Caesar Salad Spears

Serves around 6-8

 

This is a wonderful light and delicious hors d’oeuvres to have-particularly before a hearty dinner.   For a faster version, I have used pre-made Caesar bread crumbs and anchovy paste—but the homemade version is a bit tastier I think.  No matter, you and your guests will enjoy this and beware-they do go quickly.

 

Ingredients:

1. 2 C. 1/4 –inch-diced white bread or for shortcut use somewhat crushed Caesar store bought croutons
2. 1/4 C. grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese plus some for garnish
3. 5 Belgian endives
4. Lemon wedges for garnish and additional color

For Dressing: (you can double this recipe because it’s good for a left-over salad dressing)

1. 2 minced anchovies or a comparable amount of anchovy paste
2. 1 egg yolk
3. 1 clove garlic, minced
4. 2 Tblsp. grated Parmesan
5. 1 Tblsp. red-wine vinegar
6. 1 Tblsp. lime juice
7. 1 Tsp. Dijon mustard
8. ¼ tsp. Worchestershire sauce
9. 2 dashes Tabasco
10. 1/2 Tsp. salt
11. 1/2 Tsp. ground black pepper
12. 1/2 C. olive oil

 

Directions:

1. If you wish to make your own croutons, preheat oven to 350.  In a medium bowl, toss the bread with 2 Tbls. of the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.  Spread the bread on a baking sheet and toast for about 10 minutes, stirring once, until golden and crisp.
2. In a food processor, blender or by hand, whisk together ingredient #4 through #14. When well blended slowly add the olive oil.  Taste to see if you wish to add more S&P.
3. Trim the endives and remove the largest leaves from 3-4 of the heads. If you wish you can stack the leaves and trim them to about 4 inches. (I don’t do this.)
4. Thinly slice the remaining endive and toss with the dressing and the croutons.
5. Spoon the salad onto each spear and garnish with grated cheese.
6. Note: If you wish you can use a combination of endive and romaine heart leaves to fill and also you can chop very finely some of the romaine for the inclusion in your salad mixture.  So then you would have a mixture of endive and romaine hearts.  I personally like this combination.  It’s also more financially economical.