This easy grilled Romaine lettuce recipe is an easy way to transform ordinary lettuce into something amazing. Top it with a bit of salt and pepper as well as a drizzle of dressing and you may never go back to plain lettuce again.
You may be saying to yourself “What? Grilled Romaine lettuce?”
Having never heard of this before myself that’s exactly what I said. But, as my friends know, I’m willing to give just about anything at least one try. I am so glad that I did. This stuff is out of this world amazing!
Easy Grilled Romaine Lettuce
Why grill romaine lettuce?
Here are just 3 reasons why you should run outside and get to grilling some lettuce.
- Flavor – Grilling lettuce creates wonderfully caramelized, smoky flavor that only grilling can give it
- Texture – Cool, crispy insides contrast wonderfully with the caramelized outside
- Taste – Grilling or heating the lettuce caramelizes the natural sugars present taking away any bitterness some people get when eating greens
- Ease – Grilling romaine is just the easiest, most delicious way to get your greens.
- Look – Let’s face it. Having a grilled lettuce salad looks pretty cool. Having a cookout or party? What to serve something unique? Go with a grilled romaine salad.
It has the most wonderful smokey flavor and it goes great will just about anything you can throw on it. Plus heating the lettuce helps to caramelize some of the natural sugars present in romaine lettuce. Some people find that salad greens have a slightly bitter taste and grilling can make them taste much sweeter.
Why not grill some chicken as well as the romaine and then create a grilled Caesar salads with homemade dressing.
Ingredients needed for Grilled Romaine:
- Romaine Hearts – you’ll want to use full heads of romaine or the hearts. Don’t cut off the tough stem. This will help keep the lettuce together when grilling.
- Olive Oil – you’ll need to brush the lettuce with a bit of oil to keep the leaves from sticking to the grill. Use olive oil or your favorite light flavored oil.
- Salt and Black Pepper – use a coarse salt such as kosher salt as well as some coarsely ground black pepper to season the lettuce.
That’s all you’ll need for this recipe. Of course if you plan on serving your grilled lettuce as a grilled romaine salad you’ll want to some other ingredients to add on top such as Cesar salad dressing or your favorite blue cheese dressing. Try some crispy diced bacon and some diced tomatoes. No matter what you top this lettuce with it will be delicious.
How to make Grilled Romaine Lettuce:
Start by taking your romaine hearts and splitting them in half the long way.
Don’t remove the tough stem at the bottom as this helps to hold the leaves together while being turned on the grill.
Coat both sides with olive oil or your favorite type of oil and then sprinkle on salt and black pepper.
Place the lettuce halves on the gas grill cut side down over a low to medium heat. Check to see that they are becoming slightly browned and the edges of the leaves begin to wither a bit. Turn them over and repeat with the other side.
Once each side has been grilled remove them and serve them warm fresh off the grill. You can also refrigerate the grilled halves to serve later once they have cooled down. Either way they are delicious.
Tips for Best Grilled Romaine Hearts
- Use full heads of romaine or the hearts. Don’t try to grill individual leaves.
- Romaine lettuce grows with leaves closed. You do not have to wash inside. Split them in half and give them a quick rinse.
- Dry the heads off before grilling. If they are wet then they will steam, not grill.
- Make grilled romaine salad by chopping grilled leaves crosswise. Add tuna or grilled chicken and your favorite dressing.
- If you don’t have an outdoor grill, you can do it on a grill pan on your stovetop!
From now on, whenever we are grilling burgers, I will be tossing some lettuce on the grill at the same time. The smoky flavor of the grilled lettuce goes well with the burgers.
Wondering what else you can make with your grilled romaine lettuce?
Try topping your grilled lettuce with this Chimichurri dressing.
Swap out the Iceberg lettuce in this Wedge Salad for some grilled romaine.
Drizzle the grilled romaine with Caesar salad dressing blue cheese dressing or even a bit of balsamic vinegar. Top with diced cherry tomatoes, a sprinkling of bacon and parmesan cheese for a delicious salad.
This recipe is great for making easy summer salads that won’t heat up the house when it’s hot out. I grill up several hearts of romaine, chop them and place them in a large bowl with other leafy greens.
I serve this crispy lettuce mixture will other ingredients on the side such as crunchy croutons, red onions, diced hard boiled eggs, cherry tomatoes, shredded Parmesan cheese, diced chicken and a variety of salad dressings. Family members can make their own entrée salad with their favorite ingredients. This is a perfect dish to serve at summer BBQs.
Can you make Grilled Romaine on the stove?
Yes you can make grilled romaine on the stove too!
Simply follow the instructions above to prepare the lettuce. Instead of putting on the grill, place the romaine hearts, cut side down, on a large skillet. Allow them to cook for several minutes before turning.
The lettuce will not have those grill marks that are left behind when cooking on the grill but the stove top will still work its magic and turn the romaine leaves sweet.
How to store leftover Grilled Romaine:
It’s best to eat the grilled romaine after making it. However, if you should have leftovers, they will have the best taste and texture if eaten within 2 to 3 days. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
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Easy Grilled Romaine Lettuce Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Romaine Hearts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Start by taking your romaine hearts and splitting them in half the long way.
- Don't remove the tough stem at the bottom as this helps to hold the leaves together while being turned on the grill.
- Coat both sides with olive oil or your favorite type of oil and then sprinkle on salt and black pepper.
Nutrition
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best lettuce recipe ever.Thanks alot