The Improved Caesar Salad or What I named The Virgil Salad.

Since I decided to live a healthier lifestyle, I’ve been in love with salads. And I’ve loved every salad except the Caesar salad.

It happened a little after COVID. I gained weight, I was sad and depressed, and I got into yoga. From one thing to another, I started working out. I became so obsessed with discipline that I started waking up at 6:00 a.m. and meditating every morning. One day I thought, I’m already going to the gym; let’s change my diet too. The rest was history.

I fell in love with salads for a few reasons. One of them is that I love the authentic flavor of things. For instance, if I’m eating fries, I can’t add ketchup because then they only taste like ketchup. If I drink coffee, I don’t like sugar or milk. I want all its bitterness because I’m drinking coffee.

And that’s my problem with Caesar salads. As I wrote in my previous blog, Caesar salads are overrated. It’s just lettuce, cheese, croutons, and dressing. Lettuce has a pretty basic flavor, without much complexity. It almost tastes like water. The Caesar salad saviour is the dressing. Just like adding ketchup to your fries, it hides the natural flavor of the lettuce.

Personally, I’m not even a big fan of dressings. I usually get my dressing on the side so I can add a few drops on top. That’s enough for me. The same goes for sauces in general. I just don’t understand why people want to sugarcoat everything. Maybe that’s why they like politicians, because they can’t handle the truth.

Since I’ve been campaigning against the tyranny of Caesar salads on social media, I’ve brought my fellow revolt allies the solution: the Improved Caesar Salad, or what I named the Virgil Salad. It got that name from a poem written by Virgil: “and arugula, which recalls the lagging wish of sexual delights.” Yes, for the Romans, arugula was considered an aphrodisiac. But for us, it will be the savior of today’s revolt.

My recipe is simple:

Arugula

Aged cheese

Avocado

Grilled chicken

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)

A lime wedge

Why am I keeping this simple? Because I understand why Caesar salads are popular: they’re easy to make. So I brought an easy solution.

I wasn’t a fan of arugula at first, but it has earned a place in my heart. Its peppery flavor and ability to blend with other ingredients, making them shine while bringing something special to the table, made me fall in love with it. The avocado is there simply because it makes everything special. For the cheese, you can use aged Manchego, maybe smoked Gouda, or something with personality—something with character. Personally, I use truffle cheddar. Any protein you like works too. Honorable mentions: salmon, shrimp, and steak. Finish it by squeezing a lime wedge over the top. Lime always makes avocado taste better. And last but not least, the EVOO. I recommend using EVOO on everything, especially salads. It’s like adding salt—it simply makes your food taste better. Different EVOOs have different flavor profiles, and when it isn’t cooked, it’s a healthy fat for your heart.

Caesar salads convinced people that salads need dressing to be interesting. I think the opposite is true. A great salad shouldn’t hide its ingredients—it should celebrate them. That’s the idea behind the Virgil Salad.