Have you asked yourself “where is the best caesar salad near me” lately? As the spring and summer BBQ invitations start rolling in, you’ll want to be prepared with a great recipe on hand. Our grilled caesar is a modern twist on the traditional caesar originally created by Caesar Cardini, an Italian – American restaurateur. He was at his restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico in 1964 when he came up with the novel idea of combining romaine lettuce with garlic, boiled eggs, parmesan cheese, olive oil, croutons, and Worcestershire sauce. Our version of the grilled caesar is made with sunflower seed gremolata, sourdough croutons, and romaine hearts. For a simple crowd-pleaser everyone will love, you’ll want to prepare and bring this grilled caesar salad recipe to your next event!
The Best Grilled Caesar Salad Recipe
Be prepared to be invited to more events after sharing this simple grilled caesar recipe with guests. You may want to bring a bottle of white wine to pair with it as a palette cleanser and crowd-pleaser. As a restaurant staple, it is usually served alongside a main dish or as an appetizer. When you grill the lettuce, it adds a pop of flavor you won’t find in a regular grilled caesar. The key is to use hearty varieties of lettuce that provide adequate structure to the dish. Here’s how to prepare it:
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup of mayonnaise
- ½ teaspoon of minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon of kosher salt with extra for additional seasoning
- ½ teaspoon of black pepper with extra for additional seasoning
- ½ cup of extra virgin olive oil with extra for brushing
- ¼ cup of finely grated parmesan cheese for garnishing
- 2 romaine hearts
- 1 cup of croutons
- 1 tablespoon of anchovy paste
- 1 tablespoon of dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
Preparation:
- Phase 1: First, combine the anchovy paste, garlic, mustard, mayonnaise, salt and pepper, and lemon juice together in a bowl.
- Phase 2: Slowly add the olive oil until the dressing becomes thickened, then add the parmesan cheese.
- Phase 3: Now, halve the romaine hearts into eight lengthwise quarters with the middle cores intact. For smaller heads-up lettuce, cut into halves.
- Phase 4: After brushing olive oil on both sides of the lettuce, sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Phase 5: Next, preheat the grill to 350 or 400 on medium-high heat and grease cooking grates with tongs and an olive oil-soaked paper towel.
- Phase 6: When grates are hot, place the lettuce on the grates cut side down, pressing the lettuce so that it makes direct contact with the grates for one or two minutes until charred on both sides.
- Phase 7: Once charred, transfer the lettuce to serving plates and drizzle with the caesar dressing, parmesan cheese, black pepper, and croutons.
Fun Grilled Caesar Salad Facts
The infamous grilled salad we all love did not originally contain anchovies. In fact, Cardini was said to be opposed to the addition of anchovies into the salad and preferred the slight anchovy flavor offered by Worcestershire sauce. The most common and modern ingredients you’ll find in a grilled salad today include olive oil, crushed garlic, romaine or cos lettuce, raw or coddled eggs, dijon mustard, black pepper, anchovies, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, croutons, and grated parmesan cheese. You’ve likely had a grilled caesar salad with grilled chicken, bacon, or variations without eggs or anchovies. Here’s a snapshot of some of the most important ingredients of a grilled caesar salad:
- Anchovy paste – This fish paste in grilled salad from mashed anchovies, spices, water, and vinegar with sometimes butter. The use of anchovies for flavoring dates back to Ancient Rome and is commonly used in Italy for various sauces and pasta dishes.
- Dijon mustard – Any time dijon mustard is mentioned, Grey Poupon usually comes to mind! Of course, there are a number of other quality brands available but dijon mustard is originally from France. During the 1200s, Dijon, France was a hot spot for mustard making and is now considered the mustard capital of the world! Similar to champagne, it was once considered a “protected designation of origin” and any Dijon product had to come from this area. It is made from mustard seed, vinegar, sugar, salt, modified food starch, egg yolks, white wine, onions, garlic, and salt. You’ll find this delicious condiment included in sauces, vinaigrettes, and added to sandwiches. It is great to cook with and an essential ingredient for caesar dressings and a number of BBQ recipes.
- Croutons – Another grilled salad ingredient we can thank the French for, croutons are tasty and crunchy garnishes that add a pop of flavor. The word is a derivative of the French word “croute” which means crust. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes made from all types of bread. You can find them at your local grocery store or make them from scratch! It’s not only used for our grilled caesar salad recipe but makes perfect additions to soups, desserts, and snacks. For example, when cinnamon or sweet loaves of bread are cut into cubes and baked, they can be used to top ice cream.
- Parmesan cheese – Last but certainly not least, parmesan cheese is certainly a scene-stealer of any Italian dish! Parmesan cheese is only produced in Italy and is specifically referred to as Parmigiano – Reggiano. This is quite different from most parmesan cheese you’ll find in the grocery store. The production of Parmigiano – Reggiano is highly regulated and dates back 900 years from Cistercian and Benedictine monasteries. A Consortium for Parmesan in Reggiano was created to monitor and protect the origins and production of the cheese. This close monitoring became a necessity due to the rising fame of the cheese when agricultural and commercial production dramatically increased. By the 16th century, it was marketed all throughout Europe and eventually, the world. When you see a PDO designation, which stands for “protected designation of origin” you know you’re getting the good stuff.
Best Caesar Salad Near Me
Where is the best caesar salad near me? So glad you asked and we have the answer! Our lunch menu is full of delicious salad choices, including our Grilled Caesar Salad. One of the best ways to enjoy our Grilled Caesar Salad is with a bottle of wine. Bring your friends or family for Half Priced Bottles of Wine on Mondays or take advantage of our Happy Hour specials featuring half-priced glasses of wine or signature cocktails. Share our Grilled Caesar Salad as an appetizer for Artisanal Pizza Night on Tuesdays featuring our 11-inch gourmet pizza or Pasta Night on Wednesday for only $12.
Enjoy our Grilled Caesar Salad during our live music sessions over the weekend. This is a great way to start and end the work week while treating yourself to signature Italian dishes with a modern twist. You won’t want to miss our Residency Nights, One Man Band Nights, Acoustic Sunday Brunches, and our Progressive Jazz Nights. Come dine with us on our patio while the cool breeze takes you through the Italian countryside during a South Miami sunset. This is the only way to do Miami!
Are you considering hosting an event for a celebration? We’d love to help with your private event venue and flexible seating arrangements for your planned party. Give us a call and make your table or venue reservations today!
