Romaine Sweet Hearts Recipes

BRAISED ROMAINE HEARTS

Steps:

• Braised Romaine Hearts
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 4 romaine hearts, damaged leaves removed, trimmed and sliced in half lengthwise
• 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable stock
• 1 carrot, chopped
• Salt and ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice.
• 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.

GRILLED HEARTS OF ROMAINE

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil the grate.
• Brush each romaine lettuce half with 1/2 teaspoon olive oil.
• Cook romaine hearts, cut-side down, on the preheated grill until the cut-side is slightly caramelized but the inside is still cool and crisp, about 2 minutes. Transfer lettuce, cut-side up, to a platter. Sprinkle Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese over lettuce and drizzle balsamic vinegar, sherry vinegar, and 2 tablespoons olive oil over the top.

HEARTS OF ROMAINE WITH CREAMY DRESSING

Steps:

• Remove the outer darker green leaves from: 2 heads of romaine lettuce.
• Cut off the stem end and separate the leaves. Wash them thoroughly and spin-dry in batches.
• To make the dressing, stir together in a large bowl: 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar, Grated zest of 1 lemon, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, Salt, Fresh-ground black pepper.
• Taste, and adjust as needed. Whisk in: 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 3 tablespoons heavy cream.
• Taste for salt and acid and adjust if needed. Gently toss the lettuce with the dressing, making sure each leaf is evenly coated.
• A couple of salt-packed anchovies, rinsed, filleted, and chopped, are a great addition to the dressing.
• Some or all of the following herbs are delicious chopped and scattered over the salad: basil, chervil, chives, and tarragon.
• This dressing is equally suitable for butter or Bibb lettuces and for frisée and radicchio.

ROMAINE HEARTS WITH BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE AND GARLIC CROSTINI

Steps:

• Toast bread in hot oven or under broiler. Rub toast with crushed garlic top with tapanade and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil.
• Place vinegar in a bowl and whisk in 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil in a slow stream to combine. Add seasonings and pepper and whisk again to distribute the herbs and spice throughout the dressing.
• Quarter each romaine heart lengthwise and trim away core. Arrange 1/2 heart, 2 trimmed quarters, on each of 4 serving plates. Top lettuce with 2 garlic toasts. Drizzle toasts and lettuce with 1/4 of the prepared dressing and serve.
• In a small bowl combine the olives and anchovies.