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Street Corn Caesar Salad

A masterclass in emulsified dressing architecture and deconstructed vegetable geometry. This "hand salad" merges the bold, umami-rich profile of a classic Caesar with the thermal char and starch-texture of grilled street corn.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Salad

Ingredients
  

The Caesar Emulsion
  • 5 to 6 garlic cloves peeled
  • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tin anchovies 2-ounce, drained
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
The Street Corn Architecture
  • 4 ears of corn
  • 20 butter crackers crushed (approx. 1/2 cup)
  • 4 ounces Parmesan cheese shredded
The Salad Foundation
  • 2 heads Romaine lettuce

Method
 

The Caesar Emulsion Phase
  1. In a high-speed food processor, combine the garlic, balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and anchovies.
  2. Pulse to achieve an initial mechanical emulsification.
  3. With the machine running at a constant speed, slowly drizzle the olive oil into the mixture until a thick, stable, and glossy dressing is formed.
  4. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a glass vessel.
The Thermal Char and Corn Preparation
  1. Preheat the grill to high heat. Place the ears of corn on the grate and cook, rotating periodically, until the kernels achieve a uniform golden brown with distinct architectural char marks.
  2. Remove the corn and allow it to achieve a workable temperature. Execute a mechanical extraction of the kernels from the cobs into a medium bowl.
The Corn Filling Integration
  1. In the bowl with the charred corn, fold in the crushed butter cracker crumbs and half of the shredded Parmesan cheese.
  2. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of the prepared Caesar dressing over the mixture and toss to integrate.
The Structural Assembly
  1. Execute a transverse cut to halve the Romaine heads. Arrange the lettuce halves on a serving platter.
  2. Spoon the corn filling directly over the cut side of the lettuce, utilizing the leaves as a structural vessel to hold the mixture.
  3. Drizzle the remaining dressing over the composition and finish with the remaining Parmesan and a final application of black pepper.
  4. For a "hand salad" variant, separate the inner leaves to create individual, bite-sized lettuce cups.