Disclaimer: This post is sponsered by ยBarbeques Galoreย, but all opinions are my own.
Last week I got asked to write a sponsored post for Barbeques Galore. I was pretty excited as we love barbecuing. And not just in summer, I have frequently been known to wrap my scarf around me and head outside in the middle of winter so I can cook some lamb on the barbie. Call me crazy I don't mind, because barbecued food just tastes better!
I think my all year barbecue habit is inherited from my Dad. When we got our first gas barbecue he would fire it up all the time! Even in winter he would cook us sausages for Saturday lunch, or throw some fish on there so the house didn't have that slight fishy smell you get after grilling fish. The barbecue was just an extension of the kitchen.
My love of blue steak comes from my brother trying to prank me with steak that had hit the barbie for all of 20 seconds! I love barbecue. So when I announced I was moving to Australia all my friends teased me that now I could say "throw another shrimp on the barbie." I've been here over 4 years, no one has ever said that to me ๐ But it does go to show that the Australian love of barbecue is not a secret, down under we love our outdoor grills! As I know, do plenty of the rest of the world! Especially a very special person in a small village in Rutland, (Hi Dad xx)
With Spring warming up and Summer just around the corner, it is the perfect time to check the old barbie, sit on the outdoor setting and make sure you are ready for the heat wave that is about to come. If you are looking to replace/upgrade your outdoor space then check out Barbeques Galore, they have some great offers on at the moment!!! I got a bit carried away on their website! For this sponsored post I was only asked to create a barbecue-related recipe, but I found so many items that I really really want that I am including them here anyway. I haven't been paid extra for that, I was just super excited about what I found!
We need to buy a new barbie, so I thought I would share a photo of our old one. This is what is left of our old friend. Don't worry he didn't start the fire!!! A mouse in the wiring did! You can read a bit more about the fire here.
We are currently using the one that came with our the rental, but with the kitchen worktops going in in a fortnight and the final fit electrics the week after that we are still hopeful we will be home before Christmas. So our outdoor setting is something we have been thinking about. Well along with every other bit of furniture! But for now outdoors.........
I am totally in love with this outdoor kitchen. Isn't it just sensational!!!!
Sadly it is out of our price range, but I can dream of one day having a full kitchen on my veranda. It is just amazing!!!! And although it isn't within our budget it really isn't that expensive, especially given it is a whole kitchen! And there is a cash back offer on it!!!
More within our budget is this barbecue, which is on great special offer! I love the side burner, the little prep area and the cupboard to store barbecue tools. I have sent Stew the link, as it really is a great value barbie! (I also sent him the expensive one ๐ )
But Barbeques Galore don't just sell barbies! They also do outdoor settings, I love this low level setting. Having sofas outside is great, but then you need space for a table and chairs as well. This setting is the best of both worlds! And it has a glass top so all the mess the kids make (seriously don't give Mr 8 the ketchup bottle!!!!) will just wipe off! I am dreaming of this on my new veranda!!! Love it!
I also found this table! How cool is the built in lazy Susan (Why are they called susans???? Apologies to any hardworking susans that read my blog!!) Anyway. It is such a great idea! I can see my kids spinning it way too fast and sending food flying ๐ but for most normal households I think this would be ideal!
They also sell cedar planks, smoking chips, pizza ovens, umbrellas, outdoor heaters and so much more. It is an outdoor entertainers dream! p.s They sell gift cards...incase you want to buy me a Christmas present ๐
So onto this dish. Obviously I knew I wanted a barbecue recipe, I also wanted to go a little different. Stew suggested doing a dessert and I have been trying out a couple of dishes....watch this space. But then I remembered seeing Jamie Oliver grill radicchio on a griddle. This got me thinking about grilled lettuce and blue cheese salad that I had in an American restaurant, which muddled together with crisp chicken with beautiful char lines and so my idea for creating a barbecued Caesar salad came about.
Lettuce is amazing when charred! It has the sweet refreshing taste of lettuce but with a hint of smoke and charcoal. You have to try it!!!! Add some chicken strips, a rich caesar dressing and some charred croutons and you have a barbecued salad! A crisp white wine, some friends and have a outdoor party!
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Get the Recipe
Grilled Lettuce and Chicken Caesar Salad
Ingredients
For the dressing
- 3 teaspoon white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 6 anchovy fillets
- splash of Worcestershire sauce
- 1 small garlic clove
- pinch of white pepper
- 50 ml olive oil
- 200 ml vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- 1-4 teaspoon cold water
For the salad
- 1 iceberg lettuce
- olive oil
- 500 g chicken tenders
- 4 slices of stale bread
- parmesan - to serve
Instructions
For the dressing
- Place the white wine vinegar, mustard, anchovy fillets, Worcestershire sauce, garlic and white pepper into a deep jug and use a stick blender to create a smoothish paste.
- Pour in the oils, then carefully crack in the egg (don't break the yolk)
- Place the head of the stick blender over the yolk, turn the speed to high and slowly bring the blender up through the oil.
- You should get a luscious creamy dressing.
- If the dressing is too thick use your stick blender to mix in some cold water. I start with 1 teaspoon and add it slowly until I have a constancy somewhere between pouring and dolloping.
For the salad
- Pre-heat the barbecue or grill pan.
- Remove the outer leaves of the lettuce and cut off the very brown end of the lettuce.
- Cut the lettuce in half and then cut heat half into 4 wedges. Ensure each wedge has a little bit of the centre root so that it stays together. Set aside
- Brush the chicken with olive oil then place onto the grill.
- Brush the lettuce with olive oil and place it cut side down on the grill.
- Turn the chicken and lettuce after 4 minutes and then cook on the other side for a further 4 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
- Once you have turned the chicken, add the bread to the grill and allow that to toast on both sides.
- To assemble the dish add two wedges of lettuce to each dish, divide out the chicken tenders, crumble over the toast and top with a generous drizzle of caesar dressing.
- Grate over some parmesan and serve.
Dee says
We grill all year round, and I love it! Your food looks awesome! ๐
Claire McEwen says
Grilling is just a wonderful way to cook. It is the food of friends ๐
Valentina says
Grilling all year is excellent! This looks amazing and your photos are just gorgeous!
Claire McEwen says
I agree, grilling is one of the best ways to cook ๐
Thank you x
[email protected] says
I am a lover of grilled lettuce in salads, this variation on a chicken caesar looks amazing.
Claire McEwen says
Thank you Amanda.
Grilled lettuce is such a fun way to eat salad isn't it?
Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners says
Hi Claire,
I finally grilled some lettuce for a Caesar last summer and wow - so fabulous! I wish I had your dressing at the time though - it looks amazing! I always enjoy your beautiful photos and dishes!
The outdoor kitchen leaves me speechless. Must have now!
Tara | Deliciously Declassified says
I've always wanted to try grilling lettuce but have never actually done it. Once it's summer again I am definitely giving your recipe a try - love a good Caesar salad ๐
Dini @ The Flavor Bender says
I just added that outdoor kitchen to my wish list (that replaced my out door grill I wanted)! I love BBQ any time of the year too! Makes me homesick for Aus and NZ (I never quite know which I miss more!) - It's hard to BBQ wearing snow gloves in winter where I live now! ๐
I love this recipe! Grilled lettuce? YES PLEASE! Such a beautiful way to serve Ceasar Salad!
Dini @ The Flavor Bender says
oops! I meant Caesar salad! ๐
Lyndsay says
This recipe makes me sad that I've already put my BBQ away for the winter. It's already snowing here in Canada otherwise I'd dig it out just to make this grilled salad. I'm saving it for later ?
Amanda {Striped Spatula} says
Awesome! One of my favorite restaurants here in NJ serves a grilled salad appetizer, and it's one of my favorites. Your recipe sounds great! I can't wait until our grill comes out of hibernation next summer to make this at home.
Ange @ Little Kitchen Blue says
Grilled lettuce! I'm definitely giving this a go this summer.
PS I'm now dreaming of outdoor kitchens and lounges (and a house with a verandah to put them on)
Claire McEwen says
It is so good Ange, a bit different but everyone who has tried it loved it.
I know! how amazing was that kitchen, I would cook outside all summer long if I had one of those kitchens ๐
Sharee says
this looks wonderful! i think i am going to make this!
Claire McEwen says
Thank you Sharee.
I hope you enjoy it ๐
Simon (BBQ Bastard) says
What a lovely caesar Salad! You know the real deal haha! BBQ in winter is awesome! How could lamb, chicken, ... become better than after it has been grilled?
Nice blog you have over here!
Cheers!
Claire McEwen says
Thank you Simon.
I agree, you can't beat meat from the grill.