Grilled Romaine with Caramelized Onion Noodles, Blue Cheese, and Greek Yogurt
Try this Grilled Romaine with Caramelized Onion Noodles, Blue Cheese, and Greek Yogurt recipe.
Try this Grilled Romaine with Caramelized Onion Noodles, Blue Cheese, and Greek Yogurt recipe.
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- for the dressing:
- 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
- 2 romaine lettuce heads rinsed, ends chopped off and cut in half lengthwise
- 1 onion, peeled blade a
- 1/4 up nonfat plain greek yogurt
- 3 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- Carbohydrate 4.86850750505609 g
- Cholesterol 12.65625 mg
- Fat 8.176455 g
- Fiber 0.105121873221536 g
- Protein 3.81627781262196 g
- Saturated Fat 3.602138 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (37g)
- Sodium 303.580223963943 mg
- Sugar 4.76338563183456 g
- Trans Fat 0.34420425 g
- Calories 109 calories
Step-by-step
- Preheat the grill or grill pan to medium-high.
- Place half the olive oil in a bowl and while the grill is heating, brush the cut sides of the romaine lettuce with the olive oil.
- Season the cut side generously with pepper and lightly with salt.
- Once grill pan is heated, place the sliced side down and let cook for about 5 minutes.
- Periodically, put medium pressure with a spatula on top to ensure the lettuce cooks.
- Repeat until all lettuce halves are cooked.
- Set aside.
- After two lettuce halves have cooked, in another skillet, add in the rest of the olive oil.
- Once oil heats, add in the onion noodles and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
- Cook for 5-7 minutes or until caramelized and lightly browned.
- Top the grilled lettuce with onions and blue cheese and drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette.
The Heavy Lifter
Balsamic vinegar provides the essential acidity required to balance rich blue cheese and sweet onion noodles. High acid levels cut through heavy dairy fats without masking the char on the leaves. Whisk the vinegar thoroughly with olive oil and honey to form a stable emulsion before dressing.
Adapting Dietary Needs
Replacing the blue cheese with a sharp aged cheddar or a salt-cured sheep milk cheese alters the final profile while maintaining dairy integrity. Greek yogurt can be swapped for a rich cashew cream if dairy must be avoided entirely. Honey swaps cleanly for agave syrup at a one-to-one ratio without changing viscosity.
Technique and Heat Management
Grilling lettuce requires a medium-high grill pan to char the exterior quickly before the leaves turn entirely limp. Press down gently with a spatula during the initial five minutes of cooking to ensure solid contact with the ridges. Caramelizing the onion noodles demands a separate skillet maintained at medium heat for seven minutes until golden brown.
