Chicken Caesar Sandwich with Garlic Roasted Tomatoes

Take a blend of ricotta swirl in a touch of tangy Caesar dressing and smear it on a toasted ciabatta roll. Then layer it with slices of savory chicken. Top with cherry tomatoes roasted with garlic, rich olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Add crisp romaine, shaved Parmesan and Asiago cheese and you have one extraordinary chicken sandwich!

Sandwiches need not be a mere slice of cheese with cold cuts on sliced white bread. Years ago on a trip through Oklahoma we stopped at a restaurant claiming to be “all things meat”. That intrigued the Engineer and assumed we were in for a mouthwatering treat. As we stood in line to order we found our options were limited. Sliced white bread, American cheese and a choice of ham or roast beef. That was it. Not a leaf of lettuce or a slice of tomato in sight. Sandwiches should offer a multitude of taste, color, and texture!

A chicken Caesar sandwich is nothing new but we wondered how we could elevate it, creating additional layers of flavor. Cherry tomatoes, always wonderful seemed to be a good addition and I frequently have a bowl full in my kitchen. Roasting them with cloves of garlic, tossed in extra-virgin olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar brings out a beautiful note.

Then we needed a spread to smear underneath the roasted chicken. Sometimes Caesar dressing straight up on a sandwich can be overwhelming. We decided to fold it into a creamy ricotta cheese for a creamy balance.

For the bread, a lightly toasted ciabatta roll is a fabulous vessel for these ingredients – but feel free to use your favorite.

An easy meal and a mini feast for your taste buds!

Chicken Caesar Sandwich with Garlic Roasted Tomatoes

For the roasted tomatoes:

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon aged balsamic vinegar

One large carton of cherry tomatoes, about 30 tomatoes

8 to 10 cloves of garlic, sliced in half

1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus extra to season the sandwich

½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper, plus extra to season the sandwich

For the sandwich spread:

⅓ cup Caesar salad dressing

⅔ cup ricotta cheese

For the sandwich:

½ pound roasted sliced chicken

¼ cup shaved Parmesan and Asiago cheese blend

Romaine lettuce

4 ciabatta rolls

For the roasted tomatoes:

Pour the olive oil and the balsamic vinegar into a small baking dish. Toss the cherry tomatoes into the dish along with the garlic cloves. Season with kosher salt and pepper.

Roast in a 350-degree oven for 35 minutes or until the tomatoes and garlic are very soft. Stir after the first 15 minutes of roasting.

For the sandwich spread:

Stir the Caesar salad dressing together with the ricotta cheese.

For the sandwiches:

Warm the ciabatta rolls in a 375-degree oven for about 6 minutes or until the bread is warm and soft. Using a serrated knife slice the rolls in half. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the liquid from the roasted tomatoes onto the thicker top portion of the roll. Spread the ricotta-Caesar dressing on the bottom half of the roll.

Divide the sliced chicken and place it on the bottom of each roll. Top with some of the roasted tomatoes including pieces of the roasted garlic.

Place about 1 tablespoon of the shaved cheese on top of the tomatoes and add a sprinkling of kosher salt and freshly black pepper.

Add a small piece of romaine lettuce, top and serve.

Makes 4 sandwiches.