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Crispy Grilled Romaine Caesar Salad

crispy grilled romaine caesar salad - featured image
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A smoky, crunchy twist on classic Caesar salad featuring grilled romaine lettuce and a creamy homemade dressing. Perfect for quick summer dinners, BBQs, and casual gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 large romaine lettuce heads, halved lengthwise, core intact
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for brushing
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 large egg yolk (room temperature; pasteurized optional)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 anchovy fillets, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about half a lemon)
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Additional grated Parmesan cheese (for garnish)
  • Fresh cracked black pepper (for garnish)
  • Optional: homemade or store-bought crunchy croutons

Instructions

  1. Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat (about 10 minutes).
  2. Rinse the romaine lettuce heads and pat dry. Slice each head in half lengthwise, keeping the core intact.
  3. Brush the cut sides of each romaine half generously with olive oil and sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper.
  4. Place the lettuce cut side down on the grill. Grill for 2-3 minutes until grill marks and slight charring appear.
  5. Flip and grill the other side for 1-2 minutes just to warm through, keeping the leaves crisp.
  6. While grilling, combine egg yolk, minced garlic, anchovies, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard in a bowl.
  7. Slowly whisk in olive oil in a steady stream until the dressing thickens and emulsifies (3-5 minutes).
  8. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  9. Transfer grilled romaine to a serving platter and drizzle generously with the creamy dressing.
  10. Sprinkle extra Parmesan and freshly cracked black pepper on top. Add croutons if desired.
  11. Serve immediately to enjoy the crisp texture; if holding, keep dressing separate and toss before serving.

Notes

Use pasteurized egg yolk or substitute with Greek yogurt for safety. For vegan or dairy-free versions, replace anchovies with capers and Parmesan with nutritional yeast. Add croutons for extra crunch. Avoid overcooking lettuce to keep it crisp. Add olive oil slowly when emulsifying dressing to prevent breaking.

Nutrition

Keywords: grilled romaine, Caesar salad, homemade dressing, smoky salad, easy salad recipe, BBQ side dish, creamy Caesar dressing

Find it online: https://novanosh.com/crispy-grilled-romaine-caesar-salad-recipe-easy-homemade-dressing-guide/