This grilled Romaine Caesar salad is all you are going to want to eat this summer. Tender leaves of lettuce yet still with some crunch, zesty vegan tahini Caesar dressing, toasted breadcrumbs and a good squeeze of lemon juice... a must-try! It will turn anyone into a salad lover!
If you have never grilled romaine before, then this is your sign to try—it’s a game changer!
We love romaine in fresh summer salads, like this Cesar salad with Cajun tofu or this vegan Waldorf salad. The crisp and crunchy texture, plus the refreshing and cooling effect, make it a go-to during warmer months.
But grilling fresh romaine lettuce? It takes a regular salad to a whole new level. This Grilled Romaine Wedge Caesar Salad is the perfect recipe to give it a go: tangy, bold in flavor, crisp yet tender and so fun + unique.
Make it on the stove using a grill pan, or try it out on your outdoor BBQ grill during the summer months. Let me know how it turned out! ❤️
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❤️ Why you will love this recipe
- The Romaine's charred edges add a nice smoky depth of flavor
- The combo of crispy yet tender lettuce is delicious
- It’s quick to prepare: all you need is a few minutes on the grill!
- This easy recipe makes for a beautiful restaurant-like presentation
- Perfect for the summer during BBQ season
🗒 Ingredient notes (+ substitutions)
- Romaine: I recommend using romaine hearts for this recipe, which are the center part of Romaine lettuce. They are sturdier and grill more easily.
- Caesar dressing: I used my homemade vegan tahini Caesar dressing, which is healthier and so bold in flavor, but you can use store-bought dressing if that's easier and more convenient.
- Breadcrumbs: regular or Italian flavored work well. I used fine breadcrumbs, although I think panko breadcrumbs would be fine too.
⭐️ Full list of ingredients (+ quantities) down below in the recipe card!
📝 Variations
- Flavored breadcrumbs: you can add spices to the pan while toasting the breadcrumbs, such as Cajun spices, dried herbs, chili powder or spicy cayenne pepper.
- Bacon bits: for a boost in protein and a smoky flavor, garnish the salad with homemade bacon bits!
- Not into Cesar? then swap for lime cilantro tahini dressing, lemon herb tahini dressing or creamy cajun salad dressing. Or make it using a vegan Ranch avocado dressing!
🍽 How to make grilled romaine wedge Caesar salad
Step 1: Slice the hearts of romaine lenghtwise while keeping the core intact so it holds together on the grill.
Step 2: Brush a little olive oil on both sides of the halves.
Step 3: Grill on medium-high heat to create grilling marks and gently wilt the leaves, about 2-3 minutes on each side.
Step 4: Meanwhile, warm up some olive oil (about 1 tablespoon) in a small pan, then add the breadcrumbs and some salt.
Step 5: Cook on medium-high heat while stirring often until the breadcrumbs turn golden brown. Remove from the heat and let it cool down until ready to serve.
Step 6: When the romaine is grilled to your liking, transfer to a serving plate, drizzle the Caesar dressing, add the tomatoes and sprinkle the toasted breadcrumbs and some chives.
⭐️ Detailed recipe (+ video) down below in the recipe card!
💡 Helpful tips
- Make sure the grill is very hot before you add the romaine; this will ensure you create some nice charred lines.
- Use your tongs to press on the romaine to help grill more evenly and create darker lines.
- Change things up and grill some radicchio alongside the romaine!
🍴 Serving suggestions
This recipe makes for an elegant side dish for burgers, especially if you already have the BBQ going. It would be perfect paired with these spicy buffalo vegan "chicken" burgers.
Also amazing with Italian-style pasta dishes, like this vegan pesto rigatoni, this roasted pepper and tomato pasta and these vegan tofu manicotti.
For a more classic Caesar flavor, you can swap the breadcrumbs for some homemade vegan almond parmesan cheese, then squeeze extra lemon juice over.
❗️ Storage tips
This grilled salad is served warmed and gently wilted, so it's best served right away. That being said, you can toast the breadcrumbs and make the dressing ahead of time, then all that’s left to do at mealtime is grill the romaine!
❓ FAQs
Yes, simply use an oven! You can preheat your oven to broil or very high heat, brush the romaine halves with a little olive oil and broil on each side for about 2-3 minutes (watch them closely).
☀️ More vegan summer salads you might like
I hope you like this grilled Romaine Caesar salad recipe as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!
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📖 Recipe
Grilled Romaine Wedge Cesar Salad
Equipment
- Outdoor grill or grill pan
Ingredients
- 2 heads of Romaine lettuce - sliced in half lengthwise
- ¾ cup cherry tomatoes - sliced
- handful of chives or parsley - chopped
- ⅓ cup breadcrumbs
- 1-4 tbsp olive oil - to grill the lettuce and toast the breadcrumbs
- ¼ tsp salt - to taste
- ½ cup Caesar dressing - or as needed, I used this tahini cesar dressing
Instructions
- If using this tahini Caesar dressing, then start by making it.
- Slice the hearts of Romaine in half lenghtwise while keeping the core intact. Brush a little olive oil on each side. Warm up the grill or the grill pan and brush some more oil over if necessary. Grill the halved romaine on medium-high heat for about 2-3 minutes on each side or until grilled to your liking.
- Meanwhile, warm up about 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a small pan, and add the breadcrumbs with a pinch of salt. Toast on medium-high heat while stirring often until the breadcrumbs are golden brown. Remove from the heat and let them cool down until ready to serve.
- When the Romaine is grilled to your liking, transfer to a serving plate, drizzle some of the dressing over, add some tomatoes, sprinkle the toasted breadcrumbs and some chives and serve with a side of lemon wedges. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Make sure the grill is very hot before you add the romaine; this will ensure you create some nice charred lines.
- Use your tongs to press on the romaine to help grill more evenly and create darker lines.
- Change things up and grill some radicchio alongside the romaine!
- Nutrition: please note that the nutritional information is an estimate per serving provided for informational purposes only (calculated by software) and accuracy is not guaranteed. Consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if you need precise nutrition calculations for health reasons.
So fresh and flavorful, my first time grilling romaine and it was a hit! The tahini Caesar dressing is amazing!
Happy you liked it, thanks for your feedback! 😊