Salmon Caesar with Homemade Croutons

Salmon Caesar with Homemade Croutons

Ingredients:

• 2 lg. garlic cloves, divided
• 4 Tbsp. butter, cut into pieces
• 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 cups Italian bread slices, torn into 1 inch pieces
• ½ tsp. of kosher salt, divided
• 2 lemons, divided
• ¾ cup mayonnaise
• ½ cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 3 drained anchovy fillets, mashed
• ½ tsp. black pepper, divided
• 1.5 lb. 1-inch-thick skin-on center-cut salmon fillet
• 8 cups Romaine lettuce, chopped for salad
• Shaved parmesan cheese, for garnish

Directions:

1. Grate one garlic clove and place in a small microwavable bowl; add butter and oil. Cover with a paper towel, and microwave on high until butter is melted, about one minute. Stir to combine.
2. Place bread pieces in a large bowl, and drizzle with butter mixture; toss to coat. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Set aside.
3. Preheat a gas grill to medium-high on one side, or push hot coals to one side of a charcoal grill.
4. While grill preheats, place 2 tablespoons of lemon juice in a small bowl. Grate remaining garlic clove, and add to lemon juice in bowl.
5. Whisk in mayonnaise, grated Parmesan, mustard, anchovies, and ¼ tsp. pepper until combined.
6. Set aside 1/3 cup mayonnaise mixture for spreading over salmon; reserve remaining mayonnaise mixture as dressing for serving.
7. Cut remaining lemon in half crosswise. Sprinkle salmon with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Spread reserved 1/3 cup mayonnaise mixture over salmon. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
8. Place salmon, skin side down, on oiled grates on unlit side of grill. Place lemon halves, cut sides down, on oiled grates over the lit side of your grill. Grill, covered, until a thermometer inserted in the thickest portion of fillet registers 125 F, 20 to 25 minutes, removing lemons from grill after about 12 minutes.
9. As lemon halves and salmon finish grilling, transfer to a baking sheet.
10. Add bread pieces to grates over lit side of grill; grill, uncovered, turning often, until browned and crisp, 5 to 8 minutes.
11. Scatter lettuce leaves on a large platter. Using a fork, break off chunks of salmon from its skin, and arrange over lettuce; discard salmon skin.
12. Top with croutons and desired amount of dressing. Squeeze charred lemon halves over salad. Garnish with shaved parmesan cheese.