Grilled Romaine with Honey Vinaigrette
I’m a beef guy. I’ve raised it, fed it, cussed it when it was trying to run me over in the pasture and I’ve cooked it. So naturally, I thought the grill is for beef, boy was I wrong.
Romaine is my favorite type of lettuce and it’s perfect for the grill because it holds up well to the heat. But when you get that good char on the leaves and they wilt just a tad, you’re gonna wish you threw some salad on that grill before now… just don’t go crazy with the greens, ok?
Prep: 5 minutes Total: 12 minutes Makes 6 servings
Ingredients
3 hearts of Romaine, cut in half 1⁄4 cup olive oil 1 tablespoon lime juice 2 teaspoons Red River Ranch Mesquite Seasoning (or 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1⁄4 teaspoon ancho chile powder, 1⁄4 teaspoon salt, 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper)
Crumbled bacon or real bacon bits, for sprinkling (optional)
1 Prepare the Honey Vinaigrette (below) and set aside. 2 Meanwhile, in a small bowl mix the olive oil, lime juice and Red River 3 Ranch Mesquite together. We like the Mesquite because it enhances the smoky flavor, but if you don’t have the Mesquite seasoning (available at kentrollins.com) you can substitute with your favorite all-purpose seasoning or suggested spices. 4 Generously baste the flat, cut side of each Romaine head with the olive
oil mixture. Place the flat side face down onto a greased, high heat grill. Grill this side for about 2 – 3 minutes or just until the leaves slightly wilt and a char appears.5 Baste the backside of each Romaine and flip to grill the opposite side about 2 – 3 minutes.
6 Remove from the grill. Top with bacon and drizzle with the Honey Vinaigrette. Serve warm to room temperature.
Honey Vinaigrette
Makes about 1 cup
Ingredients
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 4 teaspoons hot sauce (we use Louisiana) 1⁄4 cup honey 1⁄2 cup mayonnaise 1⁄2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper 1⁄2 teaspoon salt or sea salt 1⁄2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 Mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl. 2 Cover and place in the icebox for 30 minutes to 1 hour.