Grilled Caesar Salad With Creamy Dressing

The pale green inner leaves of romaine lettuce — available in the produce section in bags labeled “hearts of romaine” — stand up well to a brief sear on a hot grill. Wilting just slightly and picking up a delicious smokiness that transforms a classic salad into something truly special. Top with grilled focaccia croutons and a creamy tahini dressing, and you’ve got a satisfying fork-and-knife salad. It’s also a great option for vegans, delivering 23% of your daily iron in a single serving.

Active time: 10 minutes | Total time: 20 minutes

Grilled Caesar Salad With Creamy Dressing

Ingredients

• 6 tbsp tahini
• 1/4 cup hot water
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tsp white miso
• 3/4 tsp Dijon mustard
• 3/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce (vegetarian Worcestershire, if desired)
• 1 small garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 large hearts of romaine, halved lengthwise
• 2 thick slices red onion (cut into rounds so they are easier to flip on the grill)
• 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 (6-oz./170g) piece focaccia

Directions

Preheat a grill to medium-high heat. While the grill is heating, whisk together the tahini, hot water, lemon juice, white miso, Dijon mustard, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and black pepper until smooth, adding more water if needed to reach a pourable consistency. Set aside.

Brush the romaine hearts and onion slices with olive oil. Place the onion on the grill, cover, and cook for about 3 minutes, or until slightly charred on one side. Carefully flip and grill for about 4 more minutes, or until just tender. Remove and set aside.

Place the romaine hearts cut-side down on the grill along with the focaccia. Grill uncovered for 2–3 minutes, or until the lettuce is slightly wilted and charred on one side and the focaccia is crisped, about 4 minutes.

Transfer the romaine hearts to a large serving platter or individual plates. Cut the focaccia and onions into bite-size pieces and scatter over the romaine. Drizzle generously with the dressing, season with pepper, and serve warm.

Serves: 4 | Serving Size: 1/2 romaine heart, 3 tbsp dressing, 2 tbsp focaccia croutons, 1 1/2 tbsp onions

Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 346; Total Fat: 23g; Saturated Fat: 3g; Monounsaturated Fat: 11g; Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g; Cholesterol: 0g; Sodium: 389mg; Carbohydrate: 26g; Fiber: 6g; Sugar: 4g; Protein: 10g

Nutrition Bonus: Calcium: 9%; Iron: 23%; Potassium: 198mg; Vitamin C: 12%

Originally published: June 8, 2019; Updated: March 2026