Roasted Asparagus Caesar Salad (Printable)

Tender roasted asparagus, crisp romaine, and creamy yogurt Caesar dressing with 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 fresh 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

# Directions:

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. 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 until smooth. Adjust seasoning as needed.
06 - In a large salad bowl, toss chopped romaine with half the dressing until well coated.
07 - Arrange roasted asparagus over the dressed romaine. Top with croutons and shaved Parmesan cheese. Drizzle with remaining dressing and finish with freshly cracked black pepper.
08 - Serve immediately while croutons are still crisp.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The Greek yogurt dressing delivers all the creamy tang of traditional Caesar but feels lighter and brighter
  • Roasting the asparagus transforms it into something smoky and sweet that plays perfectly against the crisp romaine
02 -
  • The timing difference between asparagus and croutons matters, so set a timer or you will end up with burnt bread
  • Let the asparagus cool for just a couple of minutes before assembling so it does not wilt the romaine immediately
03 -
  • Use a vegetable peeler to create those elegant Parmesan curls instead of buying pre-shredded cheese
  • If you want the traditional Caesar kick, stir in half a teaspoon of anchovy paste into the dressing
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