minutes until crispy, remove from oven.
- Arrange the lettuce leaves onto 2 plates, top with the spring onions, parsley, chopped chicken croutons and the grated cheese.
- Spoon over the dressing and serve.
Susie @ SuzLyfe
Now THAT is a trek! I bet you will have some incredible pictures, not to mention experiences, from that trip! Right now, I kind of sound like a gorilla, with my voice and all. You should just come to Chicago and see me in my natural habitat!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Suz, I cannot wait. Lynne and I have done nothing but talk about it since booking it! So excited. 😀
I think there will have to be multiple blog posts, certainly for all the photos I'll be taking, oh I'll need to get a new memory card too!
Chicago is on our bucket list, I can't remember (yes I know I usually remember stuff pretty well) if I've said before, so you never know you might just be getting that visit one day!
Liz
This salad looks delicious! I love Caesar dressing, but rarely ever have it because of the nutritional profile. This looks like a much lighter, delicious version:)
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Thanks so much for your comment Liz! 🙂
I love chicken Caesar salad, so I had to find a much "lighter" dressing to keep enjoying it, whilst not compromising my waist line. 😉
lindsay
this is one of my fav salads! I'll be coming over soon ok?
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Ha ha, and you're very welcome Lindsay! 🙂
Bring me bowls of your coconut rice and pomegranate porridge, ok? I know that should be for breakfast but it would sure made a delicious dessert too! 😉
Shashi at RunninSrilankan
OH MY GOSH!!!! OH MY GOSH!!!! Gorilla trekking in Uganda is THE TRIP of a lifetime!!! WOW - I am so excited for y'all and CANNOT WAIT to see the pictures and read about EVERY experience! wow!!!!!
By the way, Neil - I do love a Classic Cesar and usually get the dressing on the side - so, I am so loving this version with healthier crotons too!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Honestly Shashi, I still have not come down from the ceiling since we booked the flights and trip on Saturday! 😀 😀
So excited, and so much to do before we go, injections, jungle clothes and most importantly of all, an new camera lens, only joking Lynne 😆 (but I am still buying one 😉 )
Love how you also get the dressing on the side for your chicken casear salad too!! I could eat it without the dressing, but this one here is really tasty and compliments the recipe so well. If I may so so myself! 🙂
GiGi Eats
When I was younger and hated all things green - this salad was the ONLY WAY to get me to eat my greens! haha.
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Yeah, this became a favourite salad of mine at an early age too GiGi, probably because it used to be more dressing than salad!
That's different with this dressing I prefer here now though. 🙂