Char-Grilled Romaine, Bacon, Tomato and Blue Cheese Salad (Barbecue and Grilling)

 

                You can make a meal of this salad, served with crusty bread.

Serves 6

• 3 hearts of romaine, halved (do not trim the core, or several of the outer leaves will fall off)
• Olive oil
• Salt and ground black pepper
• 12 strips bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
• 3 cups halved cherry tomatoes
• 175 gr blue cheese, crumbled

Vinaigrette

• 175 ml vegetable oil
• 60 ml white vinegar
• 15 ml sugar
• 5 ml Dijon mustard
• 5 ml salt

1. Prepare the vinaigrette : In a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine oil, vinegar, sugar, mustard and salt ; cover and shake to blend.
2. Prepare a hot fire in your grill.
3. Brush cut side of romaine with olive oil and season with salt and pepper ; place cut side down on the grill.
4. Grill for 3 or 4 minutes, or until outer lettuce leaves are charred and there are a good grill marks on the cut side (Do not close the grill lid or lettuce will wilt).
5. Portion romaine among plates and sprinkle with salt and pepper ; top with bacon, tomatoes and blue cheese.
6. Drizzle the vinaigrette.

Variation : To turn the vinaigrette into a creamy blue cheese dressing, add 125 ml crumbled blue cheese ; stir to blend. Try using this dressing on other salads too!

BON APPÉTIT