If you're a fan of the classic Caesar salad, you will fall in love with this version that's easy enough to make on a busy weeknight and elevated enough to wow guests at a dinner party table.
To make it, grill halved lemons and a head of romaine alongside thick-cut pieces of baguette. The dressing, made with a Dijon mustard base, zippy olive oil and fresh garlic, is creamy. The romaine and lemons get a deeper flavor on the grill.
This salad is a great dish to serve with a grilled steak - which is what we did on Saturday.
Now, before you look at the pics and say 'he didn't follow the recipe with all of that bread . . .' settle down. I was also grilling some bread to use in bruschetta.
Grilled Cesar Salad
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
lemons, halved, plus 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for grilling
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 hearts romaine lettuce, cut in half lengthwise
Three 3/4-inch slices rustic bread, such as levain or baguette
1 tablespoon sugar
Preheat a grill to medium-high heat.
In a bowl, add the mayonnaise, Worcestershire, lemon juice, mustard, vinegar and garlic and whisk until combined. Slowly whisk in the olive oil. Add the Parmesan and continue to whisk. Season the dressing with salt and pepper.
Drizzle olive oil on the romaine hearts and season with salt and pepper. Place the romaine cut-side down on the grill and cook until nicely marked, 2 to 3 minutes. Brush the bread slices with olive oil and place on the grill. Cook until grill marks appear on both sides and the bread is crispy, about 5 minutes.
Spread the sugar out on a small plate. Dip the cut sides of the lemons into the sugar. Place the lemon halves on the grill and cook until slightly charred and grill marked, 2 to 3 minutes.
Cut the bread into bite-sized pieces. Place the romaine hearts, croutons and lemons on a wooden board and serve with the Caesar dressing.