Have you ever heard about cravings? The urge to eat things repeatedly is part and parcel of pregnancy. A bowl of Caesar salad is an all-time favourite for many women. This Mexican delight has many healthy ingredients, but let us go through this article to see if caesar dressing ok to eat while pregnant.

What is Caesar Salad?

Originating in the state of Mexico, Caesar salad has been gaining prominence worldwide due to its unique taste. Vinegar, lemon juice, raw egg, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce are some of the primary ingredients used to prepare this salad and dressing. Caesar salad during pregnancy can be made with some modifications to the original recipe according to your taste and need.


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Nowadays, Caesar salad contains several ingredients, such as romaine lettuce, garlic vinaigrette, Parmesan cheese, croutons and egg. Conventionally, the Caesar dressing egg is either coddled or completely uncooked. Any form of raw or undercooked egg is supposed to have the bacteria Salmonella, which might prove harmful to the delicate stage of pregnancy. However, several restaurants and hotels at present make this dressing with cooked or pasteurized eggs, rendering them harmless for the pregnant woman.

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How Safe Is Caesar Salad While Pregnant?

One of the primary ingredients for the preparation of Caesar salad dressing is a raw or poached egg. A bacterial infection called salmonella can be caused due to raw eggs making caesar dressing during pregnancy unsafe. Food poisoning during pregnancy can be harmful to both the mother and the baby. But, you can prepare a Caesar salad without using eggs.

Must-know Facts Before Eating Caesar Salad While Pregnant:

Here are some things you must keep in mind if you cannot stop yourself from eating Caesar salad during pregnancy.

  • Make sure you have the Caesar salad made without eggs.
  • If you are out in a restaurant, then make sure you confirm, if the chef has used pasteurized eggs in the preparation of Caesar salad. If not, try to avoid consuming it.
  • It is better to be safe than sorry. So, it is better to avoid any preparation which uses raw eggs as an ingredient.

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Easy DIY Recipes For Caesar Salad While Pregnant:

Check out some of these homemade Caesar salad recipes that don’t include raw eggs making Caesar salad safe during pregnancy.

1. Caesar Salad with Anchovy Paste:

Ingredients:

  • Three spoonfuls of anchovy paste.
  • Three spoonfuls of lemon juice.
  • Four spoonfuls of parmesan cheese.
  • ½ spoonful of thinly sliced garlic.
  • Four spoonfuls of canola oil.
  • Four spoonfuls of olive oil.
  • ½ spoonful of black pepper.
  • ½ spoonful of Worcestershire sauce.
  • A small bowl of lettuce.

How To Prepare:

  • Add all the items except lettuce to a large bowl.
  • Mix the contents thoroughly, and your dressing is ready.
  • Toss the lettuce in the dressing right before you eat.

2. Caesar Salad With Kale:

Ingredients:

  • A bunch of fresh sliced kale leaves.
  • Four chopped anchovies.
  • ¼ spoonful of thinly sliced garlic.
  • Two spoonfuls of grated parmesan cheese.
  • ¼ cup virgin oil.
  • 1 ½ spoonful mustard.
  • ¼ spoonful of black pepper powder.
  • extra virgin oil ¼ cup.
  • ¼ spoonful of salt.

How To Prepare:

  • Add anchovies, mustard, garlic, and lemon juice into a bowl. Blend the contents while pouring olive oil.
  • Salt, pepper, and grated cheese can be added next.
  • Now gently add kale leaves and toss them till the dressing is spread evenly.
  • You can garnish the salad with grated cheese.

3. Caesar Salad With Grilled Chicken:

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup thinly sliced grilled chicken.
  • Thinly sliced lettuce.
  • ½ cup croutons.
  • Three spoonfuls of grated parmesan cheese.
  • Six spoonfuls of extra virgin oil.
  • Two spoonfuls of lemon juice.
  • Few drops of Worcestershire sauce.
  • Salt to taste.
  • A pinch of black pepper.
  • Mashed-up anchovy.
  • Two spoonfuls of thinly sliced garlic.

How To Prepare:

  • Take a blender and add anchovy, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and Worcestershire sauce to it. Add olive oil slowly while you blend.
  • Empty the contents of the blender into a big bowl, add cheese and mix it well.
  • Mix the chicken, croutons, and lettuce leaves into the dressing and lets the dressing spread evenly.
  • Serve the Caesar salad by garnishing it with grated cheese while pregnant.

Alternatives To The Original Caesar Salad Recipe:

Nowadays, many alternative recipes are available that avoid the use of uncooked or coddled eggs in preparing Caesar salad dressing while pregnant. Several governments have forbidden raw egg usage in food menus. Most of the present commercial restaurants and hotels make Caesar salad with pasteurized eggs; Pasteurization completely eliminates the presence of any Salmonella traces and thus makes the salad entirely safe for consumption during pregnancy. You can also go for your own homemade modified or eggless Caesar salad.

So, now that you are aware of the effects of consuming Caesar salads while pregnant, here are a few precautions you can take while including the same in your food plan. When you order a Caesar salad at a restaurant, ensure that they don’t use raw eggs. As an expecting mother, you should also avoid any food containing uncooked eggs, such as mayonnaise, mousse and ice cream. Salmonella is also present in other ingredients, like sprouts, fresh milk, fresh juices, uncooked chicken and meat, etc.

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Cravings are an unbeatable part of pregnancy, and caesar salad can be taken while pregnant if you take some precautions, i.e., leaving raw eggs out of the preparation. With the help of the easy recipes in this article, you can prepare yourself a delicious eggless Caesar salad during pregnancy. Keep in mind that raw eggs or any recipe made with them need to be avoided to be safe.

Disclaimer:

The views presented in this article are mere suggestions and not a replacement for medical advice. When you are pregnant, it is always better to take a medical opinion before you add anything new to your diet.

Faq’s:

Q1. Is store-bought Caesar dressing safe during pregnancy?

Ans: Since commercially prepared Caesar dressing used pasteurized eggs, it is considered safe to consume during pregnancy. But it is always safe to check the ingredients to rule out the use of raw eggs.

Q2. Why are pregnant women advised to avoid raw eggs?

Ans: Caesar salad dressing uses raw eggs as one of the primary ingredients that may cause a bacterial infection called salmonella. Since pregnant women are susceptible to such infections easily, it is advised to avoid any recipe that used raw eggs.

Q3. How can you store eggless Caesar salad dressing?

Ans: You can use Caesar salad dressing during pregnancy if it is eggless and can store it in a refrigerator after placing it in an air-tight container.

Yashasvi

About Yashasvi

Yashasvi developed a deep passion for writing ever since she was completed her Master’s in Mass Communication and Journalism from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam and has chosen a career that is driven by creativity. A Parenting expert who believes in communicating effectively with a personal touch, she writes about pregnancy, baby care, lifestyle, and just about anything else.
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