This Grilled Caesar Salad recipe is a grilling twist on a classic Caesar. Romaine hearts are lightly charred and then tossed with dressing, cheese, and Pine nuts. Serve this grilled salad as a side dish, or add some grilled chicken to make it a main dish.
If you like Caesar salad but have never tried a grilled Caesar salad, I think you will really enjoy this recipe. Grilled lettuce is a great way to elevate a simple salad, and it’s very easy to do.
I first had a grilled salad at a restaurant, and I loved how it changed the texture and flavor. So I started experimenting at home and have made this grilled Caesar many times. It’s one of my favorite salads to make.
For this recipe, you grill Romaine hearts just long enough to get a nice char and partially warm the lettuce. It then has some crunchy cool parts that contrast with the warm charred parts, which are slightly softer.
Then you use the Romaine to make a Caesar salad. It makes a great side dish, or you can add some chicken to make it a meal by itself.
Ingredients
- Romaine Hearts
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Caesar salad
- Finely shredded Parmesan cheese
- Pine Nuts
How to Grill Lettuce
Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. While the grill heats, prepare the lettuce.
Slice each Romaine heart in half lengthwise. Brush each half with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Place the lettuce cut-side down on the hot grill. Grill them for three to four minutes or until it is lightly charred. Turn them over and cook them for three to four minutes on the other side.
How to Assemble the Salad
You can serve the halved Romaine hearts whole and top them with the nuts, dressing, and cheese.
Or, you can roughly chop them after grilling and toss them with the rest of the ingredients for serving.
Recipe Tips
When you grill the lettuce, only do it long enough to get some char marks. If you overcook the Romaine, it will get very wilted and soft. The best grilled lettuce is lightly charred but not cooked all the way through.
Sometimes I grill some boneless, skinless chicken breasts, slice them, and toss them with the salad. This makes it a light main dish.
You can also add some croutons to this salad for added crunch. Or serve the charred Caesar salad with some garlic bread on the side.
If you’ve never tried grilled lettuce, this Caesar salad recipe is a great way to give it a try. It’s a nice way to switch up a salad and delicious, too.
Other Salads You'll Enjoy
Grilled Caesar Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 heads of Romaine Hearts
- 1-2 Tbls Olive Oil for each romaine half
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4-6 Tbls of your favorite caesar dressing
- Finely shredded Parmesan
- Pine Nuts
Instructions
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
- Cut romaine hearts in half lengthwise and brush evenly with olive oil.
- Sprinkle all halves with salt and pepper to taste.
- Grill face down 3-4min until slightly charred. Flip and grill the other side for another 3-4 minutes.
- Remove from the grill and drizzle with caesar dressing.
- Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and pine nuts, leave as is or cut into bite size pieces.
Nutrition
If you’ve never tried grilled lettuce, this Grilled Caesar Salad recipe is a great way to give it a try. It’s a nice way to switch up a salad and delicious, too.
Mel is an IT guy turned blogger and is discovering his love of cooking and photography. If you ever have Fantasy Football questions, he's your guy.
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