My Simple Trick for the Best Ever Caesar Salad

I’m a salad lover through and through. Sure, they can be healthy, but I find the crunch and limitless flavor combinations to be super satisfying and so delicious. But without question, my all-time favorite salad is Caesar; if I see it on a menu, I’m ordering it.

This Caesar salad obsession is both a blessing and a curse. I can’t just buy any old Caesar dressing from the supermarket and be satisfied—most are wholly disappointing. So, if I’m craving this salad and cooking from home, I’m making the dish (dressing included) from scratch.

Over the years of whipping up this classic recipe, I’ve picked up plenty of tips and tricks for getting it perfect. Read on to find my go-to secret that's both easy and unexpected.

My Trick for Making the Best Caesar Salad

When making homemade Caesar salad, I always rub the tossing and serving bowls with a freshly cut garlic clove. While this simple trick may not seem like it would be that impactful, it imparts a delicious, subtle bite of garlic that I otherwise miss.

Plus, it’s easy to integrate into the salad-making process. My homemade Caesar dressing calls for exactly one clove, so after I’ve rubbed all my bowls, I use the halves for my dressing and there's no waste! Even if you're not making your own dressing, this simple trick can elevate the taste of your store-bought Caesar dressing without much effort.

Thanks to their permeable material, using this method on wooden bowls will garner the most garlic flavor, but I use glass bowls and it works great. The garlic flavor lasts over several tosses and servings after just one rubbing, too. In fact, I made a homemade Caesar the other night with this trick, and my second serving had the same subtle punch of garlic.

How to Get the Most Out of One Garlic Clove

If you want to maximize the garlic flavor in your homemade Caesar salad, follow these tips:

• Make Sure It's New: It’s paramount that you use fresh garlic for the best flavor. The cloves should be firm.
• Cut Down the Middle: Be sure to slice your garlic clove right down the middle for easier maneuvering around the bowl.
• Don't Miss a Spot: When rubbing down your serving and tossing bowls, be sure to get into every nook and cranny. You can also use this trick when serving on a flat plate.
• Repurpose the Garlic: Once you’re done rubbing, don’t throw away that perfectly delicious clove—add it to your dressing.