Romaine And Gorgonzola Salad With Roasted Garlic Dressing And Spiced Pecans Recipes

Steps:

• For the balsamic dressing: In a blender, combine the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Gorgonzola, basil, garlic, a pinch each of salt and pepper and 2 tablespoons water. Blend until the dressing is creamy and the garlic and basil are finely chopped.
• For the grilled romaine: Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium heat.
• Lightly brush the cut sides of the romaine with the canola oil. Place the romaine on the grill cut-side down and cook until grill marks form and the leaves are slightly charred, 1 to 3 minutes. Arrange on a platter cut-side up.
• Drizzle the romaine with the dressing. Sprinkle with the Gorgonzola and torn basil and serve.

Steps:

• Place mayonnaise, mustard, Worcestershire, vinegar, onion, garlic, anchovies, chipotle, hot sauce, honey and salt and pepper in a blender and blend until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the oil and blend until emulsified. Add the Parmesan and blend a few seconds longer.
• Heat grill to high.
• Brush romaine with oil and season with salt and pepper; place on the grill cut-side down and grill for 30 to 40 seconds or until slightly charred. Arrange lettuce on large platter, drizzle with the dressing and garnish with shaved Parmesan.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place spinach in serving bowl.
• Toss pecans with vegetable oil, sugar and salt. Lay out on baking sheet. Roast until shade darker and aromatic, about 7 to 8 minutes. Set aside.
• Make dressing by combining olive oil, vinegar, shallots and salt and pepper in a bowl and whisking together or place in sealable container and shake.
• Toss spinach with dressing, Gorgonzola and pecans.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 225 degrees F (110 degrees C). Mix olive oil, white sugar, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper in a large resealable plastic bag. Place tomatoes in the bag, seal, and shake to coat. Arrange coated tomato halves cut side up on a baking sheet. Bake tomatoes 2 1/2 hours in the preheated oven. Remove from heat, and let cool.
• In a blender or food processor, finely chop the shallots. Add vinegar and brown sugar, and process until smooth. Slowly add 1 3/4 cups oil, processing frequently, so as to thicken the mixture.
• Preheat grill for high heat. Brush romaine hearts with 1 tablespoon olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
• Place romaine hearts on the preheated grill. Cook 5 to 10 minutes, turning frequently, until slightly charred but not heated all the way through. Serve warm on salad plates surrounded by tomato pieces and drizzled with the shallot dressing.

Steps:

• For dressing:
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Slice top 1/2 inch from each head of garlic. Place each, cut side up, on large square of foil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; drizzle with oil. Enclose each in foil. Roast packets directly on oven rack until garlic is tender, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Carefully open foil; cool.
• Squeeze garlic into medium bowl; mash. Whisk in remaining ingredients. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.)
• For vegetables:
• Combine vegetables in large bowl. Add dressing; toss. Season with more salt and pepper, if desired.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 and toast the walnut pieces (on baking sheet) for a few minutes.
• Pour lettuce into bowl.
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• Whisk together olive oil, vinegar, and mustard in small bowl.
• Add cheese and toasted walnut pieces to lettuce.
• Pour salad dressing over salad and toss well.