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Grilled Caesar Salad with Roasted Garlic-Salted Pepitas

The poetic last words spoken by Julius Caesar as he was attacked by a group of senators including his very close friend, Marcus Junius Brutus.

The phrase, “Et tu, Brute,” was immortalized by William Shakespeare’s, Julius Caesar, and is a phrase still used widely today when referring to an event of betrayal.

Of course it is debated if these words were in fact Caesar’s last, but for dramatic effect, let’s say they were.

As the Ides of March are upon us today, I was compelled to make Grilled Caesar Salad with Roasted Garlic-Salted Pepitas.  If you don’t understand the connection between the Ides of March and Julius Caesar, ummm…you need to read Julius Caesar.  Let’s leave it at that.

Now, as far as Caesar Salad is concerned, it has nothing to do with Julius Caesar, however I do think of him everytime I eat it.  Is that enough of a connection?

I make this particular Caesar dressing without coddled eggs because I know it freaks some people out (not me).  However, grilling the lettuce, making its outer leaves warm, might also freak out some people (again, not me).  Adding the pepitas gives the salad a contrasting crunch.  And don’t even say you dislike anchovies if you have never tried them…they are AWESOME. 

The Wild Boar has always felt this is the ugliest salad I make but then proceeds to lick his plate clean.  Yep, ugly food is always good food.  Not everything can be pretty.

Let’s grill this up…

Here’s what you will need:  Hearts of romaine, extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, dry mustard, hot pepper sauce, garlic, fresh lemon juice, black pepper, anchovies, raw  pepitas (pumpkin seeds) and garlic salt.

In a small bowl, combine 2/3 cup pepitas, 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil and 1 teaspoon garlic salt.  Mix until pepitas are completely coated with oil and salt.  Place on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake in a 375 degree oven for 5-8 minutes, or until slightly brown.  Watch them closely or they might burn.  Set aside.

In a bowl combine anchovies, 3 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 2 teaspoons dry mustard, garlic, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce and 1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon lemon juice.  Transfer to a blender and begin blending while gradually adding 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil.  Adjust seasoning to taste.

Slice hearts of romaine lettuce in half lengthwise and brush them with some of the Caesar Dressing. 

Place lettuce halves face down on a heated grill pan or grill for about 1-2 minutes, or until lettuce is golden and slightly wilted.

Remove from grill and arrange face up on a plate.  Drizzle more dressing over lettuce.

Sprinkle with pepitas.

Serve with a knife and fork…it’s so good.

Grilled Caesar Salad with Roasted Garlic-Salted Pepitas

3 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 (2 ounce) can anchovies, drained
2 teaspoons dry mustard
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil plus 2 teaspoons, divided
2/3 cup raw pepitas
1 teaspoon garlic salt
4 hearts of romaine lettuce

In a small bowl, combine pepitas, 2 teaspoons olive oil and garlic salt.  Mix until pepitas are completely coated with oil and salt.  Place on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake in a 375 degree oven for 5-8 minutes, or until slightly brown.  Watch them closely or they might burn.  Set aside.

In a bowl combine anchovies, Dijon mustard, dry mustard, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, red wine vinegar, black pepper, hot pepper sauce and lemon juice.  Transfer to a blender and begin blending while gradually adding remaining 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil.  Adjust seasoning to taste.

Slice hearts of romaine lettuce in half lengthwise and brush them with some of the Caesar Dressing. 

Place lettuce halves face down on a heated grill pan or grill for about 1-2 minutes, or until lettuce is golden and slightly wilted.

Remove from grill and arrange face up on a plate.  Drizzle more dressing over lettuce.  Sprinkle with pepitas.

What I Was Cooking Up One Year Ago Today:  I Interrupt These Easter Recipes to Bring You Something From The Emerald Isle…Part 2 of a 2 Part Episode

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Comments

  1. That looks delicious .. & I have salad every day for lunch .. so I’ll give your Caesar dressing a go .. & get some pumkin seeds ..

    Thanks Cathy .. your layout is really good & easy to follow –
    Hilary: Be Positive Be Happy

    Reply

  4. March is flying by me so quickly I can’t hardly believe it. At least I didn’t miss St. Patty’s Day, maybe I’ll even make a corned beef!
    Love the addition of pepitas to your caesar. I have a anchovy paste in my fridge I have just been too afraid to use it!

    Reply

  10. I love this one! It’s a great change from the traditional Caesar Salad. And for the record, I love the eggs in traditional dressing and I ask for extra anchovies on top of the salad. Freaks my husband out!

    Reply

  12. Yum…love Caesar salad.
    When I saw the post title, I thought for sure it was going to be about twisted fence guy.
    Glad to know that peace and love abounds on the old vineyard…no news is good news?

    Reply

  18. I must try this one!!! All of my favorite ingredients and on the grill.
    I think it is beautiful….not ugly at all! Thanks. I could not imagine this salad without the photos. They truly are worth 1000 words.

    Reply

  20. OMG this is so appetizing. Ugly, no way. Anything with browned edges is perfect in my book. What a great recipe, especially with the pepitas. I know what’s for dinner with steak tonight!

    Reply

  30. Oh Baby! Now, this is right up my alley! Mr. Snoots makes Caesar every Sunday night, but I may have to give him the night off so I can make this for him. He will love it! And of course, the pictures are to die for, as usual. I give this one 5 stars!

    Reply

  35. Ugly food is generally good food. Ever wonder why I don’t post more pictures? It just isn’t that picturesque. For that, we’d all need those magazine food arrangers, then our food would get cold and not be good. It’s a vicious cycle.

    Reply

  37. You made me laugh. Yes I share desert. Do not however touch my filet, that was cooked perfectly. The funny thing is I am the one with the big behind. However I do hope to know you when you are my age and see if have not “grown” more alike. Maybe by then you also will share desert.
    This salad looks delicious of course. So what of the Noble Pig Eatery at the Winery? Well?

    Reply

  38. Caesar salad is one of my absolute favorites, but I’ve never had a grilled version before. With pepitas, no less. I want to try this soon. Maybe for a girlfriends’ dinner. My man also would probably not eat this, but don’t take offense, he rarely eats salad.

    Thanks,
    Shirley

    Reply

  39. That is funny, I was going to make a Caesar salad for dinner tonight too. Hmmm, may have to grill it. (I do coddle my eggs).
    I’m not sure I have any pepitas in the house, but will find something!

    Reply

  41. I used to despise caesar salad until I had one made with the traditional vinaigrette instead of the awful chunky creamy restaurant-style dressing that hides in clumps between pieces of lettuce to give you a cholesterol shocker every 4th or 5th bite. Yeeech.

    I was a total convert with the first vinaigrette caesar I ate – SO GOOD. Garlicky, salty, lemony, oooh baby.

    I think that this salad looks GORGEOUS, and so creative!! Grilled lettuce is the bees knees, and the pumpkin seeds would be such a wonderful textural addition. So….would you judge me if I still sprinkled some bacon on top?

    Reply

  47. I’ve never tried grilled romaine, but it sure looks good. I don’t think it is ugly at all.

    Your anchovy comment cracked me up. The first time I had a Caesar salad was when I was in the early stages of my first pregnancy. You can imagine how that went over! I avoided anchovies for years afterwords.

    Reply

  51. Nice salad, and I love that it is grilled, adds so much flavor! I was so bumbed that Pi day and the Ides of March were over the weekend, it kinda killed all the fun things I could have done with my students. It was also Einstein’s birthday too. Oh well, next year!

    Reply

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