Caesar Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 25 g freshly grated Parmesan
- 170 g mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 anchovies in oil
- 1 teaspoon
- Worcestershire sauce
- 0.5 teaspoon mustard
- 1 peeled garlic clove
- salt and ground pepper (to taste)
- 400 g short pasta (penne, fusilli, farfalle, etc.)
- 4 slices of bacon 500 g
- chicken breasts (2 large pieces, cut in half lengthwise)
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and ground pepper
- 200 g chopped or torn romaine lettuce (or any other green lettuce)
- 1 cup croutons (toasted bread cubes)
- 50 g coarsely grated Parmesan (or sliced into thin strips)
- lemon juice (as needed)
Instructions
First, prepare the salad dressing by adding all the ingredients to a blender or food processor and blending them well. Taste the dressing and add a little more salt, ground pepper, or lemon juice if needed. Store the prepared dressing in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta. Cook the pasta al dente according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain it and rinse with cold water. Let it drain thoroughly in a colander.
Cut the bacon into pieces and cook it in a skillet over medium heat until crispy (about 10 minutes). Once cooked, remove the skillet from the heat and transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels, leaving the fat in the skillet.
Season both sides of the chicken breast halves with salt, ground pepper, and garlic powder. Return the skillet to medium heat, and once the fat is hot, add the chicken and cook for about 5 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer the cooked chicken to a cutting board and let it rest for a few minutes to cool slightly, then slice it into strips.
Once all the ingredients are ready, assemble the salad. First, add the cooked pasta to a bowl, followed by the chopped lettuce, and then the cooked chicken and pancetta. Drizzle the dressing over the ingredients and sprinkle a little grated Parmesan on top. Serve the salad immediately.

