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    Home » Salads » Fried Lemon Caesar Salad

    Fried Lemon Caesar Salad

    Mar 11, 2019 · by Valentina · 56 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Fried Lemon Caesar Salad is full of beautiful fried lemon slices and makes for a delicious Caesar Salad with a unique, fun twist. It's a lovely appetizer salad, and you can add chicken and turn it into a hearty main course.Fried Lemon Caesar Salad on a red plate.

    It might be a stretch to call my Fried Lemon Caesar Salad a twist on the classic, but that's what I'm doing. I took most of the lemon out of the dressing and added that lovely flavor with fried lemon slices in the salad itself.

    Fried lemon slices are delicious. The lemons caramelize, making them sweeter and less pungent, but still quite lemon-y.
    Large white plate full of lemon slices.

    Fried Lemons

    Frying citrus almost doesn't seem like a natural thing to do, but it's actually quite remarkable.

    They have an added layer of flavor, and it's sweet. When they're fried, the sour, tart lemons caramelize, bringing all of the natural sugars to the surface. They'll still be sour and tart, of course, but the sweetness rounds the flavor out a bit.
    Fried Meyer Lemons in a cast iron skillet.

    How to Fry Lemons

    • Choose the right lemon. Ideally, you want a thin-skinned, seedless lemon. While you can use any lemons for this recipe, Meyers are preferable because their skin is thinner than most other lemons. Fried lemons are better with a thin skin because too much of the pith (the white part between the skin and the fruit), won't taste as good, and doesn't look as appealing. Most lemons have at least a few seeds -- the fewer the better so the slices stay more intact.
    • Season with salt, pepper and sugar. The pepper will add flavor, while both the salt and sugar will help brighten the natural flavor of the lemon.
    • The pan should be very hot. Treat the lemon slices like ahi tuna you want to sear. The hotter the pan is when the lemon hits it, the more likely it is to get a beautiful, golden caramelization on the surface.
    • This is a quick process. We only want to quickly brown the lemons -- if they're in the hot pan for too long, they'll become mushy. We're not actually cooking them, just browning them. Again, think of the seared ahi tuna.

    Close up of Fried Lemon Caesar Salad on a red plateMy cousin laughed the other day when I asked her if she'd like any "citrus." I could have been more specific I suppose, but in my mind, citrus may as well be its own food group!

    Inspiration

    Blood oranges, Satsumas, Pixies, limes and lemons are constantly inspiring me. I love them and I'm always working these fantastic and delicious fruits into my recipes.

    Oh, and Lemon-Garlic Croutons are also part of what make this Fried Lemon Caesar Salad so good.

    Lemon Garlic Roasted Croutons in a ceramic baking dish with the top of a lemon with stemFried Lemon Caesar Salad is one of my favorite citrus creations.

    I hope you love it!

    Fried Lemon Caesar Salad on a red plate.

    Fried Meyer Lemon Ceasar Salad Recipe

    Valentina K. Wein
    Fried Lemon Caesar Salad is full of beautiful fried lemon slices and makes for a delicious Caesar salad with a unique, fun twist. It's a lovely appetizer salad, and you can add chicken and turn it into a hearty main course.
    *Please note that the "prep time" does not include making the croutons -- click croutons in the ingredient list for those instructions.
    5 from 15 votes
    Print
    Prep Time 25 mins
    Cook Time 2 mins
    Total Time 27 mins
    Course Appetizer, Salad
    Cuisine American, Mexican
    Servings 6
    Calories 289 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    For the fried lemons

    • 2 lemons (preferably Meyer lemons)
    • salt, granulated sugar and freshly ground black pepper
    • olive oil

    For the dressing

    • 5 anchovies, finely chopped
    • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
    • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
    • 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon honey
    • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • salt and freshly ground black pepper

    For the salad:

    • 3 heads Romaine lettuce, washed and dried, roughly chopped
    • 2 cups Lemon-Garlic Croutons (click here for the recipe)
    • 1 cup Parmesan, shaved

    Instructions
     

    For the fried lemons

    • Wash, dry, and thinly slice the lemons -- placing them on a large plate as you go. You should get about 8 slices per lemon, and they should be about ⅛-inch thick.
    • Coat the bottom of a large sauté pan with olive oil, place it over medium-high heat. While the pan is preheating, sprinkle both sides of the lemon slices with salt, pepper and sugar. This should be a light sprinkling, but enough to season each slice well.
    • Once the pan is very hot, add the lemon slices and sauté until the bottoms are golden brown, about 1 minute. Use a tiny spatula to gently flip the slices, and brown the other side, about 30 seconds. Place the sautéed lemons slices on a plate to cool. Set aside.
    • Once cooled, cut each sautéd lemon slice into fourths -- you can stack a few at a time to do this. Set aside.

    For the dressing

    • In a small bowl, combine the anchovies, garlic, mustard, vinegar, lemon juice, and honey. Mix to blend. Gradually, pour in the oil, whisking all the while to blend it evenly. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside. (Here's How to Season to Taste.)

    For the salad

    • In a large salad bowl, mix the lettuce with the Lemon-Garlic Croutons, Parmesan and the fried lemons.
    • Just before you're ready to serve, toss the salad with the dressing.
    Keywords pretty salads, unique salad recipes
    Have you tried this recipe?I'd love to see it on Instagram! Tag me at @cookingontheweekends or leave a comment & rating below.

    Save

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Colette from JFF!

      March 28, 2013 at 4:49 pm

      Shut
      the
      door!

      I'm so making this!

      Reply
      • valentina

        January 05, 2017 at 11:36 pm

        😀

        Reply
    2. sippitysup

      March 29, 2013 at 12:59 am

      I love fried lemon. It seems odd (at first) but don't knock it til you try it. GREG

      Reply
      • valentina

        January 05, 2017 at 11:37 pm

        Exactly! 😉

        Reply
    3. Kelsey

      March 29, 2013 at 10:14 pm

      Haha! I love you. This is gorgeous.

      Reply
      • valentina

        January 05, 2017 at 11:38 pm

        Thanks, Kelsey! xoxo

        Reply
    4. Kristen @ The Endless Meal

      April 02, 2013 at 5:35 pm

      This is such a great idea! I made a kale caesar the other day that would have been even more delicious with these lemons. Will have to make it again and try frying up some lemons. 🙂

      Reply
      • valentina

        April 02, 2013 at 7:52 pm

        Thanks so much, Kristen. Sounds delicious with the kale! 🙂

        Reply
    5. Cassie

      May 13, 2017 at 2:51 pm

      Hi!

      How horrible would the dressing be without the anchovies?

      Thank you!

      Reply
      • valentina

        May 13, 2017 at 7:32 pm

        Not horrible at all! Just different. 🙂

        Reply
    6. Chocolate Lady

      March 19, 2018 at 1:01 pm

      Thank you for sharing this salad recipe featuring fried lemon slices! What a marvelous idea! I just discovered you ~ and so happy I did!

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 19, 2018 at 4:32 pm

        Thank you! I hope you try the salad -- I just love cooking with lemons. So happy you found my site, too. 🙂

        Reply
    7. 2pots2cook

      March 12, 2019 at 9:33 am

      This is what I call perfect office lunch !

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 12, 2019 at 12:54 pm

        Thank you! 😀

        Reply
    8. Gerlinde @Sunnycovechef

      March 12, 2019 at 5:21 pm

      What a great recipe, I will make your salad this week especially since I have a Meyer lemon tree in my garden. Thank you for the recipe.

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 12, 2019 at 5:35 pm

        So great to have a Meyer lemon tree! The best. Thanks, Gerlinde. 🙂

        Reply
    9. Luci

      March 12, 2019 at 7:42 pm

      I never would have thought of frying a lemon. That has to bring out the flavor of the lemon.

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 12, 2019 at 7:50 pm

        It does! 😀

        Reply
    10. Pina

      March 12, 2019 at 9:29 pm

      Fried. Lemon. This just blew my mind! Can't wait to make this 🙂

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 12, 2019 at 10:55 pm

        Yay! I hope you love it!

        Reply
    11. Natalie

      March 12, 2019 at 9:44 pm

      I love caeser salad! Looks so delicious and perfect for dinner!

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 12, 2019 at 10:55 pm

        Thanks, Natalie!

        Reply
    12. Tilly

      March 12, 2019 at 9:47 pm

      You've just blown my mind, I've never seen fried lemons let alone in a salad. Genius!

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 12, 2019 at 10:56 pm

        Thank you!!!

        Reply
    13. Bhawana

      March 12, 2019 at 10:55 pm

      you successfully tempted me with those roasted lemon wedges. Looking so mouthwatering and drooling over n over.

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 12, 2019 at 10:57 pm

        Thanks so much!

        Reply
    14. Jeff the Chef

      March 13, 2019 at 3:54 am

      I have fried lemon slices before. They're gorgeous and intense. I'll bet they're delicious in this salad! Nicely done!

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 13, 2019 at 7:59 am

        Thanks, Jeff! 😀

        Reply
    15. Dawn - Girl Heart Food

      March 13, 2019 at 4:20 am

      I love caesar salad, especially those made at home - the best! I've never fried lemons before, but I do love 'em and another way to enjoy is never a bad thing 😉 Bet they add such brightness and flavours to this salad. Can't wait to give this a go! You're totally making me crave this for breakfast right now 🙂

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 13, 2019 at 8:00 am

        Well if you're craving salad for breakfast, I know I've done my job well. She says while she sips her coffee and eats cookies. 😀 Have a great day, Dawn, and thanks!

        Reply
    16. John / Kitchen Riffs

      March 13, 2019 at 8:33 am

      Why have I never fried lemons?!! LOVE the idea. I'm so doing this -- thanks.

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 13, 2019 at 3:25 pm

        I hope you like it as much as we do! Enjoy!

        Reply
    17. nancy

      March 13, 2019 at 10:11 am

      This salad SO HAS MY name written all over it! I adore citrus and caramelized citrus? Oh my! I am adding this to my dinner rotation ASAP - definitely a winner in our house!!

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 13, 2019 at 3:25 pm

        So happy you like it, Nancy. Thank you! 😀

        Reply
    18. Ron

      March 13, 2019 at 10:59 pm

      Who doesn't love a good salad and Caeser? It's likely my favorite salad. Carmalized lemon slices in a Caeser sounds wonderful as well as being a brilliant idea. Your dressing recipe looks divine. What's a Ceaser without anchovies? Not a Ceaser in my book. Can't wait to give this a try.

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 17, 2019 at 1:16 pm

        I'm with you about the anchovies, Ron. Love them! Thanks so much and enjoy. 🙂

        Reply
    19. David @ Spiced

      March 14, 2019 at 5:49 am

      Frying up those lemons totally counts as a twist on the classic recipe, Valentina! I don't think I've ever seen that done before. I love tossing citrus on the grill, so it makes sense that I would like 'em fried up, too. This sounds like a wonderful flavor, and I'll have to keep it in mind for sure. Also, that salad looks awesome!

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 17, 2019 at 1:17 pm

        Grilling citrus sounds awesome, David, and with so many things. Thanks and enjoy!

        Reply
    20. Deb|EastofEdenCooking

      March 14, 2019 at 10:58 am

      A lemon lovers fantasy salad! What a fabulous way to celebrate the season of citrus.

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 17, 2019 at 1:25 pm

        Thanks so much, Deb! I do love citrus!!

        Reply
    21. Coco in the Kitchen

      March 14, 2019 at 12:08 pm

      What a delicious idea!

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 17, 2019 at 1:26 pm

        Thank you, Colette! 🙂

        Reply
    22. Kathryn

      March 14, 2019 at 7:58 pm

      What a great idea Valentina. I have crystallised but never fried lemons. As I have a lovely Myer Lemon Tree I will enjoy venturing out and adding a few 'fried lemons' to my dishes. Very innovative!

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 17, 2019 at 1:28 pm

        I love crystalized lemon, too. Lucky you to have a Meyer lemon tree. 🙂

        Reply
    23. Kelly | Foodtasia

      March 15, 2019 at 5:34 am

      Valentina, how inspiring! I never heard, thought of, or even imagined fried lemon. It looks and sounds amazing! Brilliant!

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 17, 2019 at 1:28 pm

        I hope you try it, Kelly. They're a tasty treat. 🙂 Thanks for checking it out.

        Reply
    24. David

      March 16, 2019 at 9:49 am

      The fried lemons sound amazing, Valentina! I will definitely try this - and I love Caesar salad (sans garlic, natch!). Did you know the original Caesar had no garlic in the dressing? Only the bowl was rubbed with garlic. I was rather astonished to learn that!

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 16, 2019 at 12:51 pm

        I do think I've heard that -- I like it! Enjoy frying lemons and I hope you're having a lovely weekend.

        Reply
    25. Karen (Back Road Journal)

      March 18, 2019 at 12:31 pm

      What a terrific and different take on Caesar salad. I love all things lemon and can't wait to give your recipe a try.

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 20, 2019 at 11:29 am

        Thank you, Karen! I hope you enjoy it! 🙂

        Reply
    26. Christina Conte

      March 20, 2019 at 11:14 pm

      LOVE this idea! I mean, why not? It's just one of those "why didn't I think of that" moments! Thanks, Valentina!

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 22, 2019 at 11:02 am

        Right!? I hope you try it, and I bet you have lemons in your beautiful garden. 🙂

        Reply
    27. Leona Barnett

      April 02, 2019 at 7:04 am

      Just wondering if you can fry the lemons ahead of time. Looking forward to having a new way to use my Meyer lemon crop

      Reply
      • valentina

        April 02, 2019 at 7:26 am

        Hi Leona, I wouldn't do this too far ahead because the lemons will become soggy. I think 30 min. ahead is all I'd do. Though, if you don't mind a soggy appearance, they will still taste great! Thanks for visiting and checking out the recipe. Cheers!

        Reply
    28. Inn

      April 09, 2019 at 5:52 am

      Wow Valentina.. you came up with such a fantastic idea! I would never have thought to fry lemons. I can't wait to try it. This recipe looks absolutely amazing!

      Reply
      • valentina

        April 10, 2019 at 2:14 pm

        Thank you so much. I hope you enjoy the recipe! 🙂

        Reply

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