If you’ve never tried grilling romaine lettuce, you’re missing out. It adds a new depth of smoky flavor, wilts the lettuce slightly so it’s easy to eat, and is also just kind of fun. Your dinner guests will be so impressed with your cooking skills!
Let us show you how easy this 30-minute salad is!
This recipe starts with heating your grill (or grill pan) and prepping the lettuce by cutting it in half, oiling slightly to prevent sticking, and seasoning with salt and pepper.
Next you’ll marinate your white beans (or other legume of choice) in some olive oil, lemon, fresh garlic, herbs, and salt to taste. Easy peasy — done.
Last, prepare your quick Caesar dressing by adding all the ingredients to a small blender or food processor and blending until creamy and smooth. Just 5 minutes required!
And once your lettuce is grilled, it’s time to assemble!
We hope you LOVE this salad. It’s:
Crunchy
Savory
Smoky
Quick & easy
Satisfying
& Delicious!
This would make the perfect side dish for BBQs, weeknight meals, and beyond. It’s also customizable! I think our Tahini Dressing would work well here, as would our Crispy Baked Chickpeas! And while we haven’t tried it, I think other greens such as red leaf lettuce or kale would work, too!
Into salads? Check out our Loaded Kale Salad, Lemony Arugula Salad with Crispy Shallot, 20-Minute Asian Kale Salad, Savory Breakfast Salad, and Garlicky Kale Salad with Crispy Chickpeas.
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
Grilled Romaine Caesar Salad with Herbed White Beans
Grilled romaine salad with a smoky, charred flavor, topped with lemon-herb white beans and a quick Caesar dressing! Ready in 30 minutes and BIG flavor! Print SAVE SAVED
from votes Prep Time 20 minutes Cook Time 10 minutes Total Time 30 minutes Servings 4 (Servings)Course Entrée or SideCuisine Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, VeganFreezer Friendly NoDoes it keep? 5-7 Days
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Ingredients
US Customary – Metric
SALAD
2 large heads romaine lettuce1 Tbsp avocado oil or olive oil (avocado is best for grilling because of its high smoke point) Pinch each sea salt and black pepperVegan parmesan cheese, for topping (optional)
BEANS
1 15-ounce can white or butter beans (rinsed and drained)1 clove minced garlic 1 Tbsp lemon juice 1 Tbsp olive oil or avocado oil1/4 tsp each sea salt + black pepper2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (plus more for topping)
DRESSING
1 cup raw cashews1 tsp dijon mustard1/2 tsp each sea salt + black pepper (plus more to taste)8-12 medium cloves fresh garlic (chopped)4 tsp capers in brine2 tsp brine juice from capers6 Tbsp lemon juice (2 large lemons yield ~6 Tbsp or 90 ml)3-4 Tbsp olive oil1 tsp chickpea (or soy) miso paste (optional)1 tsp pure maple syrup (or sub stevia to taste)1/2 cup hot water (plus more to thin)
Instructions
If using a grill, heat your grill at this time or get out a grill pan (like this one).Prepare romaine by leaving whole, but removing any bruised or broken leaves. Then rinse the head of lettuce to remove any dirt. Pat dry with a clean towel. Use a knife to carefully cut the romaine heads in half lengthwise and use a paper or cloth towel to clean any remaining bits of dirt from the inner leaves. Then arrange on a baking sheet and lightly drizzle the cut sides with oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and set aside.In the meantime, add rinsed and drained white beans to a small mixing bowl along with garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, sea salt, black pepper, and fresh parsley. Toss to combine. Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more lemon for acidity, salt to taste, or garlic for zing. Set aside.Next, prepare dressing. Add raw cashews, dijon mustard, salt, pepper, fresh garlic, capers, brine juice (from capers), lemon, olive oil, miso paste (optional), maple syrup, and hot water to a small or high-speed blender. Blend until creamy and smooth, scraping down sides as needed. Add enough water to thin until pourable. Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more lemon for acidity, salt to taste, maple syrup for sweetness, or garlic for zing. Set aside.If using a grill pan, heat over high heat now and lightly coat surface with oil. Then place romaine on the hot grill or grill pan and grill for 1-2 minutes on each side, or until there are visible grill marks. Turn carefully as it gets a little fragile when exposed to the heat. Remove romaine and transfer to a large cutting board. Top with white beans and desired amount of dressing. Vegan parmesan cheese and extra parsley make excellent garnishes (optional). Once the salad is dressed, we recommend chopping into large bites with a knife, lightly tossing on the cutting board, and transferring to a serving bowl or platter!Best when fresh. Leftover dressing will keep covered in the refrigerator up to 5-7 days.
Video
Notes
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate for 1 of 4 servings calculated with avocado oil for the lettuce, olive oil for the beans and dressing, and lesser amounts of garlic and olive oil, without optional ingredients.
Nutrition (1 of 4 servings)
Serving: 1 servings Calories: 488 Carbohydrates: 41.5 g Protein: 15.9 g Fat: 32.3 g Saturated Fat: 4.9 g Sodium: 728 mg Potassium: 1101 mg Fiber: 15.6 g Sugar: 8.6 g