Salads Baking Caesar homemade croutons quick weeknight Kinder's

Kinder's Organic Buttery Garlic Salt Caesar Salad with Homemade Buttery Garlic Croutons

Name: Kinder's Organic Buttery Garlic Salt Caesar Salad with Homemade Buttery Garlic Croutons
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 6 cups ciabatta bread, day-old, cut into 1/2-inch cubes; 4 tablespoons unsalted butter; 3 cloves garlic cloves, minced; 1.5 teaspoons Kinder's Organic Buttery Garlic Salt; 0.5 cup pasteurized mayonnaise; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1.5 teaspoons anchovy paste; 2 heads romaine hearts, trimmed and chopped; 0.5 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

A bright, classic Caesar that highlights Kinder's Organic Buttery Garlic Salt in both the dressing and crisp homemade croutons. Crisp romaine, a tangy anchovy-mayo dressing, and golden buttery garlic croutons make this an easy weeknight salad that feels special.

0.0(0 reviews)

Prep: 15m · Cook: 12m · Total27 mins

DifficultyEasy

Serves4

AuthorJake

Ingredient Spotlight

Kinder's Organic Buttery Garlic Salt

A branded, flavored finishing salt combining salt with buttery and garlic seasonings; it's an American specialty product rather than a single-ingredient pantry staple. It smells strongly of garlic with rich, buttery notes and is used to add instant savory/buttery flavor. Find it at specialty grocery stores, natural-food chains, or online; substitute with a mix of garlic powder (or granulated garlic), flaky sea salt, and a little butter or butter powder for a similar effect.

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Ingredient Spotlight

anchovy paste

A concentrated paste made from ground, salted anchovies (often with oil), commonly used in Mediterranean and European cuisines to add deep umami and savory saltiness without a pronounced fishy texture. It tastes very salty, savory, and slightly briny; when melted into dressings or sauces it gives richness rather than an overt fish flavor. Available in most supermarkets in the canned/condiments or international aisle and online; good substitutes are mashed anchovy fillets, a splash of Worcestershire or fish sauce (use sparingly), or a small spoonful of miso for umami if avoiding fish.

Jake's note

"This Caesar shines when you want a quick, restaurant-style salad at home — the Kinder's seasoning gives the croutons and dressing a rich, garlicky finish. Perfect for weeknight dinners or as a bright side for grilled mains."

Kinder's Organic Buttery Garlic Salt Caesar Salad with Homemade Buttery Garlic Croutons

This Caesar is built around one little shortcut that does heavy lifting: Kinder's Organic Buttery Garlic Salt. It layers that savory, buttery-garlic note into two places — folded into a quick anchovy-mayo dressing and brushed over cubes of day-old ciabatta before they turn into golden croutons — which gives the salad a consistent flavor thread without relying on long, fussy reductions or compound butters. The dressing leans on pasteurized mayo and anchovy paste for instant creaminess and umami, while lemon and freshly grated Parmesan cut through the richness; the ciabatta croutons bring the crunch and a light chew that holds up to the dressing.

This version thrives when you want a weekday meal that still feels special or a starter that won’t keep you in the kitchen. It’s forgiving: use day-old bread rather than precise artisan loaves, and taste as you go with the anchovy paste and the garlic salt. The result is a crisp, bright salad where salty, savory, and buttery notes balance with citrus sharpness; it’s excellent piled onto a chilled platter for guests or served alongside a simply grilled protein for a complete weeknight dinner.

Plan your timing

Enter your target meal time:

6:27 pm–6:34 pm→Make the buttery garlic croutons

6:34 pm–6:41 pm→Whisk the Caesar-style dressing

6:41 pm–6:48 pm→Prepare lettuce and assemble salad

6:48 pm–6:55 pm→Finish and serve

Ingredients

Yield

Instructions

Make the buttery garlic croutons

Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). In a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter, then stir in the minced garlic and Kinder's Organic Buttery Garlic Salt. Toss the bread cubes with the garlic butter until evenly coated, spread in a single layer on a baking sheet, and bake 10–12 minutes, tossing once, until golden and crisp. Remove and let cool — they will continue to crisp as they rest.

For this step

6 cupsciabatta bread, day-old, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
4 tablespoonsunsalted butter
3 clovesgarlic cloves, minced
1.5 teaspoonsKinder's Organic Buttery Garlic Salt

Whisk the Caesar-style dressing

In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, and anchovy paste until smooth. Taste and adjust — add a small pinch of Kinder's Organic Buttery Garlic Salt if you want more garlicky-buttery depth, and whisk again to combine. If the dressing is too thick, whisk in 1–2 teaspoons of water to reach a pourable consistency.

For this step

0.5 cuppasteurized mayonnaise
2 tablespoonsfresh lemon juice
1.5 teaspoonsanchovy paste

Prepare lettuce and assemble salad

Toss the chopped romaine in a large bowl with about three-quarters of the dressing, adding more to taste so leaves are lightly coated. Add the cooled croutons and half of the grated Parmesan, then gently toss to combine so the croutons are distributed evenly.

For this step

2 headsromaine hearts, trimmed and chopped
0.5 cupfreshly grated Parmesan cheese

Finish and serve

Divide the salad among plates or serve family-style, sprinkling the remaining Parmesan over the top and finishing with an extra light pinch of Kinder's Organic Buttery Garlic Salt if desired. Serve immediately so croutons stay crisp.

Tips from the kitchen

Use day‑old bread

Day‑old ciabatta dries out slightly and soaks up garlic butter without becoming gummy, producing croutons that are crisp on the outside and tender inside.

Melt butter gently

Warm the butter over low heat and remove from the heat before it browns so the minced garlic mellows rather than becomes bitter.

Season dressing slowly

Add Kinder's Buttery Garlic Salt in small increments after whisking the mayo and anchovy so you don’t overpower the lemon and anchovy flavors.

Cool croutons completely

Let the croutons rest on the baking sheet after roasting so steam escapes and they become fully crisp rather than softening the salad.

Toss at the last moment

Dress the romaine and add most of the croutons just before serving to preserve crunch and prevent wilted leaves.

Variations & substitutions

Anchovy‑free Caesar

Replace the anchovy paste with 1 teaspoon white miso or 1 tablespoon caper brine to mimic the savory depth without fish.

Lighter Yogurt Dressing

Swap half the mayonnaise for plain Greek yogurt for tang and lower fat while keeping a creamy texture; whisk in a bit more lemon to balance.

Gluten‑free Croutons

Use gluten‑free ciabatta or any sturdy GF bread and roast the cubes the same way for equally crunchy croutons.

Protein‑topped Salad

Add grilled lemon chicken, shrimp, or slices of seared steak on top for a main‑course salad; reserve a few croutons and extra Parmesan for garnish.

Storage & make-ahead

Store any leftover dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Keep croutons in a separate airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days and re‑crisp in a 350°F oven for 5–7 minutes before using. Assemble the salad just before serving; dressed romaine will begin to soften within an hour.

What to serve with it

Serve this Caesar with a simple grilled lemon chicken or a few smoky grilled shrimp for a complete meal, and offer extra lemon wedges and grated Parmesan at the table. For drinks, a bright Sauvignon Blanc or a dry rosé cuts through the richness and complements the garlicky butter notes.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use regular salt instead of Kinder's Buttery Garlic Salt?

Yes, but you’ll miss the built‑in butter and garlic flavor. If you use plain salt, add an extra clove of minced garlic to the melted butter and consider a pinch of powdered butter seasoning or a small knob of butter for depth.

Can I make the croutons ahead of time?

Yes — once cooled, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days; re‑crisp briefly in a 350°F oven if they soften.

My dressing is too thick — how do I thin it?

Whisk in 1–2 teaspoons of cold water at a time until you reach a pourable consistency, tasting as you go to maintain balance.

Can I use fresh anchovies instead of anchovy paste?

Absolutely — finely mince 2–3 filets (about 1½ teaspoons) and mash them into the lemon juice first so they dissolve evenly into the mayo.

How do I prevent the romaine from wilting?

Dry the leaves thoroughly after washing and chill them briefly before assembling, then dress and serve immediately — reserve a few croutons to add just before plating for maximum crunch.

About the author

Jake

Hello, I'm Jake. I started this recipe site with the idea that I hated recipe websites that overwhelm you with long stories and ads just to see plain content that's not helpful. My goal is to provide you with quality recipes, simple ideas and a fun cooking experience. There's lots of fun things to cook, and I think as you browse the site you'll find that TopShelf.Recipes is the place for quality recipes on the web.

See all recipes by Jake →

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Ingredients

4 servings

Step 1: Make the buttery garlic croutons

ciabatta bread, day-old, cut into 1/2-inch cubes6 cups
🛒 Buyunsalted butter4 tablespoons
garlic cloves, minced3 cloves
🛒 BuyKinder's Organic Buttery Garlic Salt1.5 teaspoons

Step 2: Whisk the Caesar-style dressing

pasteurized mayonnaise0.5 cup
fresh lemon juice2 tablespoons
anchovy paste1.5 teaspoons

Step 3: Prepare lettuce and assemble salad

romaine hearts, trimmed and chopped2 heads
freshly grated Parmesan cheese0.5 cup

🛒 = paid link — as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Facts

Per serving: 1 salad (220g)

Calories514

Total Fat26.5g

Saturated Fat7.9g

Trans Fat0.1g

Polyunsaturated Fat5.3g

Monounsaturated Fat11.4g

Total Carbohydrates56.9g

Dietary Fiber4.2g

Total Sugars4g

Protein14.2g

Nutrition values are estimated from USDA ingredient data and may vary based on preparation, brands, and portion sizes. Values are provided for informational purposes only.

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