Grilled Romaine Caesar Salad with Grilled Lemon Dressing Recipe
This Grilled Romaine Caesar Salad recipe offers a smoky, charred twist on the classic Caesar salad by grilling romaine hearts, lemons, and baguette slices. The salad is elevated with a creamy grilled lemon Caesar dressing made from anchovies, garlic, and parmesan, served alongside optional proteins like crispy pancetta, grilled chicken, or salmon for a hearty, flavorful meal in just 20 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 hearts of romaine, sliced in half lengthwise
- 2 lemons, cut in half
- ½ baguette (we use gluten free), sliced on a bias in ¼ inch slices
- Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- Parmesan cheese, for serving
- Optional proteins: crispy pancetta or bacon, grilled chicken, grilled salmon
Dressing Ingredients
- 2 anchovies
- 2 garlic cloves
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper
- 3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup grilled lemon juice (approx 1 large lemon)
- 2 egg yolks
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare Grill: Preheat your grill for indirect cooking using the two-zone grilling method. Aim for a temperature of around 400 degrees Fahrenheit in the cooking chamber.
- Oil Bread: Lightly drizzle the baguette slices with extra virgin olive oil on both sides to prepare them for grilling.
- Grill Ingredients: Place the romaine hearts, lemon halves, and oiled baguette slices on the grill directly over the heat. Grill for approximately 2 minutes per side, flipping often to ensure even charring. Watch carefully so the bread toasts nicely, lemons darken with a beautiful char, and the romaine develops grill marks without burning.
- Remove and Serve: Once grilled, remove all components from the grill. Serve the romaine and bread with grilled lemon Caesar dressing, sprinkle with parmesan cheese, and add optional proteins such as crispy bacon, grilled chicken, or salmon for a complete salad.
- Make the Dressing: In a food processor, combine anchovies, garlic cloves, kosher salt, black pepper, and grated parmesan cheese. Process until forming a smooth paste.
- Emulsify Dressing: Add the grilled lemon juice, egg yolks, Dijon mustard, and extra virgin olive oil to the paste in the food processor. Blend on low speed for about one minute or until the dressing is fully emulsified and creamy.
Notes
- Use gluten-free baguette if you want to keep the salad gluten free.
- Watch the grill closely while cooking as ingredients cook quickly and times vary.
- The grilled lemon juice adds a smoky citrus flavor that elevates the classic Caesar dressing.
- Raw egg yolks are used in the dressing; use pasteurized eggs if serving to children or pregnant guests.
- Optional proteins add substance and can be customized to taste.
- This salad is best served immediately to enjoy the contrast of warm grilled elements and cool dressing.
Keywords: Grilled Romaine Caesar Salad, Caesar salad recipe, grilled salad, grilled romaine, grilled lemon dressing, smoky Caesar salad
