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Ina Garten Romaine Salad Recipe

Ina Garten Romaine Salad

Ina Garten’s romaine salad is a light, crunchy side dish made with chopped romaine lettuce tossed in a homemade vinaigrette. The vinaigrette often includes ingredients like fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, and olive oil, creating a sharp, balanced flavor that lifts the greens. Ina sometimes adds shaved parmesan, croutons, or anchovies to elevate the taste, but it remains a clean, unfussy salad with bold freshness at its core.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 heads of romaine lettuce, chopped or torn

  • ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

  • 1½ cups homemade or good-quality croutons (optional)

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the vinaigrette:

 

  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

  • 1½ teaspoons Dijon mustard

  • 1 clove garlic, minced

  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt

  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

  • ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

Wash and dry the lettuce

Rinse the romaine leaves thoroughly under cold water, then dry using a salad spinner or kitchen towel. Chop or tear into bite-sized pieces and set aside.

Prepare the vinaigrette

In a small bowl or jar, whisk together lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking continuously until the dressing is emulsified.

Toss the salad

Place the romaine in a large bowl. Add croutons (if using) and parmesan cheese. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to coat all the leaves evenly.

Finish and serve  

Top with extra parmesan and a few cracks of black pepper. Serve immediately for maximum crunch and freshness.