Charred Romaine With Tomatillo Dressing Recipes

CHARRED-ROMAINE SALAD

Steps:

• Place radishes and shallot in a small bowl. Bring 2/3 cups of water, 1/2 cup vinegar, the sugar, and 2 teaspoons salt to a boil in a small saucepan. Pour over radishes and shallot. Refrigerate.
• Meanwhile, whisk together buttermilk, sour cream, and remaining 2 tablespoons vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate while grilling romaine.
• Heat grill to medium-high. Brush romaine halves with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Grill, turning, until charred but still crisp, about 4 minutes per side. Cut each in half lengthwise. Drizzle dressing over romaine. Drain radish-shallot mixture. Scatter over romaine. Serve immediately.

CHARRED CORN SALAD WITH CREAMY TOMATILLO DRESSING

Steps:

• For the guacamole: Combine the cilantro, tomatillos, garlic, avocado, jalapeno, onion, lime juice, cumin and salt in a food processor or blender and pulse until combined. Set aside 1/2 cup of the guacamole for the creamy tomatillo dressing, and use remaining guacamole for another recipe.
• For the charred corn salad: Preheat a grill pan over high heat. Brush or rub each ear of corn with the canola oil and sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Grill the corn until it gets a nice char, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Set aside until cool enough to handle, about 5 minutes. Stand each ear stalk-end down, in a wide, shallow bowl and slice the kernels off using your knife.
• Combine the corn kernels, lime juice, avocado, Fresno chiles and red onions in a large bowl.
• For the creamy tomatillo dressing: Mix together the mayonnaise, 1/2 cup tomatillo guacamole, hot sauce, chili powder and cumin. Add to the corn salad and toss to combine.
• Fold in the cilantro and crumbled cotija and season with salt.
• Serving suggestion: Portion the salad into small cups, squeeze additional lime over the top, and serve with a spoon.

GRILLED ROMAINE WITH CHARRED GRAPEFRUIT DRESSING

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to high heat.
• Lightly grease the cut sides of the grapefruit(s) and leek with nonstick cooking spray. Grill them both, cut-side down, until they are charred and the leeks are tender, about 2 minutes for the grapefruit and 3 minutes for the leeks. Let cool slightly.
• Juice the grapefruit into a large mixing bowl (you should have about 1/2 cup juice). Chop the leeks and add them to the bowl with the grapefruit juice. Add the olive oil, honey and some salt and pepper to the bowl and whisk to combine. Reserve.
• Lightly grease the cut sides of the romaine with nonstick cooking spray. Grill the lettuce, cut-side down, until aromatic and charred, about 30 seconds. Transfer the lettuce to serving plates. Drizzle it with the prepared dressing and garnish with almonds and shaved cheese. Serve immediately.
• Serving Suggestion: Because my husband is one of those "this is good, but I'm still hungry" kind of people, I added some grilled chicken alongside. Do as you please - this would be perfect with a fillet of salmon, pork chop or all on its own.