The allure of a Caesar salad lies in its dressing — the sting of raw garlic, the salty umami of Parmesan, and that anchovy funk. What you toss it with is less important. As long as it’s sturdy enough to bring that dressing to your mouth, any green will work just fine.
Mild and crisp romaine has been the classic since the 1920s, when the salad was first put on the menu at Caesar’s restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico. Kale Caesars and brussels sprouts Caesars had their moments, with those ruffled leaves adding an earthy, mineral tang. But I think cabbage works best of all.
Of all the greens, cabbage is the sweetest and crunchiest, with a pronounced contrast to the dressing that’s both satisfyingly textural and a little unexpected. Cabbage makes the whole salad livelier to eat.
It also keeps well. Unlike romaine,
Unlike romaine, which starts to wilt the moment it meets the dressing, cabbage holds up well. I made this cabbage salad one evening for dinner, then stuck the leftovers in the fridge. The next day, it was just as good — the flavours were more integrated, and the cabbage, though softer, was still gratifying in a coleslaw way.
If you do make the cabbage salad ahead, though, don’t add the croutons until serving. You want those to stay as crunchy as possible.
To further increase the crunch, I tear the bread rather than cut it. Torn bread has ragged, uneven edges that become extra crisp as they toast. Tossing the pieces with olive oil and a few tablespoons of grated Parmesan also helps the cause. As the croutons bake, the cheese melts into brittle, lacy patches along the edges. Use a spatula to scrape them up and fold them into the salad. Those frill-like bits are arguably the best part.
As for the anchovies, to me they are nonnegotiable in a Caesar salad. But sticklers will tell you that they’re not actually traditional. The original recipe gained its saline bite from Worcestershire sauce (which contains anchovies). It’s unclear when the salted fish made their way into the bowl, but now their presence has been firmly established. That said, if you want to skip them, use capers instead. You could also use olives or even feta, as all of these will add the necessary brininess.
You see, at its heart, Caesar salad is very adaptable. That’s one reason it’s been around for the past century — and it bodes well for the next.
