Baked Romaine Lettuce Recipes

HEARTS OF ROMAINE WITH BLUE CHEESE AND BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Lay the bacon strips on a roasting rack and bake in the oven until crisp, about 20 minutes. (To make bacon curls: Wrap each slice of raw bacon around a metal skewer in a barber-pole fashion and lay the skewers on the roasting rack.) Pat dry with a paper towel. When cool enough to handle, break into pieces or in half, if using curls.
• Put the egg in a small saucepan with enough cold water to cover. Bring to a boil, cover, and remove from the heat. Set aside for 10 minutes. Drain the egg and roll it between your palm and the counter to crack the shell, then peel under cool running water. Rub the egg through a fine-mesh strainer and set aside.
• Remove the large outer leaves from the romaine hearts and rinse. Chop these leaves into bite-size pieces and spin dry. (Use an extremely sharp knife to minimize bruising the edges.) Halve the hearts through the cores to make 4 wedges. Rinse under cold running water and shake to air dry.
• Divide the wedges among 4 plates. Mound some of the chopped romaine on top and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Spoon about 1/4 cup of Blue Cheese Dressing over each salad and top with some of the sieved egg and bacon. Pass the remaining dressing at the table.
• Pulse the mayonnaise, blue cheese, buttermilk, shallot, lemon zest, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and celery seeds in a food processor to make a chunky but pourable sauce. Stir in the parsley and season with plenty of pepper. Use immediately or refrigerate in a tightly sealed container for up to 3 days.

ROASTED ROMAINE LETTUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Using a sharp knife, cut the romaine heart in half.
• Drizzle with olive oil, making sure to brush some on the top and the leaves. Sprinkle garlic all over. Top with salt and pepper.
• Roast for about 5 minutes in the preheated oven, until the leaves are starting to get brown and crunchy.
• Remove from oven and mist or sprinkle with lemon juice.
• You can eat as it (delicious!) or take it up a notch by drizzling with balsamic dressing, caesar dressing, or steak sauce.

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.

SAUTEED ROMAINE LETTUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, celery, and red-pepper flakes; saute until celery is softened and golden, about 5 minutes.
• Add lettuce, pressing it down to fit. Season with salt and pepper. Cover; cook, tossing occasionally, until lettuce is completely wilted and liquid has evaporated, 10 to 12 minutes.

ROASTED LETTUCE

Steps:

• Break off the outside leaves of the lettuces. Lay them on a plate and season with salt. Leave for about 15 mins to 'bleed' and soften. Heat a large frying pan or wok until very hot. Toss the leaves with the olive oil and stir-fry for just a min until they begin to wilt. Mix in the rice wine vinegar and drain on paper towel. Tastes better than spinach!

PANFRIED ROMAINE

Steps:

• Rinse romaine halves, then shake off water and pat dry.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then add 3 romaine halves, cut sides down, and sprinkle with a rounded 1/4 teaspoon sea salt.
• Cook, turning over once with tongs, until browned, about 2 minutes total, then cover and cook until just crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes more. Transfer to a platter.
• Cook remaining romaine halves in oil in 3 batches in same manner, transferring to platter. Cool to room temperature before serving.

ROASTED LETTUCE, RADICCHIO, AND ENDIVE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking dish with parchment paper.
• Place radicchio, Belgian endive, chicory, and romaine lettuce halves in a single layer on the baking sheet. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of the olive oil on top.
• Combine olives and capers in a small bowl. Mix oregano, thyme, salt, black pepper, and chile pepper in a small bowl to make spice mixture.
• Stuff inner leaves with olives, capers, and spice mixture using your fingers. Wrap halves together with kitchen string to prevent stuffing from falling out. Drizzle remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until crispy and beginning to wilt, 10 to 15 minutes. Cut off kitchen string and sprinkle Romano cheese on top before serving.