When I first mentioned to my friends that I was making Grilled Caesar Salad, they looked at my like I had two heads.
“Grilled? I like my lettuce cold, thank you” and “charred lettuce? Yeah right, sounds good.”
O ye of little faith! Have I ever fed you something you didn’t like? I asked.
Oh wait. Don’t answer that. I remember that “chicken stew” in ’08.
I’ve ordered this dish a number of times at restaurants (when do I ever turn down a Caesar salad?) and have yet to be let down. So I thought it was time to test it out myself.
This twist on the classic salad keeps all of the beloved flavors in tact. The lettuce, which is grilled for about 30 seconds per side, is slightly wilted, ramping up the flavor of the romaine. I paired this with some grilled garlic toasts and topped the salad with fresh shredded Parmesan.
The salad made a beautiful and fresh side dish. I love how the green of the romaine – an otherwise drab lettuce – pops once it’s grilled (can you tell that I’m into the arts?). If you top this salad with a piece of chicken or steak and you have yourself a well-rounded entree.
Proof that this grilling your salad wows? Even the naysayers asked for seconds.
- 4 anchovy fillets (optional)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 2 tablespoons water
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus extra for garnish
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 heads romaine lettuce
- 1 Baguette, sliced.
- 1 clove garlic, mashed and mixed with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt and pepper
- How-To:
- Mix first seven ingredients in a food processor. Set aside.
- Lightly coat lettuce with olive oil, salt and pepper. Brush sliced baguette with olive oil and garlic mixture. Top with freshly shredded Parmesan.
- Grill bread until crisp. Grill romaine for about 30 seconds on each side.
- Divide the lettuce, keeping leaves whole, among 5 plates. Drizzle with dressing and top with freshly grated Parmesan and grilled bread slices. Serves 2-3.
49 Comments
Valentine's Day Dinner for a Date, Group or Solo Night
February 10, 2017 at 5:36 pm[…] Grilled Caesar Salad from In Good Taste […]
The Teacher Cooks
September 27, 2011 at 10:23 amI had this last winter at a restaurant in Atlanta. I was so good! Yours looks good, too!
claire @ the realistic nutritionist
September 22, 2011 at 1:10 pmA grilled salad? WHO KNEW!! What a fabulous idea!!
Susan
September 12, 2011 at 10:53 amI tried this recently after having a grilled Caesar at a restaurant. Delicious!
T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types
September 11, 2011 at 8:45 pmI have never heard of grilling lettuce before, but I can see how it would turn the typical flavors of the salad on its head.
Roz@weightingfor50
September 11, 2011 at 6:09 pmHi Gillian, WOW…this looks really amazing. Thanks for the great recipe. Makes me want to go and fire up our grill. Have a good rest of the weekend, and Maris, hope you are doing well!!!
Jeanette
September 11, 2011 at 4:53 pmI’ve never tried grilling romaine, but will have to give this a shot!
Laura
September 11, 2011 at 4:49 pmBeen wanting to try to do this for a couple of years now. I’d say I’d better get around to it before all of summer’s warmth is gone. Thanks for sharing!
Liz
September 11, 2011 at 3:14 pmOh, I think you’ve just made an already delicious salad even better! Love the idea of grilled romaine~and so pretty, too~
Curt
September 11, 2011 at 1:29 pmI must admit, I’ve grilled a lot of veggies, but never romaine lettuce. Definitely worth a try!
secretmenu
September 11, 2011 at 12:55 amWhen you consider that some people grill chicken carcasses seated on beer cans, grilling romaine doesn’t seem all that strange. Awesome post.
bakerbynature
September 10, 2011 at 9:17 pmWhat a delicious twist on the classic caesar salad – lovelovelove this idea! Now… I need a grill!
Baking Serendipity
September 10, 2011 at 9:07 pmI’m a salad dressing wuss. I’ll order a Caesar salad at a restaurant and ask for ranch dressing to be subbed in. Maybe I can still grill it and enjoy it with ranch? 🙂 I love the new prep technique!
Christina @ Sweet Pea's Kitchen
September 10, 2011 at 2:50 pmGrilled caesar salad? I must give it a try! 🙂
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen
September 9, 2011 at 8:40 pmGrilled salad? Sign me up please! This looks lovely. Now I need a grill. Well I’ve always needed a grill. Sigh. Someday 😉
EA-The Spicy RD
September 9, 2011 at 5:42 pmI’ve been wanting to try grilled lettuce for awhile now. This looks like a great way to try it. Love the presentation too!
Geni
September 9, 2011 at 4:00 pmI absolutely love grilled Romaine. This salad looks so melty, charred and delicious. Simple meals like these are always the best.
Cookin' Canuck
September 9, 2011 at 12:05 pmI adore grilled romaine. Grilling it really does add a great flavor. It sounds as though you changed your friends’ minds very quickly.
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes
September 9, 2011 at 11:31 amI have to admit I’ve wondered about all the hype around grilling lettuce. After this post though I’ll have to give it a try.
lisa {smart food and fit}
September 9, 2011 at 11:14 amI’ve grilled Romaine Lettuce before and tastes amazing. I’ll have to try it with Ceasar dressing to spice up my version!
Kitchen Belleicious
September 9, 2011 at 6:56 amYep, you just took Caesar salad to a whole new level! Love the grilled aspect and that dressing? AMAZING
Alexandra (Veggin' Out in the Kitchen)
September 9, 2011 at 6:34 amWow, this looks amazing!! I’d never thought of grilled lettuce, but now I’m intrigued! 🙂
<3 <3
Sherilyn @ Wholepromise
September 9, 2011 at 2:35 amI love that you grilled the lettuce – how nice. It looks delicious….
kankana
September 9, 2011 at 12:07 amI love grilled Romaine and it’s been a while since i did it. May be I should do it sometime soon while it’s still warm and nice.
Lisa from Lisas Yarns
September 8, 2011 at 8:48 pmWe grilled romaine this summer, too, but we just chopped the head in half and grilled it that way instead of separating the leaves. it was SO good!!
Three-Cookies
September 8, 2011 at 5:23 pmI’ve never tried grilled but I heard its nice
katelin
September 8, 2011 at 5:19 pmoh what a different way to make a salad, love it.
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic
September 8, 2011 at 2:40 pmI love caesar salads, and yes, grilled please!! For me, anchovies are never optional hehe. Nice guest post!
Caroline
September 8, 2011 at 1:53 pmGreat guest post! Grilling romaine gives it such a distinct flavor, I love it. Speaking of which, I have some romaine sitting in the fridge that I need to use soon. Looks like this just might be the perfect solution!
sarah
September 8, 2011 at 1:33 pmMMM. I think Spilled Milk just tried this out too. I need to get on board with the grilled caesar thing. I do love me a caesar salad!
tracy
September 8, 2011 at 1:15 pmI had a grilled kale Caesar in Idaho last year and haven’t stopped thinking about it! Your pic just gave me the push to make it!! Thanks Maris!
Bev Weidner
September 8, 2011 at 12:15 pmDeeeVINE. My face craves this.
Kay
September 8, 2011 at 10:34 amI looooooooooooooooooooooove grilled romaine lettuce, so delicious!
Laura @ SweetSavoryPlanet
September 8, 2011 at 10:28 amGrilled romaine is one of my easy go to dishes when I am in a hurry. I am a huge Caesar salad fan but I usually grill hearts of romaine halves and then top it with fresh made blue cheese dressing. It always get a raised eyebrow and then they polish it off!
Greg
September 8, 2011 at 10:18 amI like about anything grilled so I’m game. Looks amazing!
Lauren@LittleYellowKitchen
September 8, 2011 at 9:23 amI have never even heard of this before! I trust your judgement though and I am now very curious and want to give it a go. Great pics 🙂
Jen @ Keepitsimplefoods
September 8, 2011 at 9:17 amA very tasty twist on a classic salad!
Alexis @ There She Goes
September 8, 2011 at 9:12 ami saw this in cooking light – im still scared though! grilled lettuce?!
Kate
September 8, 2011 at 9:09 amYum! I have never thought about making a grilled cesar salad but this looks so simple and delicious. Better bookmark this before it get too cold to grill out 🙂
Mal @ The Chic Geek
September 8, 2011 at 8:50 amI never would have thought to grill salad, but now I am very intrigued by it! I love caesar salad
Rachel @ Not Rachael Ray
September 8, 2011 at 8:07 amGreat guest post! Looks delicious! My husband is the griller and I think he would give me a crazy look if I asked him to grill lettuce. Can’t wait to try this!
Nelly Rodriguez
September 8, 2011 at 7:58 amAll summer long I said, I will make grilled salad. I never did. This just reminded me. Will need to do it before the snow falls!
Sue/the view from great island
September 8, 2011 at 7:15 amI was skeptical at first, but by the time I got to the end of the post, I became a believer.
A Plum By Any Other Name
September 8, 2011 at 6:19 amI admit I’ve been scared to grill romaine because I’ve been afraid it will look, well, ugly. (I know …. ) Thanks for dispelling that myth of mine! We have a little more time in Boston with the grill and I plan on putting mine to good use!
Joanne
September 8, 2011 at 6:00 amYou know, I actually think that one of the things I dislike about lettuce is the fact that it’s cold! So I’m sure I would love this dish!
bellini
September 8, 2011 at 5:51 amI have had it made for me, so like you it is time I tried it myself!
Junia @ Mis Pensamientos
September 8, 2011 at 5:29 ami never thought about charring the lettuce leaves! what a crispy and delish idea! 😀
Erica
September 8, 2011 at 1:57 amYum! There is a restaurant in hilton head sc that makkes an awesome grilled caesaer! Ive alwYs wanted to try it at home!!
Joanne
August 25, 2012 at 5:51 pmWhat was the name of the restaurant??? I would love to try it. I live in Hilton Head