Charred lettuce Caesar salad recipe

Name: Charred lettuce Caesar salad
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients: 1 garlic clove, crushed; 2 tbsp olive oil, plus 1 tsp; 120g sourdough bloomer (4 thick slices), cut into cubes; 3 bacon medallions, cut into 1cm pieces; 4 Little Gem lettuces, halved lengthways; 90ml reduced-fat Caesar dressing; 2 anchovies, drained and finely chopped; 20g Parmesan

This fresh take on the Caesar salad makes the most of its simple ingredients. Homemade croutons – cut from a sourdough bloomer – deliver a satisfying crunch in this perfect side salad.

See method

Serves 4
10 mins to prepare and 20 mins to cook
217 calories / serving

Healthy

Shop your ingredients

Tesco Garlic 4 Pack
Aldi Price Match
1 garlic clove, crushed
£0.87
£0.22/each
Olivio Oil 500Ml
2 tbsp olive oil, plus 1 tsp
£2.75
£5.50/litre
Tesco Sourdough Bloomer 400G
120g sourdough bloomer (4 thick slices), cut into cubes
£2.10
£5.25/kg
Tesco Reduced Fat & Salt Bacon Medallions - Smoked 8 Pack 240g
3 bacon medallions, cut into 1cm pieces
£2.50
£10.42/kg
Tesco Little Gem Lettuce Twin Pack
Aldi Price Match
4 Little Gem lettuces, halved lengthways
£0.77
£0.38/each
Cardini's Light Caesar Dressing 350ml
90ml reduced-fat Caesar dressing
£2.75
£7.86/litre
Tesco Finest Cantabrian Anchovy Fillets 100G
2 anchovies, drained and finely chopped
£2.95
£49.17/kg DR.WT
Creamfields Grated Grana Padano 100G
20g Parmesan
£1.65
£16.50/kg

Method

Preheat the oven to gas 6, 200°C, fan 180°C. Mix the garlic and 1 tbsp oil in a bowl; set aside. Put the bread in a bowl, add 2 tbsp water and 1 tbsp olive oil and gently mix with your hands until the liquid has been absorbed. Arrange the bread in a single layer on a baking tray and bake for 18-20 mins, shaking once or twice, until golden brown.Return to the bowl,drizzle over half the garlic oil and mix; set aside to cool.
Meanwhile, heat 1 tsp oil in a nonstick frying pan over a medium- low heat. When hot, add the bacon and fry, stirring, for 8-10 mins until golden. Drain on kitchen paper and set aside.
Preheat a griddle pan over a medium-high heat until very hot. Brush the lettuce halves with the remaining garlic oil. Griddle, flat-side down, for 2-3 mins until lightly charred but not cooked.
Arrange the lettuce on a platter, drizzle with the Caesar dressing and sprinkle over the anchovies. Top with the bacon,then use a peeler to shave off thin slivers of Parmesan. Scatter over the croutons to serve.