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Take your salad game to the next level with grilled romaine, a smoky, charred twist on leafy greens that’s topped with a tangy lemon vinaigrette for the ultimate bold and refreshing flavor!
save this recipe!If you’ve never tried salad on the grill, now’s the time! This recipe is the ultimate way to bring out bold flavor in leafy greens, giving them a smoky, crisp-tender texture that’s anything but boring.
Topped with a zesty lemon vinaigrette and a sprinkle of parmesan, this dish is a showstopper at summer barbecues, dinner parties, or as a quick weeknight salad. (After developing tons of salad recipes, this is my favorite for summer BBQs!)
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The Main Ingredients
This is just an overview – jump to the recipe card for full measurements and printable instructions!
- Romaine Lettuce: Be sure to grab romaine hearts and not a head of romaine. The hearts are more compact, which helps them grill up more nicely.
- Olive Oil: Use olive oil to brush onto the lettuce to help it caramelize and cook perfectly.
- Parmesan: I like using fresh parmesan that you grate yourself, as the storebought shreds typically have anti-caking agents that can alter the flavor.
For The Dressing
The dressing is just a simple mixture of lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper.
grilling romaine is easy
- Prep the lettuce: Cut the romaine hearts in half lengthwise and brush them all over with olive oil, which will promote browning.
- Grill the lettuce: Preheat the grill to medium-high. Place the romaine cut side down on the grill and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until it becomes charred in spots. Flip and cook for one more minute.
- Assemble the salad: Serve the romaine hearts whole or chopped, topped with the dressing and parmesan cheese.
sarah’s grilling Tips
- Make sure your grates are clean, preferably brushed with some oil to prevent sticking.
- Keep the heat medium/high for these, we want the char!
topping ideas
The toppings don’t have to end with dressing and parmesan! There are so many add-ons you can include for a veggie-rich salad that’s bursting with flavor. Try these ideas!
- Cranberries
- Walnuts
- Red or yellow onion
- Black olives
- Chopped peppers
- Cherry tomatoes
- Corn
- Hard-boiled eggs
You can char the added veggies in a skillet, grill them kabob-style, or enjoy them raw!
More Dressing Options
- Blueberry Balsamic is a simple yet flavorful sauce perfect for summer!
- Oil and Vinegar Dressing is just a simple, go-to dressing that goes with everything!
- Lemon Tahini Dressing is just 5 ingredients and adds some creaminess to help complement the crispy grilled lettuce.
Speedy Grilled Romaine Lettuce with Parmesan
Ingredients
Grilled Romaine
- 2 romaine hearts
- 2 Tbsp olive oil, 30 mL
- ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese, omit for vegan, 90 g
Dressing
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice, 30 mL
- 2 Tbsp olive oil, 30 mL
- 1 Tbsp red/white wine vinegar or lemon juice, 15 mL
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Pinch each salt and pepper
Instructions
- Prep: Cut romaine hearts in half lengthwise. Brush all sides with olive oil.
- Dressing: Whisk together all Dressing ingredients and set aside.
- Grill: Preheated grill to medium-high. Place romaine cut side down on the grill and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until charred in spots. Flip and cook for 1 more minute.
- Assemble: Serve romaine hearts whole or chopped, topping with parmesan and dressing.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information calculated by Sarah Bond, degreed nutritionist.
did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!
Grilled Romaine looks delicious. Sadly, I don’t have a bbq grill. Not everyone does.
You could probably use a cast iron skillet or griddle, which is what I’m going to use to try the recipe out. Or probably any skillet for that matter. You just need to get it hot enough to char the Lettuce without cooking it through and wilting the whole thing.
You can also do this by using the broiler in your oven. It’s works just as good. Love this recipe!
Thank you! I’ve been wanting to try this since I had a grilled romaine Caesar salad at a local restaurant. Did you wash the lettuce before preparing!
Yes! Then dry it well.
This has become the go-to salad when grilling. Love the citrus, and it’s now showing up in everything around the house, add a squeeze of lime, lemon, etc.
I’m so happy to hear it, Scott! 😀