Caesar Salad with Avocado Dressing

The Caesar avocado dressing gives this salad favorite a new level of creaminess and flavor.

Ingredients:

For the Caesar Avocado Dressing

• 1 avocado, peeled and seed removed
• 4 garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon cider vinegar
• 2½ tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil

For the Salad

• 1 head romaine lettuce, washed, dried and chopped into bite-sized pieces
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
• Gluten-free croutons, if desired

Instructions:

1. To make the Caesar avocado dressing, in a food processor or blender, combine avocado, garlic cloves, mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Pulse until a smooth puree forms. Drizzle in the olive oil while running the food processor until an emulsified dressing forms. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
2. To assemble the salad, toss together chopped romaine lettuce, grated Parmesan and cherry tomatoes. Add in gluten-free croutons, if desired. Drizzle desired amount of avocado Caesar dressing on top of the salad and toss to coat all ingredients.

NUTRITION PER SERVING: Calories: 450, Fat: 35g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 15mg, Sodium: 830mg, Carbohydrates: 27g, Fiber: 7g, Sugars: 3g, Protein: 12g