Skip to main content

Charred Romaine with Tomatillo Dressing

5.0

(3)

Image may contain Dish Food Meal Pottery Art Porcelain Platter and Saucer
Charred Romaine with Tomatillo DressingMichael Graydon

Charred to a crisp: Not a statement usually associated with salads, but delicious nonetheless in this Mexican-inspired romaine number.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

Tomatillo Dressing:

1/4 medium white onion, quartered
1 small tomatillo, husk removed
1 jalapeño, sliced, seeds removed
1 garlic clove
1/4 avocado, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Salad and Assembly:

1 small poblano chile
2 heads of romaine lettuce, outer leaves removed, halved lengthwise
2 tablespoons olive oil
Kosher salt
1 avocado, chopped
1/4 medium white onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 ounces Cotija cheese, finely grated
1 tablespoons chopped cilantro stems

Preparation

  1. Tomatillo Dressing:

    Step 1

    Bring onion, tomatillo, jalapeño, garlic, and 2 cups water to a boil in a small saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer until onion is very tender, 6–8 minutes; let cool. Drain, reserving cooking liquid.

    Step 2

    Purée onion mixture with avocado and cilantro leaves in a blender. With motor running, gradually add oil and 2 tablespoons cooking liquid and blend until combined.

    Step 3

    Add lime juice; season with salt and pepper.

  2. Salad and Assembly:

    Step 4

    Prepare grill for medium-high heat. Grill poblano, turning occasionally, until charred and blistered, 6–8 minutes. Let cool. Peel and finely chop.

    Step 5

    Drizzle cut sides of romaine with oil; season with salt. Grill, cut side down, until charred, about 3 minutes. Turn and grill just until warmed through, about 30 seconds.

    Step 6

    Spoon dressing onto plates and top with romaine, charred side up, avocado, onion, and poblano. Drizzle with lime juice; season lightly with salt. Scatter Cotija cheese and chopped cilantro stems over.

Read More
Creamy and bright with just a subtle bit of heat, this five-ingredient, make-ahead dip is ready for company—just add crudités.
Every salad should have pita chips.
Cabbage is the unsung hero of the winter kitchen—available anywhere, long-lasting in the fridge, and super-affordable. It’s also an excellent partner for pasta.
Berbere is a spicy chile blend that has floral and sweet notes from coriander and cardamom, and when it’s paired with a honey glaze, it sets these wings apart from anything else you’ve ever had.
A slow-simmering, comforting braise delivering healing to both body and soul.
Layer homemade custard, ripe bananas, and vanilla wafers under clouds of whipped cream for this iconic dessert.
Fufu is a dish that has been passed down through many generations and is seen as a symbol of Ghanaian identity and heritage. Making fufu traditionally is a very laborious task; this recipe mimics some of that hard work but with a few home-cook hacks that make for a far easier time.
Oyster mushrooms are a strong all-rounder in the kitchen, seeming to straddle both plant and meat worlds in what they look and taste like when cooked. Here they’re coated in a marinade my mother used to use when cooking Chinese food at home—honey, soy, garlic and ginger—and roasted until golden, crisp, and juicy.