Name: A fast Caesar salad
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 250 gm piece flat pancetta or smoked bacon, cut into lardons; 3 slices sourdough bread, crusts removed, cut into 2cm pieces; 3 baby cos lettuces, leaves separated; 150 gm parmesan, shaved using a vegetable peeler; 6 drained anchovy fillets, halved lengthways; Caesar dressing; 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped; 2 egg yolks; 2 tbsp white wine vinegar; 2 tsp Dijon mustard; 4 drained anchovy fillets; 3 tsp Worcestershire sauce; 1 cup olive oil

A good Caesar salad is a simple thing – crisp leaves of cos, freshly made sourdough croûtons and golden-fried morsels of bacon. Then there’s that Caesar dressing, made from scratch of course. Source some good-quality anchovies, and half the work is done.

Ingredients

250 gm piece flat pancetta or smoked bacon, cut into lardons

3 slices sourdough bread, crusts removed, cut into 2cm pieces

3 baby cos lettuces, leaves separated

150 gm parmesan, shaved using a vegetable peeler

6 drained anchovy fillets, halved lengthways

Caesar dressing

1 clove of garlic, finely chopped

2 egg yolks

2 tbsp white wine vinegar

2 tsp Dijon mustard

4 drained anchovy fillets

3 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 cup olive oil

Method

Main

1.For caesar dressing, process garlic, 1 tsp of sea salt, yolks, vinegar, mustard, anchovies and Worcestershire sauce using a food processor until combined. With motor running, add olive oil in a slow steady stream until dressing is thick, then season to taste with a pinch of sugar, sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

2.Fry pancetta pieces in a large frying pan over high heat until crisp and golden, then, using a slotted spoon, transfer to an absorbent paper-lined plate. Add bread to pan and fry in the pancetta fat until golden, then transfer to plate with pancetta.

3.Place lettuce leaves, parmesan and enough dressing to coat in a large bowl and toss well to combine. Divide among serving bowls and scatter with pancetta and croûtons and top with anchovies. Serve immediately.

Kate Tait

Styling by Pia Jane Bijkerk