IF YOU ARE A BLUE CHEESE HATER JUST WAIT! Wait ooone second.
Because Seth and I hate blue cheese. Really, really hate it. To the point where if I forget to ask the servers to leave it off my salad at a restaurant it ruins the whole thing for me. But we are obsessed with this salad. Oooooobsessed.
So it started with an experiment. There is this burger at a sports bar back in our college town called the Pittsburger. It is piled high with bacon and blue cheese, and Seth and I both loved it – which we always thought was so weird because of the copious (yeah…I said copious) amounts of blue cheese piled on there.
So a few days ago we were talking about it and thinking it was the combo of bacon and blue cheese that made it SO dang good.
So we cooked a few slices of bacon and tried that with a bite of blue cheese.
And it was preeeeetty much the best thing ever.
DISCOVERIES.
We like blue cheese if it’s with bacon whhhaaaaattt?!
SO – to all you blue cheese haters out there…you have to try this salad.
You might be sitting here thinking, are we not going to address the fact that you are telling us to grill a salad?
I have to give credit to my in-laws for that part of the recipe. They introduced me to the beautiful-ness that is grilled Romaine halves a few years ago.
You have not lived until you’ve tried a grilled Romaine salad, people…mark my words!!
Everything about this salad is pure deliciousness perfection.
The slightly charred, smoky leaves of Romaine, the creamy blue cheese paired with the crispy, salty bacon, and the tangy, herb-y, flavor packed balsamic dressing. Oh man…it is seriously AMAZING!
Speaking of the dressing…this dressing basically takes a plain balsamic vinaigrette and slaps it in the face. You start with a base of balsamic vinaigrette and then add three different kinds of dried herbs and a touch of Dijon mustard.
Goodbye old balsamic dressing. Hello best dressing ever.
Definitely, hands down, no argument my favorite salad ever.
Can you tell I’m excited about this recipe? Because…I am…big time.
We can just not talk about the fact that you brush bacon grease on the Romaine halves before grilling them and then top everything with bacon and cheese – lets just leave it at “it’s a salad so it has to be healthy” and not look any further into it.
Agreed? Agreed.
PrintGrilled Romaine Salad with Bacon and Blue Cheese
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 3 Romaine hearts
- 12 pieces of thick cut bacon
- 5 oz blue cheese crumbles
- For the dressing:
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup light olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- A little salt and pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Fry bacon in a large skillet – reserve the bacon fat
- Slice each Romaine heart in half and set aside
- Heat your grill up over high heat – you want very hot grates so you get a quick char without cooking the lettuce too much or wilting it
- Using a basting brush, lightly brush a little bacon fat onto the flat side of each Romaine half
- When you are ready to grill, place the Romaine halves flat side down on the grill and just keep them on there until they have light char marks – it shouldn’t take more than 30 seconds
- Remove the Romaine halves to a plate and turn off your grill
- For the dressing, add all ingredients into a bowl and whisk together, or add to a jar and shake
- To assemble the salad, top each Romaine half with bacon and blue cheese crumbles, and drizzle on the balsamic dressing
*This recipe is gluten free*
If you make this or any of my other recipes, be sure to Instagram it and hashtag #thegarlicdiaries!
Want more delicious salad ideas? Check these out:
Broccoli and Brussels Sprout Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
Caprese Salad Bites with Garlic Balsamic Reduction
I had a favorite grilled romaine salad at a nearby restaurant that closed a few years ago. This one sounds so spot-on to the one I loved!! Can’t wait to try it. Can you tell me if the romaine can be grilled a bit earlier in the day and refrigerated or does it need to be served slightly warm?
★★★★★
Grilled romaine is so good, isn’t it?? Hm…I worry that if you grilled it early, it might get wilty and not be quite as good. I would wait and grill it fresh, but if you end up trying it ahead of time, pop back over and tell us how it went!
There was so much hype for this I went right out and made sure I had all the ingredients. All I can say.is it is OK. Needs tweeking to give it more flavor. My husband doesnt care for blue cheese but he said that is what saved it.
★★
Bummer – sorry you guys didn’t love it, Pam!
Hi, this looks so delicious! Is there a specific type of balsamic vinegar that you use or would recommend? Thank you
★★★★★
Sorry for the late response! I’m on maternity leave so I’m only checking in on comments every now and then. I just use regular dark balsamic! Any kind will work.
True. You have not LIVED until you have had a grilled romaine salad! Thank you for the recipe! It was great!
★★★★★
Right?! SO GOOD! I’m glad you liked it, Randolph!
I have made this salad before. It was such a hit, I am making it again. Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
I’m so glad you love it, Veronica! This is one of my favorite salads. Hard to beat!
I found your recipe on Pinterest and boy am I glad I did. This salad is my new favourite thing! It was so good I inhaled it the first time I made it. We had it again the next night and I cut up my grilled zucchini and red peppers, and BBQ’d chicken and mixed it all together with the grilled romaine. My plate was one big massive salad and it was delicious. I think all my grilled veggies now need bacon & bleu cheese with this dressing!
★★★★★
This comment made my day, Sarah! This is one of my favorite salads as well – I’m so glad you loved it :).
The grilled romaine looks so inviting. I’ve never tried before but shall most definitely have to now. Also, can just imagine how well the textures and flavours work together with the crispy bacon and creamy salty blue cheese and the tangy, sweet balsamic. Delicious!
Culina Sophia recently posted…Honey & Co Review
Yes, you definitely have to Sophia!! Oh yeah, the flavors and textures are so so sooo yummy together.
This grilled romaine salad looks amazing, Annie! With the bacon and blue cheese? Oh man, so flavorful and delicious!
Thanks, Kelly! Yessss bacon and blue cheese 4EVA!
Maybe your discovery will work for me. I do not like blue cheese, but then again, I have never tried it with bacon. This looks delicious!!
Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness recently posted…Bacon and Cheddar Stuffed Jalapeno Soft Pretzels
You HAVE to try it at least once! I really, really hate it unless it paired with bacon!
Okay, firstly, this salad is actually perfect. I used to be the same with blue cheese, I hated it until I discovered something I liked it on and now I am obsessed. I am not sure why I kept on trying to like it, I guess I am just stubborn like that haha.
I want to get through the screen right now.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy recently posted…Comment on Honey and Chipotle Salmon with Chunky Avocado Salsa by Dannii
Thanks, Dannii! I am just as stubborn :). I’m the same way with mushrooms – I HATE them but I am so determined to love them some day!
That’s awesome that you found a way to enjoy blue cheese! Bacon can make anything taste good. :)
I’ve never tried grilling romaine but it looks so good!
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen recently posted…Firecracker Pretzel Rods
You’re totally right…and this proves it! You should definitely try it Christin :).
Loving the gorgeous look of these grilled Romain Salad!! Delicious, stunning, and mouth-watering ! Loving this exotic share! :)
Thanks, Anu!
Too funny, I make almost an exact replica of this salad at pretty much every BBQ we host (great minds). Almost, because mine doesn’t have a jazzed up balsamic dressing :( (so your mind is definately better!) I can’t wait to try your fancy pants dressing with it! Woot! And you are totally right, bacon belongs with blue cheese! Cheers, girlie!
No way! That is so funny. We should BBQ together and join forces to make this awesome salad ;). Yesssss bacon and blue cheese forever!!
Yuuuuuuuum!!!!!!
#drooling
Jillian
Haha, thanks Jillian!
I love how these grilled romain look, Annie! mouthwatering! and blue cheese is made for salads!! Really a delicious share!
Savita @ ChefDeHome recently posted…By ChefDeHome- Indian Crispy Bhindi (Okra) Raita
Thanks, Savita!
My mouth is watering for this salad. I happen to love blue cheese, but there is just something better about it when it’s paired with bacon! I need to try this ASAP. The dressing sounds amazing too!
Keri @ Fashionable Foods recently posted…Berry, Ginger, and Orange Smoothie
My mouth is still watering from eating it 3 days ago :)!! Oh man, it is so dang good with bacon. They are a match made in heaven! Thanks, Keri!!
I have never grilled romaine before! It sounds so fancy, but you make it look very easy!
Dani @ DaniCaliforniaCooks recently posted…Mediterranean Salad with Crispy Chickpeas
You need to try it, Dani!! It is super, super, SUPER easy :).