Description
Delight in these crispy Caesar Salad Parmesan Cups, a creative twist combining savory baked Parmesan cheese cups filled with a fresh Caesar salad mix. Perfect as an elegant appetizer or light snack, these cups boast a crunchy texture with flavorful greens, Caesar dressing, fresh chives, and croutons, all seasoned with a touch of black pepper.
Ingredients
Scale
Parmesan Cups
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Salad Filling
- 5 oz green leaf lettuce, finely chopped
- 1/3 cup Caesar salad dressing
- 1 tbsp fresh chives, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup croutons, crushed
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and facilitate easy removal of the Parmesan disks.
- Form Parmesan disks: Scoop about 1 tablespoon of shredded Parmesan cheese onto the baking sheet and shape it into a 2-3 inch circle. Note that only about 6 disks will fit on the sheet at once, so plan for two baking batches.
- Bake Parmesan disks: Bake the Parmesan circles for 4 minutes until they melt and crisp up. Then remove from the oven and let them cool for about 1 minute.
- Shape cups: Carefully transfer the slightly cooled Parmesan disks onto an upside-down mini muffin tin. Gently mold each disk into the shape of a cup using a spatula or your hands.
- Set the cup shape: Place the muffin tin with the molded Parmesan cups back into the oven for an additional minute to allow the cheese to fully melt into the cup shape and harden.
- Prepare salad filling: While the Parmesan cups cool, combine the finely chopped green leaf lettuce, Caesar salad dressing, and chopped fresh chives in a medium bowl. Crush the croutons into smaller pieces to use as a topping.
- Assemble and serve: Once the Parmesan cups have cooled and set, carefully remove them from the muffin tin. Spoon 1 to 2 tablespoons of the Caesar salad mixture into each cup, sprinkle with crushed croutons, and finish with a pinch of black pepper. Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Shredded Parmesan cheese should be freshly grated for best melting consistency.
- If Parmesan cups crack when molding, bake them a little longer initially or handle gently when shaping.
- Use bite-sized green leaf lettuce for easy filling.
- These cups are best served fresh to maintain crispness and avoid sogginess.
- For a vegetarian option, ensure the Caesar dressing does not contain anchovies or substitute with a vegetarian dressing.
- Leftover Parmesan cups can be stored in an airtight container but may lose crispness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Caesar salad, Parmesan cups, appetizer, baked cheese cups, finger food, party snack, easy recipe
