Grilled Lettuce

Gluten Free Grilled Lettuce Salad Recipe

I like to re-think old classics. Take the iceberg lettuce wedge. This is one classic that has made quite the comeback. Icy cold wedges of lettuce topped with creamy blue cheese dressing. Nothing wrong with that except that iceberg lettuce has pretty much no nutritional value (or flavor) and blue cheese is a problem for us gluten intolerant people.

So instead of ice-cold, tasteless lettuce with goopy, gluten injected dressing, how about grilled romaine and endive wedges with balsamic syrup and olive oil topped with a crumbling of goat cheese?

If you have never grilled lettuce you are in for a treat. The grilling brings a little sweetness to lettuces that are normally bitter, such as radicchio and Belgian endive.

This Gluten Free Grilled Lettuce Salad Recipe is a great side dish for a barbeque and wonderful for entertaining as it can sit. Paired with my eggplant lasagna this makes a super easy dinner for a casual party.

To make this salad I use my favorite cooking vessel – my grill pan. But you can just as easily do this on the grill or even a skillet. You’ll get all that yummy flavor, just not those pretty grill marks.

If you are making this salad on a barbeque then cut the onions in quarters for grilling and slice thinner after they are done – otherwise they will fall through the grill.

I could not get my hands on any radicchio this time but I usually add it as it adds a nice splash of color. If you have some radicchio, just treat it as you do the other lettuces.

The goat cheese is optional so if you don’t do dairy, no worries – leave it out.

Grilled Lettuce Salad

5 from 1 vote
Grilled Lettuce
Print Recipe

Gluten Free Grilled Lettuce Salad Recipe

Prep Time25 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time45 mins
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 114kcal
Author: Gluten Free & More

Ingredients

  • ½ cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 heads Romaine lettuce hearts washed and completely dried
  • 2 heads white Belgian endive
  • 1 onion
  • Olive oil
  • Kosher or sea salt
  • Coarsely ground pepper
  • 4 ounces goat cheese crumbled

Instructions

  • Make balsamic syrup by pouring the balsamic vinegar into a small heavy sauce pan and boil over high heat until thick and syrupy and reduced by about half – about 10 minutes.
  • Heat a grill pan or barbeque to medium high heat.
  • Leaving the bottoms attached cut the Romaine lettuce hearts and Belgian endives into quarters vertically. Cut the onion in half vertically. Cut each half into 6 vertical slices.
  • Brush lettuce and endive quarters with olive oil. Toss onion slices with olive oil.
  • Grill lettuce quarters about 1-2 minutes on each side. You want them to start to brown but not get too soft. Remove to a platter. Do the same with the endives but depending on their size this may take a minute or two longer on each side. Add to platter with the Romaine.
  • Grill onion slices until browned and soft – about 5 minutes. Scatter over the lettuce and endive quarters.
  • Drizzle the balsamic syrup over the lettuce, endive and onions. Drizzle on some olive oil, season with salt and pepper and add the crumbled goat cheese.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Gluten Free Grilled Lettuce Salad Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 114 Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Fat 4g6%
Saturated Fat 2g10%
Cholesterol 8mg3%
Sodium 92mg4%
Potassium 603mg17%
Carbohydrates 12g4%
Fiber 5g20%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 18370IU367%
Vitamin C 10.2mg12%
Calcium 109mg11%
Iron 2.6mg14%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owner’s. This blog accepts free manufacturers’ samples and forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation. Affiliate links may be included in this post.

Disclaimer: All nutrition facts on Gluten Free & More are meant only as a guide and may differ depending on product brands used or ingredient substitutions. Some errors may occur, so you are encouraged to confirm the recipe’s ingredient and nutrition suitability for your own diet.
Have you tried this recipe? Give it a star rating and let us know your thoughts in the Ratings & Reviews section below.
Tags: Balsamic Celiac Easy Grill Healthy Lettuce Recipe
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  1. Peter G
    April 4, 2008

    Gorgeous salad Carol…the caramelised flavours are just divine when done like this.

  2. Nick
    April 4, 2008

    I didn’t know you could grill lettuce. I mean I guess I knew it was possible just not normal. Sounds real interesting, I’d love to see a picture of it! Maybe I’ll just go try it for myself. Interesting recipe.

    The Peanut Butter Boy

  3. Chef Erik
    April 5, 2008

    WWWWWWWWWOOOOOHHHOOOOOOO!!!!!!
    This salad looks so nice. I saw a grilled lettuce recipe in one of my cookbooks but never tried it. I’ve grilles escarole but never lettuce. Can’t get enough goat cheese, yummy. Thanks for stopping by my blog the other day, much appreciated :)

  4. Helen
    April 5, 2008

    I totally agree with you about the iceberg, the only thing it is good for is adding texture – not flavour or nutritional value. I love grilling lettuce, it just comes alive! Your version looks delicious.

  5. White On Rice Couple
    April 6, 2008

    Gosh this looks good!!!! We’ll have to make this for Bourdain when he comes to dinner! (still keeping our fingers crossed).
    I had to check out your eggplant lasagna again. I love it!

  6. Jessy and her dog Winnie
    April 6, 2008

    That looks delicious, and impressive!

  7. Sheltie Girl
    April 7, 2008

    This does look delicious! I have been dying to get the grill going again.

    Sheltie Girl @ Gluten A Go Go

  8. Carrie
    April 7, 2008

    Yum!!! romaine is my favorite! We have GOT to get a gas grill for quick grilling!! Gotta try this Carol!!

  9. Aran
    April 7, 2008

    that balsamic syrup can make anything taste better! gorgeous!

  10. Pixie
    April 10, 2008

    This really sounds lovely, I’ll certainly have to try it for myself.

  11. Nina's Kitchen (Nina Timm)
    April 10, 2008

    I cannot remember when last Have I craved grilled veggies at 11pm ….looks delicious and healthy.

  12. dapotato
    April 10, 2008

    beautiful food and photos! i will definitely be passing your blog along to my friends with gluten allergies and/or celiac disease. yum.

  13. Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)
    April 10, 2008

    Delicious! I love grilled radicchio, so I’m guessing I will love this, too.

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