The bright green inner leaves of romaine lettuce – available in the produce section in bags labeled “hearts of romaine” – can withstand a brief sear on a hot grill. Withers a little and picks up a delicious smokiness that transforms a classic salad into something very special. Top with grilled focaccia croutons and a creamy tahini dressing, and you have a satisfying fork-and-knife salad. It’s also a great option for vegans, providing 23% of your daily iron in a single serving.
Active time: 10 minutes | Total time: 20 minutes
Grilled Caesar salad with creamy dressing
Ingredients
- 6 tbsp tahini
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 1/2 tsp white miso
- 3/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 3/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (vegetarian Worcestershire if desired)
- 1 small clove of garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 large hearts of romaine, halved lengthwise
- 2 thick slices of red onion (cut into round pieces so they are easier to turn on the grill)
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 (6 oz./170 g) piece of focaccia
Directions
Preheat a grill to medium-high heat. While the grill is heating, whisk together the tahini, hot water, lemon juice, white miso, Dijon mustard, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and black pepper until smooth, adding more water if necessary to achieve a pourable consistency. Set aside.
Brush the romaine hearts and onion slices with olive oil. Place the onion on the grill, cover and cook for about 3 minutes or until lightly charred on one side. Carefully flip and grill for about 4 more minutes, or until just tender. Remove and set aside.
Place the romaine hearts cut side down on the grill with the focaccia. Grill, uncovered, 2-3 minutes, or until the lettuce is slightly wilted and charred on one side and the focaccia is crisp, about 4 minutes.
Transfer the romaine hearts to a large serving dish or individual plates. Cut the focaccia and onion into bite-sized pieces and spread it over the romaine. Drizzle liberally with the dressing, season with pepper and serve hot.
Serves: 4 | Serving size: 1/2 romaine heart, 3 tbsp dressing, 2 tbsp focaccia croutons, 1 1/2 tbsp onion
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 346; Total fat: 23g; Saturated fat: 3g; Monounsaturated fat: 11g; Polyunsaturated fat: 7g; Cholesterol: 0g; Sodium: 389 mg; Carbohydrate: 26g; Fiber: 6g; Sugar: 4g; Protein: 10g
Nutritional bonus: Calcium: 9%; Iron: 23%; Potassium: 198mg; Vitamin C: 12%
Originally published: June 8, 2019; Updated: March 2026