Description
A quick and creamy Caesar Salad Pasta that combines al dente fusilli pasta with crisp romaine lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy croutons, and a rich homemade Caesar dressing made with mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic, and Parmesan cheese, perfect for a refreshing and satisfying meal in just 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz Fusilli pasta (or any pasta of your choice)
Dressing
- 1/2 cup Mayonnaise (preferably full-fat for creaminess)
- 2 tbsp Lemon juice (freshly squeezed for best flavor)
- 1 clove Garlic (minced)
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard (adds depth to the dressing)
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (grated, plus extra for serving)
- 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce (for umami flavor)
- Salt (to taste)
- Black pepper (to taste)
Salad
- 4 cups Romaine lettuce (chopped into bite-sized pieces)
- 1/2 cup Cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1/4 cup Croutons (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil to season the pasta while cooking. Add the fusilli pasta and cook according to the package instructions, generally about 8-10 minutes until al dente. Reserve half a cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down.
- Prepare the Caesar Dressing: In a mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, freshly squeezed lemon juice, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, grated Parmesan cheese, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper. Whisk the ingredients until the dressing is smooth and creamy. If the dressing appears too thick, add small amounts of the reserved pasta water to achieve the desired consistency.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large serving bowl, combine the cooked and cooled pasta, chopped romaine lettuce, and halved cherry tomatoes. Drizzle the prepared Caesar dressing over the mixture and toss gently with tongs to evenly coat all ingredients. Finally, top the salad with croutons and additional grated Parmesan cheese before serving.
Notes
- For best flavor, use freshly squeezed lemon juice and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
- Adjust the dressing thickness by varying the amount of reserved pasta water added.
- Make the recipe vegetarian by ensuring Worcestershire sauce is vegetarian-friendly, or substitute with soy sauce or tamari.
- Serve immediately to keep croutons crunchy, or add them just before eating if preparing in advance.
