Romaine Sweet Hearts Recipes

CRUNCHY ROMAINE SALAD WITH SWEET SESAME VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• For the vinaigrette: Combine the mandarin syrup, vinegar, canola oil, sesame oil, sesame seeds, ginger and ramen seasoning in a jar. Cover tightly with a lid and shake until emulsified. Hold in the refrigerator. Shake again before using.
• For the salad: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. On a baking sheet, break up the ramen noodles into small pieces with your hands. Add the almonds and shake the pan to spread everything in an even layer. Bake until the ramen and almonds are a deep golden brown, 12 minutes. Let cool completely.
• In a large bowl combine the romaine, broccoli, carrots, oranges and scallions. Toss with enough vinaigrette to lightly coat. Top the salad with the toasted ramen and almonds. Serve immediately.

BRAISED ROMAINE HEARTS

Steps:

• Put 2 tablespoons of the butter in a medium to large skillet over medium heat. When butter has melted and foam subsided, add romaine hearts, cut side down, and cook, turning once or twice, until they begin to brown on the edges, about 5 minutes.
• Add stock, carrot and some salt and pepper. Cover and cook over lowest possible heat, turning occasionally, until lettuce and carrots are very tender, about 20 minutes. Uncover and turn heat up a bit to reduce any remaining liquid; add remaining tablespoon of butter and gently turn vegetables to coat. Drizzle with lemon juice.

ROMAINE HEARTS WITH BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE AND GARLIC CROSTINI

Steps:

• Toast bread in hot oven or under broiler. Rub toast with crushed garlic top with tapanade and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil.
• Place vinegar in a bowl and whisk in 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil in a slow stream to combine. Add seasonings and pepper and whisk again to distribute the herbs and spice throughout the dressing.
• Quarter each romaine heart lengthwise and trim away core. Arrange 1/2 heart, 2 trimmed quarters, on each of 4 serving plates. Top lettuce with 2 garlic toasts. Drizzle toasts and lettuce with 1/4 of the prepared dressing and serve.
• In a small bowl combine the olives and anchovies.

GRILLED HEARTS OF ROMAINE

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil the grate.
• Brush each romaine lettuce half with 1/2 teaspoon olive oil.
• Cook romaine hearts, cut-side down, on the preheated grill until the cut-side is slightly caramelized but the inside is still cool and crisp, about 2 minutes. Transfer lettuce, cut-side up, to a platter. Sprinkle Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese over lettuce and drizzle balsamic vinegar, sherry vinegar, and 2 tablespoons olive oil over the top.

ROMAINE HEARTS WITH RED PEPPER VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Place chopped romaine on a platter or in a salad bowl. To a food processor, add roasted red pepper, vinegar and parsley. Process, then stream in extra-virgin olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. remove processor bowl and drizzle dressing over salad, serve.

GRILLED ROMAINE HEARTS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk oil and vinegar. Generously brush over all surfaces of romaine. Grill romaine, uncovered, over medium-hot heat for 1-2 minutes or until slightly charred and wilted, turning once. Season with salt and pepper.

HEARTS OF ROMAINE WITH ROASTED PEPPERS AND CABRALES DRESSING

Steps:

• Roast peppers:
• Lay chiles and bell peppers on their sides on racks of gas burners and turn flame on high. (Or broil on rack of a broiler pan about 2 inches from heat.) Roast, turning with tongs, until skins are blackened, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Transfer to a bowl, then cover and let steam 10 minutes. Peel, seed, and cut into thin strips.
• Make dressing:
• Whisk together dressing ingredients in a large bowl.
• Arrange salad:
• Dip each romaine leaf in dressing to coat, shaking off excess, and arrange on a platter. Toss pepper strips in remaining dressing and scatter over romaine.

HEARTS OF ROMAINE SALAD WITH APPLE, RED ONION, AND CIDER VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Whisk first 8 ingredients in small bowl for dressing. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Refrigerate. Rewhisk before using.)
• Place sliced onion in medium bowl. Cover with cold water; let stand 30 minutes. Drain well. Place 1/3 cup dressing in another medium bowl. Add apples; toss to coat.
• Trim off tips of romaine halves, leaving 5-inch lengths. Cut each romaine half lengthwise into 3 wedges. Fan wedges on large platter. Top with red onion slices. Drizzle salad with dressing, then sprinkle with apples and pecans.