Handheld Caesar Leaves
Published on May 7, 2025
Skip the bowl and pass the platter! These handheld Caesar leaves are crisp, creamy, and totally snackable—ideal for backyard BBQs, casual brunches, or when you just want a salad that’s fun to eat.
Handheld Caesar Leaves
Ingredients
- 2 bag of hearts of romaine (usually six romaine hearts)
- 1 lemon
- 1/2 c. shredded parmesan, preferably fresh grated
- 1/2 c. crushed crouton, purchase and smash
- fresh pepper
Easy Caesar Dressing:
- 1 c. Best Foods Mayonnaise
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1 T. Grey Poupon dijon mustard
- 4 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- 1/2 t. fresh pepper
- 1 T. capers, finely chopped (optional)
Whisk all ingredients together. Taste for salt. Add Kosher salt if desired.
Directions
Trim the base of the romaine hearts and remove the large outer leaves. Select the medium and small leaves for serving—avoid using the very small innermost ones. (wash if needed)
On a shallow bowl or platter, arrange the medium-sized leaves in a single layer around the edge. These will act as a base to support the smaller leaves as you build toward the center.
Drizzle Caesar dressing down the lower half of each leaf. Grate fresh parmesan and lemon zest over the dressed area, then sprinkle with croutons.
Continue layering smaller leaves, leaning them against the base leaves, and repeat the dressing, parmesan, zest, and crouton pattern. Work from larger leaves on the outside to the smallest in the center to create a flower-like presentation.
This also works beautifully arranged in a row on a rectangular serving platter. Finish with a touch of cracked black pepper, extra lemon zest, and more grated parmesan.
Keep cold until serving.
