🇰🇪 Kenyan / Modern · Hotel & Restaurant Favorites
🥗 Kenyan Caesar Salad
Saladi ya Caesar ya Kenya
Kenyan Caesar Salad — crisp romaine lettuce, house-made croutons, shaved parmesan, and a bold Caesar dressing with a Kenyan twist of coriander. Topped with grilled spiced chicken for the complete restaurant version.
The Caesar salad has become a staple of Nairobi's restaurant menus — adapted with spiced grilled chicken and fresh coriander for local character. The house-made Caesar dressing, properly made from scratch, elevates this from a side salad to a proper restaurant starter.
Ingredients
Equipment: Mixing bowl, Pan for croutons, Whisk
- 2 heads romaine lettuce — torn
- 100g parmesan — shaved
Caesar Dressing
- 3 garlic cloves — minced
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp anchovy paste — optional
- ½ cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp parmesan — finely grated
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp salt
Croutons
- 4 thick slices bread — cubed
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 garlic clove
Optional
- 2 grilled spiced chicken breasts — sliced
Method
- Make croutons: toss bread cubes with olive oil and garlic. Bake at 180°C until golden and crunchy.
- Make dressing: whisk garlic, lemon, Worcestershire, mustard, and anchovy paste. Gradually whisk in olive oil. Add parmesan, salt, and pepper.
- Toss romaine with enough dressing to coat — not drench.
- Add croutons and shaved parmesan.
- Lay sliced chicken over the top if using.
- Drizzle a little extra dressing over the chicken.
Chef Tips
- The dressing should coat the lettuce — not pool at the bottom.
- Homemade croutons are dramatically better than commercial ones.
- Add the dressing just before serving to prevent wilting.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Over-dressing — soggy lettuce.
- Commercial croutons — cardboard texture.
- Dressing too far in advance — wilted salad.
The Science
Caesar dressing is a simple emulsion — the olive oil is gradually added to the acidic base (lemon, Worcestershire) while whisking. The Dijon mustard contains emulsifying compounds that stabilise the oil droplets in the water-based liquid.
Nutrition (per serving)
Health Benefits
- Romaine lettuce provides vitamins A and K.
- Parmesan provides calcium.
- Olive oil adds healthy monounsaturated fats.
Cultural Note
The Caesar salad has become a benchmark of Nairobi's restaurant quality — a simple dish that reveals the kitchen's attention to detail through the quality of the dressing, the freshness of the lettuce, and the crunch of homemade croutons.
Storage & Serving
Storage: Dress and serve immediately.
Reheating: Not applicable.
Serve with: As a starter to any main, Chicken Alfredo (KEN258), Beef Lasagna (KEN261)