Grilled Romaine

I decided to do our whole dinner on the grill last night. We had hot Italian sausages with peppers and onions and a new recipe: Grilled Romaine! I have to say it was quite yummy--sort of like a warm Caesar Salad :-) Recipe from the NYT.

FOR THE DRESSING:

• 1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
• 6 anchovy fillets, rinsed and minced
• 2 teaspoons mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
•  Kosher salt and black pepper to taste

FOR THE SALAD:

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 heads romaine lettuce, tops and bottoms trimmed neatly, the heads cut lengthwise into quarters
• ½ cup grated Parmesan

• PREPARATION

  1. Build a fire in your grill, leaving one side free of coals. When coals are covered with gray ash and the temperature is medium (you can hold your hand 5 inches above the coals for 5 to 7 seconds), you are ready to cook. (For a gas grill, turn all burners to high, lower cover and heat for 15 minutes, then turn burners to medium.)
  2. Meanwhile, make the dressing: Put the minced garlic into a bowl, and add the minced anchovies. Using a whisk, mix and mash these ingredients together until they form a paste. Add the mayonnaise and the mustard and whisk. Add the olive oil, whisking all the while, and then the vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.
  3. Make the salad: Drizzle the olive oil over the quartered heads of lettuce. Lightly grill these directly over the hot coals for 15 to 20 seconds on each side, until they are lightly golden, then remove to the cool side of the grill. Using a pastry brush or a small spoon, paint the dressing over the lettuce, making sure to get dressing between the leaves. Sprinkle the lettuce with Parmesan and cover the grill for 1 or 2 minutes to allow the cheese to melt and the lettuce to soften further. Remove lettuce to a platter and serve.
  
  4.