"Lettuce are available in a vast number of varieties, and are either crisp or floppy, growing from a central stalk to form a spherical or lozenge-like head. Most of them have green leaves, some with red tinges, and they all have a delicate, clean flavour.
Lettuce is mainly eaten raw in salads, though you can also add them to soups or braise them as a side dish. Crisp leaves work well with robustly flavoured dressings, while the floppier types need to be partnered with something more subtle.
Among the most commonly available floppy lettuces in the UK are Round, Butterhead, Lollo Rosso, Escarole, Oak Leaf and Little Gem. Crisp include Iceberg, Cos, Curly Endive (also known as Frisée), Web's Wonder and Romaine.
Availability
All year round. British lettuce are in season from early May through to December.
Choose the best
Lettuces need to be really fresh to taste good, so avoid any that show any signs of wilting (though the outer leaves of the crisp varieties often reveal fresher leaves beneath when removed) or yellowing.
Prepare it
Pull off as many leaves as you need from the base, then wash, drain and shake well (but gently, as they bruise easily) to dry them. It's worthwhile investing in a salad spinner if you eat a lot of lettuce, as it dries them much more efficiently. Don't allow lettuce to soak in water, as it softens the leaves.
Store it
In a perforated bag in the fridge. Soft lettuces will last around one or two days, crisp varieties a day or two longer.
Cook it
Dress and serve in a salad. Shred and add to a spring or summer vegetable soup just before the end of cooking. Braise with peas (20-30 minutes). Brush with marinade, then grill halved crisp lettuces like Romaine on a barbecue, three minutes each side.
Alternatives
Alternatives
Try lamb's lettuce or baby spinach"
For more lettuce varieties
See here
Recipe Suggestion
Garden Salad
which is crunchy, herby and fresh
and dressed with a light garlic and parsley vinaigrette
recipe details are here
A variety of articles and recipe ideas are within this blog, but please note, not all may be suitable for you.
If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.
All the best Jan
25 comments:
...and lettuce is in season here!
You will laugh at this. I grew up on a farm and when my mother served us lettuce she served it sprinkled with sugar...and so started my sugar addiction. lol Have a great night-xo Diana
NanaDiana said...
You will laugh at this. I grew up on a farm and when my mother served us lettuce she served it sprinkled with sugar...and so started my sugar addiction. lol Have a great night-xo Diana
Hello Diana
Many thanks for sharing this. Interestingly I'd come across Lettuce Leaves served with Vinegar and Sugar, read and see more here:
https://discoverlaura.wordpress.com/2017/09/08/pioneer-cooking-lettuce-leaves-with-vinegar-and-sugar/
Enjoy your evening
All the best Jan
Love salads, and consume them year round. Lettuce is a summer trend, and I probably need to eat more of it.
I eat a garden salad almost every day for lunch in the summer. I usually top them with some walnuts and feta but change up those toppings from time to time to liven it up.
When I was a kid, my mother bought her fruits and vegetables from a corner shop in East Boston where my grandmother and auntie lived. Anna, the vegetable lady, told my mother to wrap the lettuce in waxed paper to keep it fresh longer.
We eat a lot of salads and yes in winter too.
Salad with sugar??? Huhhh ;-)
nice article..
thank for sharing
Lettuce is always good! Have a great week, Valerie
It's a year round staple in my house. Thanks Jan
I'm eating lots of salads at the moment, especially when the weather's warmer.
En mi huerto tengo muy buenas lechugas. Besitos.
I love this time of year when lettuce and salad is in abundance in the garden.
mmmmmmm you just got me in the mood for a giant plate of antipasti
A most wonderful food. I found Butter Lettuce last year and it is most excellent. Because I do love to crunch.......the not-so-adored ice berg lettuce is usually always in my house. Have a great week!
Teresa said...
En mi huerto tengo muy buenas lechugas. Besitos
Google translate:
In my garden I have very good lettuces. Kisses.
Salad are sure fun, it all the variety of things you can toss in.
Coffee is on
Goodness, I never thought of cooking lettuce, I must find out more. The things you learn eh?xxx
Hello, We love salads --using a variety of lettuce... My favorite is Romaine, but I love Spinach and Endive in my salads also. The only lettuce I do not care for is iceburg....
YUM---gotta run, and fix myself a big salad!!!!!!
Hugs,
Betsy
Hey Jan :) I FINALLY have some lettuce! I made a vow a few years back that I will never buy lettuce again and I've been growing it every year. I start baby lettuce in my window in April so basically we go without salads from about November through to May which is sad! But the ones I buy at the stores always give me indigestion, pesticides maybe? Even the organic ones...one day I have a dream of a winter greenhouse so I can have fresh lettuces, tomatoes and herbs year-round!!
Love salads and just about every type of lettuce. And it's salad season!
I tend to get lettuce as part of a sandwich or panini.
Thank you Jan! Great post! I love lettuce! Big Hugs!
For me - Cesar Salad - is the best~~~~besides my spinach salad i have almost every day with lots of veggies in it...cut up small so I don't know I'm eating them, lol.
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