American•healthy

Wasabi Caesar Salad

An eggless Caesar salad recipe gets a kick in the pants from a dose of wasabi paste, smoked salmon, nori crisps, and crunchy vegetables.

Ingredients

Quantities are shown as originally provided.

1 large clove garlic, crushed and peeled
2 anchovy fillets, chopped
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 tablespoon wasabi paste, more or less to taste (I used 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon) ((15 ml) )
1/4 cup good-quality mayonnaise ((60 ml) )
1/4 cup sunflower oil (or other neutral vegetable oil) ((60 ml) )
1 teaspoon tamari (or soy sauce if not gluten-free)
2 tablespoons lemon juice ((30 ml) )
4 cups little gem lettuce (or romaine hearts) leaves, rinsed and spun dry
1/4 of a medium cucumber, thinly sliced ((1/4 cup))
2 medium radishes, trimmed and thinly sliced ((1/4 cup))
~2 tablespoons dressing from above
4 ounces smoked salmon, broken up into large pieces (about 1/2 cup) ((115 g))
1/4 cup shaved parmesan ((1 ounce / 30 g))
1/2 a large avocado, ripe but firm, peeled and cut into chunks
a big pinch black sesame seeds
a few nori crisps, torn

1
If you have a mortar and pestle, work together the garlic, anchovy and salt to a paste. Work in the wasabi, then the mayonnaise. Slowly drizzle in the oil, stirring or whisking constantly to form an emulsion, then stir in the tamari and lemon juice. (Otherwise, put the garlic through a press, mince the anchovy as finely as you can, and whisk in the remaining ingredients as described.) Taste, adding more wasabi, lemon, salt, or tamari if you feel the dressing needs it. The flavors will come out as the dressing sits. Cover and chill until needed, or up to 1 week.
2
In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, cucumber and radishes. Drizzle with the dressing (it will be thick) and use clean hands to toss until evenly coated. Gently toss in the smoked salmon, parmesan and avocado. Sprinkle with the sesame and nori strips and serve immediately.