This simple and nutritious salad and can easily be prepared for a weeknight meal. People think that making your own Caesar dressing is difficult, but with a food processor or blender it's ready in about 5 minutes. I use raw egg in mine but you can omit it if you are worried. If you're buying your eggs from a local farmer who raises his or her chickens on pasture, raw eggs are safe to eat — but I would never recommend eating a raw industrial egg! I used shrimp here but you could use salmon, chicken, or top it with hard-boiled eggs. This is a simple, delicious, and a very nutrient dense meal just in time for Spring. 

Shrimp Caesar Salad Serves 4

2 heads romaine lettuce, washed and chopped Cooked and chilled shrimp (make sure to only buy wild-caught shrimp of U.S. origin) Parmesan Reggiano, grated for topping

For the Dressing: 1/2 cup olive oil Juice of one Meyer lemon 5 anchovy filets 1 tbl Dijon or stone-ground mustard 1/2 tbl Worcestershire sauce 1/4 cup grated Parmesan Reggiano 1 clove garlic, roughly chopped Freshly ground black pepper

To prepare the dressing place all the ingredients except the olive oil in a food processor or blender and combine for about 30 seconds. Stop the motor and scrape down the sides, then with the motor running add the olive oil in a slow steady stream until incorporated and the dressing looks well combined. Toss the chopped lettuce and dressing in a large salad bowl, then top with Parmesan and shrimp, add ground pepper to taste.

Nutrition Nuggets

Lettuce is a good source of chlorophyll and vitamin K. In general, the darker the lettuce the greater the nutrient content. Romaine lettuce is generally the most nutrient dense and is an excellent source of vitamin A, folic acid, and vitamins C, B1, and B2. Lettuce is also an excellent source of the minerals manganese and chromium.

Shrimp is an excellent source of protein, selenium, and vitamin B12, iron, and phosphorus. Shrimp also contain the beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA.

Parmesan cheese (the real kind, not the kind that comes in the green shaker) has more protein than any other cheese. It's full of beneficial bacteria, calcium, vitamin A, riboflavin, zinc and vitamin B12. Cheese has been shown to protect against dental cavities.