For some dishes, their origin can be recognized by their name – but this is not the case with Caesar Salad. Contrary to widespread belief, the salad did not originate in Italy at all, but was invented in Mexico.
Summer is traditionally considered the beginning of salad season – and one dish is almost impossible to avoid: Caesar Salad. Whether in beach bars or on the menus of countless restaurants, the popular salad can be found almost everywhere. Traditionally, it consists of romaine lettuce, croutons and Parmesan cheese, complemented by a creamy dressing made with ingredients such as egg yolk, anchovies and garlic.
As with many classics, however, there is no single “correct” recipe. Depending on the region and country, Caesar Salad is prepared in different ways, which is why countless variations exist today. But where did this world-famous salad actually come from?
The answer: Caesar Salad was created neither in Italy nor in the United States, but in an Italian restaurant in the Mexican border city of Tijuana. According to legend, Caesar Salad came about rather by chance in July 1924. While alcohol could not legally be served in the United States due to Prohibition, many Americans travelled to Tijuana, Mexico. On one particularly busy day, Italian-American restaurateur Cesare Cardini reportedly ran low on supplies and quickly created a new salad using the ingredients he had left. The improvised dish was later named after its creator and became world-famous as “Caesar Salad”.
Even back then, the salad was fairly simple – at its core, it consisted of leafy greens, croutons and dressing. Today, it exists in countless variations: often topped with grilled chicken as a satisfying main course or served in a more minimalist version as a light side dish. Caesar Salad can also easily be prepared as a fully plant-based dish and adapted to individual preferences.
For a completely plant-based version, the dressing can easily be made using a “vegan mayonnaise” base – for example, from unsweetened soy milk, mustard, rapeseed oil, a little salt and lemon juice. The anchovies can be replaced with capers or nori sheets. Instead of chicken strips, marinated tofu or roasted chickpeas can be prepared as an alternative.
