Published 4/8/2024 If you love a nice char just as much as I do, you’ll fall in love with this grilled Caesar salad with grilled croutons! It adds an irresistible grill flavor to your homemade Caesar salad that amplifies the overall taste and texture of this classic salad recipe. I honestly don’t know if I’ll want a Caesar salad NOT grilled ever again 😋 The steps to make it are easy. Just make the dressing, grill your baguette and hearts of romaine, assemble, and serve! You can even add grilled chicken or shrimp on top for extra protein and flavor.
What’s In Grilled Caesar Salad with Grilled Croutons
2% Greek yogurt: This is the base of the creamy dressing and adds a tangy flavor without all the added calories. Apple cider vinegar: The vinegar adds a nice tang and acidity to the dressing. Parmesan cheese: This gives the dressing a rich and nutty flavor. And I mean, cheese makes everything better right? Anchovy paste: Although it might sound strange, anchovy paste is a key ingredient in traditional caesar dressing. It adds depth and umami to the dressing. Romaine hearts: You want to get the freshest romaine hearts for this recipe. Grilling them brings out their natural sweetness and adds a nice char. French or Italian baguette: This gets cut in half and grilled to make the most delicious homemade croutons! Cherry tomatoes: The fresh juiciness of the cherry tomatoes is a great contrast to the grilled elements in this salad.
Ingredient Swaps & Add-Ins
For the Caesar dressing, if you do not have anchovy paste, you can use fish sauce for the umami flavor. We recommend starting with half the amount of the anchovy sauce (⅛ teaspoon) to start. Fish sauce is strong. Add more until it reaches your desired taste — you can always add more, but you can’t take it out once it’s in 😏 Also, if you would like a thinner dressing, add a touch more lemon juice or olive oil for the Caesar dressing. Adjust to your personal taste! To add more protein to this salad, you can top it with grilled chicken or shrimp. Other toppings like avocado, crumbled bacon, or roasted chickpeas can also be added for added flavor and texture.
Storage Instructions
Store any leftover dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The grilled croutons can be kept at room temperature in an air-tight container for up to 2 days. For the romaine, it is best to consume it immediately after grilling as it will continue to wilt the longer it sits.
Serving Suggestions
To keep the grilled theme going, serve this salad with some Juicy Grilled Chicken or Grilled Shrimp skewers. You can also pair it with a nice piece of Grilled Salmon for a complete and delicious meal. For a vegetarian option, top the salad with roasted chickpeas or tofu. If you’re looking for something heartier, you can serve this as a side dish along with some Grilled Steak or Homemade Burgers. And, of course, it pairs perfectly with one of our Top Summer Cocktails!
How to Grill Your Favorite Meat
Grilled Chicken Breast Grilled Salmon Grilled Pork Chops Grilled Chicken Thighs Grilled Flank Steak Grilled Whole Chicken Grilled Pork Tenderloin Grilled Chicken Legs Grilled Shrimp Grilled Scallops Grilled Ribs
