Grilled Romaine
Why on Earth someone would want to grill a lettuce?! We make lettuce salad but grilled romaine lettuce, Olena?! I know, I know. But promise me you will at least try. We grill other vegetables, so why not lettuce?!
Grilled romaine hearts are delicious! Besides the so satisfying grilled food flavor, #2 reason to eat grilled lettuce is the magic sauce.
It contains one secret ingredient you will either love (looking at you, Italians) or hate. Don’t panic, you can skip it and still eat the best grilled romaine leaves because garlic + olive oil!
Tips for Best Grilled Romaine Hearts
- Pretty please buy organic or local not sprayed! Lettuce tops Dirty Dozen list which means you will be eating a lot of pesticides. Organic does not cost much more.
- Use full heads of romaine or the hearts. Really depends on a size.
- Romaine lettuce grows with leaves closed. You do not have to wash inside. A quick rinse outside is enough.
- Make grilled romaine salad by chopping grilled leaves crosswise. Add tuna or grilled chicken, more veggies and mix with more magic sauce.
- If you don’t have an outdoor grill, you can do it on a grill pan on your stovetop.
Enjoy and eat more greens!
How to Grill Romaine
- Cut romaine lettuce in half lengthwise.
- In a small bowl, add olive oil, anchovy paste, garlic and salt; stir with brush to combine. I used anchovy paste that comes in a tube because it’s convenient and lasts a lifetime in a fridge. You can use minced anchovy or skip it.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat (500 degrees F) and brush with oil. Brush each side of romaine heart lightly (just for grilling, so try not to get much anchovies on the brush) and place on a platter.
- Place romaine hearts on a grill and grill for 2-3 minutes or until charred a bit, pressing onto it with tongs. Flip, grill for another 2-3 minutes and transfer onto the same platter.
- Brush each side, especially the cut side with lots of layers to soak up the sauce, with magic sauce and serve warm or cold.
- Cut romaine lettuce in half lengthwise.
How Long Does it Last?
Grilled romaine tastes best fresh. But because it is coated in olive oil and becomes kind of soggy during grilling, you can enjoy this simple side dish the next day. Refrigerate covered for up to 1 day. Enjoy cold, it’s very tasty too!
More Yummy Grilled Recipes to Try
- Grilled balsamic vegetables – no need to marinate.
- Grilled zucchini pizza or zucchini boats with goat cheese.
- Grilled shrimp skewers with garlic are so simple for a potluck.
- Grilled lemon rosemary chicken with green beans as a side.
Grilled Romaine Lettuce
10 minute grilled romaine hearts with magic 3 ingredient sauce everyone will want recipe for. Easy way to eat more veggies!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 3 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Grill
- Cuisine: North American
Ingredients
- 3 romaine lettuce hearts
- 3 tbsp olive oil, extra virgin
- 1 tsp anchovy paste
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Cut romaine lettuce in half lengthwise.
- In a small bowl, add olive oil, anchovy paste, garlic and salt; stir with brush to combine. Brush each side of romaine heart lightly (just for grilling, so try not to get much anchovies on the brush) and place on a platter.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat (500 degrees F) and brush with oil. Place romaine hearts on a grill and grill for 2-3 minutes or until charred a bit, pressing onto it with tongs. Flip, grill for another 2-3 minutes and transfer onto the same platter.
- Brush each side, especially the cut side with lots of layers to soak up the sauce, with magic sauce and serve warm or cold. Grilled romaine lettuce basically replaces salad and helps you eat more vegetables.
Notes
Use full heads of romaine or the hearts. Really depends on a size.
Skip anchovy paste if not a fan or use minced anchovies.
Can be made on a stovetop grill pan.
Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating in the comments.
I would never think to grill romaine lettuce and yet it works so well.
★★★★★