Classic Caesar Salad with a Latvian Twist

Ingredients

While the original Caesar Salad is typically made with romaine lettuce, croutons, Parmesan cheese, and a creamy dressing, our Latvian adaptation incorporates local ingredients to enhance the flavors. We substitute romaine lettuce with crisp iceberg lettuce, add smoked fish for a touch of smokiness, and use a tangy dill dressing instead of the traditional Caesar dressing. These changes give the salad a unique Latvian twist while still maintaining the essence of the original dish. We alse have the original recipe for Caesar Salad, so you can check it out.

• 1 head of iceberg lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces 1 head of iceberg lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces
• 200g (7oz) smoked fish, such as smoked sprats or smoked salmon 200g (7oz) smoked fish, such as smoked sprats or smoked salmon
• 1 cup (100g) croutons 1 cup (100g) croutons
• 1/2 cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced 2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
• Fresh dill, chopped (for garnish) Fresh dill, chopped (for garnish)
• For the dill dressing: For the dill dressing:
• 1/2 cup (120ml) sour cream 1/2 cup (120ml) sour cream
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste Salt and pepper to taste

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 320 kcal / 1340 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 22g, 8g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 12g, 2g
• Protein: 20g
• Fiber: 3g
• Salt: 1.5g

Preparation

1. 1.
   In a large salad bowl, combine the torn iceberg lettuce, smoked fish, croutons, grated Parmesan cheese, and sliced hard-boiled eggs.
2. 2.
   In a separate bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, fresh dill, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to make the dill dressing.
3. 3.
   Pour the dill dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all the ingredients.
4. 4.
   Garnish with fresh dill.
5. 5.
   Serve immediately and enjoy!

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Smoked fish — If you prefer a milder smoky flavor, you can use smoked salmon instead of smoked sprats. Adjust the quantity according to your taste preference.
• Dill — Fresh dill adds a distinct flavor to the dressing. If you can't find fresh dill, you can use dried dill, but reduce the quantity by half.

Tips & Tricks

• For added crunch, you can toast the croutons in a pan with a little olive oil before adding them to the salad.
• If you prefer a creamier dressing, you can increase the amount of mayonnaise in the dill dressing.
• Feel free to add additional vegetables such as cherry tomatoes or cucumber slices to the salad for extra freshness.

Serving advice

Serve the Riga Caesar Salad as a refreshing appetizer or as a light main course. It pairs well with crusty bread or as a side dish to grilled meats or fish.

Presentation advice

To enhance the presentation, arrange the salad on individual plates or in a large serving bowl. Garnish with additional sprigs of fresh dill and a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese.