Seared Romaine Spears with Caesar Dressing

By bjlazyl

In this fun incarnation of Caesar salad, grilling romaine with a light brushing of oil boosts its flavor while adding few calories. For the dressing, Kerry Simon ingeniously swaps in low-fat mayonnaise for egg yolks.

 

Slideshow: More Grilled Vegetable Recipes

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 10 hearts of romaine, halved lengthwise
• 10 slices crusty peasant bread
• 3 ounces Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, shaved

Details

Servings 10
Cooking time 30mins
Adapted from foodandwine.com

Preparation

Step 1

Light a grill. In a blender or mini food processor, blend the mayonnaise with the vinegar, garlic, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco. With the machine on, gradually add 1/2 cup of the vegetable oil until the Caesar dressing is creamy. Season with salt and pepper, cover and refrigerate.

Lightly brush the hearts of romaine with 1 tablespoon of the oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill over moderately high heat, turning once or twice, until lightly charred but still crisp, about 3 minutes.

Lightly brush the bread with the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Grill, turning once, until toasted, about 2 minutes.

Spread half of the Caesar dressing on a large platter. Arrange the grilled hearts of romaine on top and brush with the remaining dressing. Garnish with the cheese shavings and serve the grilled bread alongside.