Inside every head of romaine lettuce, you'll find an extra ingredient for culinary inspiration.
That compact romaine heart is an easy-prep, must-have ingredient for a wonderful variety of dishes.
From sensational salads and healthy wraps to delicious entrees, romaine hearts are great time-savers in the kitchen.
Let's take a look at 11 very tasty recipes for fresh romaine hearts.
Delicious, Nutritious Romaine Hearts: 11 Inspiring Recipes
Sensational Romaine Heart Salads
1. Romaine Hearts With Apples and Walnuts
Every bite of this appetizing salad offers a generous serving of satisfying crunchiness. Simply quarter a head of romaine, and fill each sliced core with candied walnuts, apple slices and chives.
Drizzle with freshly made blue cheese dressing, and enjoy as an irresistible starter or veggie entree.
Recipe Tip: If you're short on prep time, substitute store-bought ranch dressing for homemade blue cheese dressing.
2. Lemon-Honey Romaine Hearts
The combination of lemon and honey pairs perfectly with the mildly sweet taste of romaine hearts. Add a dollop of Dijon, blend with balsamic vinaigrette, and drizzle over quartered hearts.
Crown the harmonious medley of flavors with red and yellow grape tomatoes, ripe olives and sliced red onion.
Recipe Tip: Bring out the best in this colorful salad's table presentation by serving it in white oval bowls.
3. Fiery Caesar Salad
Spice up your favorite Caesar salad recipe with fiery ingredients tossed over chopped romaine hearts.
Seeded jalapenos, roasted pepitas, chopped cilantro and lime juice refresh this salad classic. Chunky sourdough croutons give it a unique look and texture.
Recipe Tip: If you can't find pepitas in the grocer's snack aisle, try substituting pine nuts or sunflower seeds.
4. Romaine Hearts and Pita Bread Salad
Upgrade a traditional fattoush salad with bite-sized cubes of chopped romaine hearts. Their mild sweetness complements the dish's Mediterranean accents, while their tender firmness holds up to a rich lemon cream dressing.
Recipe Tip: The fruity, peppery taste of extra virgin olive oil makes it an ideal choice for the dressing.
Healthy Romaine Heart Wraps and Bowls
5. Cashew Chicken Tacos
It's a wrap, and it's a taco too. This fun recipe folds a traditional Asian dish inside crisp inner leaves of romaine hearts. The results are a hand-held chicken stir-fry experience made even better with sliced jalapenos and fresh cilantro.
Recipe Tip: Prep and refrigerate the tacos ahead of time, and then serve as a chilled entree.
6. Curry Chicken Wraps
Expand your enjoyment of international cuisines with Indian curry chicken salad rolled up in romaine heart leaves. Chopped pistachios, celery and golden raisins add wonderful flavors to the well-wrapped classic.
Recipe Tip: Side the chicken curry wraps with warm naan bread or fragrant basmati rice.
7. Romaine Heart Keto Bowl
A little deconstruction transforms a keto sandwich into a keto bowl. Slice and toss your favorite ingredients with chopped romaine hearts, and drizzle with a red wine vinaigrette.
This very satisfying low-carb meal can be ready in 10 quick minutes.
Recipe Tip: Convenient packaged keto breads are tasty, but homemade keto bread gives the bowl a signature touch.
8. Chicken Burrito Bowl
Save the flour tortillas for another day while you save prep time with this recipe. Serve your next round of chicken burritos as hearty bowls filled with traditional Southwest flavors.
Sliced chicken breasts, black beans and brown rice fit perfectly on a crunchy bed of chopped romaine hearts. Finish the bowl by spooning in side pockets of pico de gallo and guacamole.
Recipe Tip: Assemble burrito bowls, store in the fridge, and microwave just before serving.
Irresistible Grilled Entrees
9. Simply Great Grilled Romaine Hearts
If you favor a vegetarian diet, grilled romaine hearts belong on your list of healthy entrees. If you'd like to add a nutritious side to your next barbecue, their smokey goodness complements all types of outdoor cooking.
Just brush whole hearts with oil, your choice of vinegar and herbs, and grill until leaf edges turn golden brown.
Recipe Tip: Sturdy hearts of romaine are great for grilling, but maximum cooking time averages 10 minutes.
10. Grilled Scallops and Romaine Hearts
Flip the weekend cookout menu from burgers to blackened scallops. Add grilled romaine hearts dressed with thinly sliced grapefruit, oranges and avocados.
You're ready to serve a sophisticated dinner that redefines outdoor cooking. The recipe is a sure crowd-pleaser for casual get-togethers too.
Recipe Tip: Large sea scallops are a better choice for grilling than smaller bay scallops, and they're sweeter too.
11. Sliced Grilled Chicken Caesar
This recipe reworks the classic Caesar salad into an elegant grilled entree. Dress whole chicken breasts with avocado oil, grill over medium heat, and slice into strips.
Side with grilled hearts of romaine, arrange on a large serving platter, and drizzle with creamy Caesar dressing. Whole anchovies and lemon halves give the beautifully grilled dish extra presentation points.
Recipe Tip: Give the dish a slightly stronger buttery flavor by using olive oil instead of avocado oil.
Perfect Prep for Romaine Heart Recipes
There are so many wonderful ways to enjoy premium hearts of romaine, but the crispy centers need proper care between purchase and plate.
Follow these guidelines for ensuring your premium romaine hearts are ready for your favorite recipes.
Look Before You Buy – When you purchase a whole head of romaine lettuce, look closely for any signs of damage or age. Pass on heads with wilted or spotted leaves.
Consider Packaged Hearts – Pre-trimmed romaine hearts, packaged as pairs, are available in most grocery produce sections. This option helps reduce waste and cuts down on prep time.
Wash in a Cold Bath – Give halved romaine hearts a gentle bath in a deep bowl of cold water. Slide your fingers around leaf edges as you work to ensure the hearts are well-rinsed.
Drain Cut Side Down – Arrange the clean romaine halves cut-side down on layers of paper towels, and let them drain for at least five minutes. Change out the paper towels, and drain the hearts for a few more minutes.
Seal and Store For Later – If you plan on working with the hearts later, seal them in plastic zipper bags or lidded plastic containers with a couple of damp paper towels. They'll stay fresh in the refrigerator for a week to 10 days.
Delicious Nutrition With Every Healthy Bite
The mildly sweet taste and crunchy texture of romaine hearts make them an ideal ingredient in so many recipes. The crispy cores are even more satisfying when you consider their healthy nutritional profile.
Minimum calories, zero fat and plenty of antioxidants are just a few of the benefits in a 1-cup serving of romaine hearts. That salad, wrap or entree also includes these important nutrients.
Vitamins A, C and K
Dietary Fiber – 4.8 mg
Iron – 2.2 mg
Magnesium – 12 mg
Phosphorus – 23 mg
Potassium – 260 mg
We Share Your Appetite for the Best
Here at Hitchcock Farms, we share your appetite for great recipes and your appreciation for premium produce. It's our pleasure to share culinary information and inspiration that works for home chefs and foodservice professionals.
You can count on us to track the latest industry news, trends and insights, so check back with us soon. We're always here and always committed to growing and shipping the finest romaine hearts from our fields to your tables.
FAQs
Can you cook romaine hearts?
Yes. Romaine hearts are tender, but their compact construction holds up very well to cooking. Grilling is one of the easiest ways to cook romaine hearts. They can also be sliced or chopped and added to stir-fries, soups and stews.
Are romaine hearts keto-friendly?
Yes. They're very low in carbohydrates, so romaine hearts are a great addition to keto diets. The hearts also contain impressive levels of essential vitamins and minerals.
How do you clean romaine hearts properly?
Immerse fresh romaine hearts in cold water, and swish them around so that the inner leaves are well-rinsed. Let the hearts drain and dry on paper towels before storing in airtight containers or zip-lock plastic bags.
