Braden Family Cookbook

Chuck Braden

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NO GUILT CAESAR DRESSING                    Alton Brown

3 ounces cubed Parmesan (1/4" cubes)
3 cloves garlic
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 1/4 teaspoons white wine vinegar
2 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Pinch kosher salt (add more to taste after making)
Pinch freshly ground black pepper
12 oz. (weight) silken soft tofu (the tofu sold in the un-refrigerated box found in the Oriental section of your market
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Commentary:    Caesar Salad can be a major production.  It can be made with raw eggs, 1 minute poached eggs and a lot of other challenging ingredients.  Try this dressing with coarsely chopped or torn Romaine lettuce, some big croutons (either homemade or store bought), and possibly a little  coarsely shaved parmesan cheese. 

Starting on the lowest speed, chop the cheese cubes in the blender jar until it settles into the bottom of the jar, gradually increasing the speed. Add the garlic down the chute and chop until minced. Check that the garlic is minced before proceeding.

Next, add the mustard, white wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper, and tofu to the blender and blend until smooth. While the blender is running, drizzle olive oil down the middle of the vortex that has formed. Add more or less of the olive oil and blend until it reaches salad dressing consistency.  

Correction:  If too thick, add a little water to thin.  I usually add 2 - 3 TBSP.

Yield:  2  cups pf dressing...enough for a lot of Caesar Salad!

Wines to go with this:

This recipe calls for a basic Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc or similar wine that goes well with "salady-vegetably" type foods.  This is a good thing!. The vinegar in the dressing is offset by the slightly dominant vinegar tastes presented by the vinegar and tastes from the other salad ingredients.

Try substituting 3 TSP of the white wine of your choice for the 1 1/2 TSP of vinegar in the recipe above.  Serve the same wine with the salad.  I did this with a Washington Hogue 2001 Johannisberg 2001 Riesling and was really happy with the results.