Cashew Caesar Charred Romaine Hearts

Apr 14, 2023 · in Small Eats

This is an ode to my mom’s “Caesar salads.” They weren’t very good, to be honest. In fact, salads traumatized me my entire childhood, an unwelcome surprise lurking on the table when all I wanted to eat were cookies. This is the version of my mom’s salad I wish I’d had, without the bottles of Hidden Valley and heaps of raw carrots and broccoli that she insisted I eat for my growth spurt that never happened. Crisp romaine hearts are charred on a grill or gas stove (just don't burn your house down please!) and topped with a cashew-based Caesar dressing blended with anchovies, garlic, and mayonnaise. It's then sprinkled with crunchy sesame seeds, spicy chili crisp and chopped scallions makes this salad a tribute to my grandma’s pantry and my mom’s valiant efforts.

–Frankie

Yield

2 servings

Time

15 minutes

Ingredients

Greens

2 romaine hearts (or 1 head of romaine lettuce)

Dressing

1/3 cup roasted unsalted cashews

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 anchovy fillet

1 teaspoon light brown sugar

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 cup olive oil

1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup mayonnaise

Toppings

4 scallions, finely chopped

Black and white sesame seeds

Chili crisp

Parmesan cheese, finely grated (optional)

Preparation

Char romaine hearts

Cut romaine hearts in half. If using a whole head of romaine lettuce, cut into quarters. Drizzle olive oil on the flat side, then carefully char each romaine heart half on the gas stove or place on a grill. Char until the lettuce is lightly singed along the edges.

Make dressing

In a mortar and pestle or food processor, grind or blend the cashews, garlic, anchovy, brown sugar, and salt into a rough paste. Add the olive oil a tablespoon at a time and continue grinding or blending until it becomes a smoother, thick paste. Transfer the paste to a small mixing bowl and add the lemon juice and mayonnaise. Whisk until smooth.

Assemble

Place romaine hearts on a plate and generously spread the dressing onto each romaine heart. Sprinkle with the chopped scallions and sesame. Top with a drizzle of chili crisp and a snowy pile of grated Parmesan cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste, and serve.

Cashew Caesar Charred Romaine Hearts

At a glance

Yield

Time