Crisphead Lettuce is an annual plant of the daisy family, Asteraceae. It is most often grown as a leaf vegetable, but sometimes for its stem and seeds. Lettuce is most often used for salads, although it is also seen in other kinds of food, such as soups, sandwiches and wraps; it can also be grilled. On…Lettuce
What are the healthiest types of lettuce?
What is the best lettuce for salad?
- of 5 Arugula. These strong peppery greens can stand up to bold salad dressings—best drizzled on just before serving to avoid wilting.
- of 5 Kale. A member of the cabbage family, kale has a slightly bitter flavor and hearty texture. …
- of 5 Baby Spinach. …
- of 5 Romaine. …
- of 5 Bibb Lettuce.
What are the different types of lettuce?
What varieties of lettuce are there?
- Iceberg. One of the most popular varieties. ...
- Batavia. Batavia lettuce has light green leaves, curly in appearance and with a meatier texture, being quite crunchy.
- Trocadero. ...
- Romana. ...
- Bud. ...
- Lollo rosso. ...
- Oak leaf. ...
- Endive. ...
- Little Gem. ...
- Tatsoi. ...
What are the benefits of eating lettuce?
Uses of Romaine Lettuce
- It can be juiced to produce a nutrient-rich drink, and can also be added to soups and other hot dishes. [12]
- Unlike many forms of lettuce, Romaine is notably resistant to heat and doesn’t become overly soggy or limp. ...
- Romaine lettuce is also used in taco salad, Cobb salad, and avocado salad wraps.
What are some recipes for lettuce?
Our 10 best lettuce recipes
- Radish and mixed greens salad. ...
- Frisee aux lardons. ...
- Sirloin steak lettuce wraps with Korean chilli and sesame dip. ...
- Pork laab salad. ...
- Ranch wedge salad. ...
- Firehouse caesar salad. ...
- Little gem with speck, thyme and parsley. ...
- Chargrilled gem, radicchio and gooseberries with hazelnuts. ...
- Baked hake with lettuce and artichoke gratin. ...
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What type of lettuce is healthiest?
Butter lettuce Also called Boston or bibb lettuce, butter lettuce is the most nutritious of the lettuces on this list. The leaves are higher in folate, iron, and potassium than iceberg or leaf lettuces.
What is the best tasting lettuce?
Also known as “cos,” this long leaved salad green is crisp and crunchy, and usually has a mild, or just slightly bitter taste....RomaineCimarron. ... EZ Serve. ... Forellenschluss. ... Little Caesar. ... Little Gem. ... Parris Island. ... Paris White. ... Vivian.
What's the best lettuce for salad?
15 Great Greens to Add to Your Salad BowlRed-Leaf Lettuce. The red-tipped leaves of this loose-leaf lettuce are a variant of green-leaf lettuce. ... Romaine Lettuce. ... Butterhead Lettuce. ... Iceberg Lettuce. ... Green-Leaf Lettuce. ... Mâche. ... Arugula. ... Watercress.More items...•
Which salad greens are healthiest?
Some of the most nutritious greens include spinach, kale, romaine, watercress, and arugula (see "Salad greens by the numbers"). They are rich in a combination of vitamins A, C, and K; several B vitamins (including folate); and potassium.
What kind of lettuce do restaurants use?
Iceberg is widely used in restaurants and grocery stores because of its long shelf life and low cost compared with romaine lettuce.
What is the healthiest leafy green?
1. Spinach. This leafy green tops the chart as one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables. That's because 1 cup (30 grams) of raw spinach provides 16% of the Daily Value (DV) for vitamin A plus 120% of the DV for vitamin K — all for just 7 calories ( 1 ).
Which lettuce is best for weight loss?
Dark Leafy Green Vegetables – Super calcium-rich dark leafy greens including kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, chard, collard greens, etc. are ideal for helping weight loss.
What's the safest lettuce to eat?
Which salad greens are safer?full heads of lettuce are safer than cut greens, as long as you remove the outer leaves. ... hydroponically grown greens (greens not grown in soil or fields) are safer, as long as the water used to irrigate them is clean.Organic produce is a safer choice, but not free from risk.More items...•
What is the most popular lettuce?
icebergCrisphead, also known as iceberg or head lettuce, is one of the most widely used lettuces.
What vegetables should I eat everyday?
Here are 12 of the best vegetables to eat daily for a healthy lifestyle:Spinach. Some of the best vegetables to incorporate into your everyday diet are leafy greens. ... Carrots. ... Broccoli. ... Brussel Sprouts. ... Sweet Potatoes. ... Mushrooms. ... Asparagus. ... Beets.More items...
What can I put in my salad to lose weight?
WHAT ARE SOME HEALTHY FAT-BURNING SALAD RECIPES?Cucumber, tomato, and red onion.Red pepper, scallions, and mushrooms.Avocado, white onion, and tomato.Carrots, red cabbage, and cucumber.Romaine lettuce, red cabbage, and red pepper.Green pepper, scallion, and tomato.
Is it healthy to eat salad everyday?
Why Eating Salad Every Day is Healthy. Eating salad every day is a great habit to get into. Salads made with a variety of fruits and vegetables make the perfect healthy lunch or dinner. That's because they're filled with tons of nutrients that benefit your body, like fiber, vitamin E, and vitamin C.
Which lettuce has the most flavor?
Romaine. If you've ever had a Caesar salad, you've had romaine, also known as cos lettuce. With a long, upright head of crisp, pale green leaves sporting crunchy midribs, romaine—particularly the lighter leaves toward the center (the heart)—is more flavorful than some other varieties.
What is the sweetest type of lettuce?
Butterhead Lettuce: Butterhead is a smooth, sweet-tasting lettuce with a delicate, buttery texture. Butterhead varieties—which are sometimes called cabbage lettuce–form a small, loose, slightly flattened head that look something like an open rose.
Which lettuce is the least bitter?
In general, crisphead (or iceberg) and romaine varieties are less likely to become bitter than butterhead or red and green leaf lettuces.
What is the best tasting leafy greens?
On your next trip to the market, look out for these seven tasty leafy greens!Chard. Incredibly flexible in the kitchen, chard is a leafy green that can be enjoyed raw in salads, or cooked in everything from omelets, soups and stews. ... Mustard Greens. ... Watercress. ... Beet Greens. ... Collard Greens. ... Escarole.
Baby Red Tango
Pros: Baby red tango foxtrot horseshoe lemon meringue curlycue powerpunch.
Endive
Pro: Is sometimes served warm, which is a fun surprise when you order it.
Whole heads are cheaper
Whole heads will generally get you more bang for your buck because you're not paying for the convenience of having the leaves washed and chopped for you. At a Whole Foods in NYC, for example, one head of Romaine costs $2.49 while a bag costs $2.69 (not a huge difference, but hey), and a box costs $4.49.
Bagged and boxed lettuces aren't necessarily cleaner
Turns out that any lettuce—whole, bagged, or boxed—can be infected with diseases like salmonella, listeria, and E. coli. And while those leafy greens inside of packaging may look a lot cleaner, there's just as much of a chance they'll be tainted as their intact counterparts, even if they boast "triple-washed" on their label.
Whole heads are the "greener" choice
Clearly, whole heads of lettuce are the winner here. If the environment is your top priority, stay away from plastic altogether ( unless you're planning to re-use a given container ). But if you must pick between two lesser options, go with a box instead of a bag of pre-washed greens.
They may even be healthier
According to Jo Robinson, author of the 2013 book Eating on the Wild Side, bagged and boxed lettuce simply isn't as fresh by the time it reaches your salad bowl, especially if you leave it in your fridge for a day or two. “Many of these prepackaged greens might be two weeks old," she said in a Fresh Air interview.
The farmers' market exception
Anything you get at the farmers' market is preferable to what you'll find on the average grocery store shelf, and that includes lettuce.
And if you're going to buy lettuce in plastic..
We get it: Sometimes you're just too lazy to chop, or you can only find that butter lettuce in a box. If that's the deal, go with boxed first—then recycle that plastic.
Iceberg
You're probably familiar with iceberg, one of the most common varieties of lettuce. Refreshing and watery, fresh iceberg is often found in wedge salads. You'll also find it shredded and stuffed into tacos or sandwiches. Iceberg lettuce grows in medium-sized heads and its tightly packed leaves range in color from pale to medium green.
Romaine
Here's another common type of lettuce. Romaine leaves are large, sturdy, crisp, and can have a slightly bitter flavor. Thanks to a thick center rib, fresh romaine leaves deliver a satisfying crunch with every bite. This hearty lettuce variety can stand up to heat, so it's a great option for grilling. It's also associated with Caesar salads .
Arugula
Arugula, a leafy green that originated in the Meditteranean, is known for its tender texture and earthy flavor. A slight peppery kick means it pairs well with lemony dressings or as a basil stand-in in pesto sauces. While it's most commonly used as a salad green, it's also frequently found in sandwiches or on top of pizza.
Leaf Lettuce
Leaf lettuce comes in three varieties: red, green, and oak. They grow on a single stem instead of a head, which means it has a shorter shelf life than other types of lettuce (it's also more prone to wilting, so stick to light dressings). Its mild flavor and texture makes it perfect for salad green mixes.
Boston Lettuce
One of the two common types of butterhead lettuce, Boston lettuce has large leaves that are soft and mild in flavor. The dense leaves are slightly cupped, which makes them perfect for lettuce wraps .
Bibb Lettuce
Bibb, the other common butterhead variety, is slightly smaller and sweeter than Boston lettuce. It's larger than most types of lettuce, though, so it also makes a great base for lettuce wraps .
Mesclun
Mesclun isn't exactly a type of lettuce — it's a mix of salad greens that originated in Provençal France. It typically includes leafy lettuces, arugula, and other leafy greens and herbs (such as endive and chervil). Use mesclun to make salads, blend it into smoothies, stuff it into sandwiches, or as a bed for an entrée.
Living Lettuce
When you purchase living lettuce it will still have its roots attached. This means that is will keep hold of its nutrients for longer than other types of lettuce as you can just pick off the leaves yourself as and when you need them. It also stays fresh in your fridge for more than two weeks after it has been purchased.
Oakleaf Lettuce
Oakleaf lettuce contains high amounts of Vitamin C and Vitamin A. It gets its name from the fact that the leaves look like leaves from an oak tree. It is one of the only types of lettuce that contains multiple types of vitamins which means it is one of the healthiest choices you can make.
Red Leaf Lettuce
Red leaf lettuce contains a lot of phytonutrients and it is these which help to give the leaves it’s red color. There are many health benefits that are associated with phytonutrients and eating lettuce with red leaves is a good way to get some of this type of nutrient.
Green Leaf Lettuce
Lettuce with green leaves is a great source of Vitamin K. It is especially important to make sure you are getting enough Vitamin K if you have a very active lifestyle. It also helps to transport calcium throughout the body and so is important for the health of your bones.
Romaine Lettuce
Many of the nutrients that can be found in green leaf lettuce can also be found in the Romaine variety, although not in such high quantities. If you prefer your lettuce with a little more crunch then Romaine could be a good choice. As with other types of lettuce the antioxidants that it contains are thought to be able to prevent cancer.
1. Butter Lettuce
It’s not always easy to find, but if you have access to butter lettuce, it’s the best option for wraps.
4. Iceberg
If you’re really in a pinch, iceberg can be used for wraps, but it should really be a last resort.
A Better Option Than Lettuce?
What I’ve found through trial and error is that the best plant wrap isn’t actually lettuce.
1. Crisphead Lettuce
It has curved, overlapping leaves forming crispy, round heads. The leaves are creamy-white on the inside and are tightly-packed, having a mild flavor and crunchy texture.
2. Butterhead Lettuce
The butterhead lettuce has soft, buttery-textured leaves forming small, loosely-folded heads, while having a sweet, delicious flavor.
3. Romaine Lettuce
It has long, dark green leaves forming an elongated, loaf-shaped head. It is crispy-textured with a slightly bitter taste and is sold as ‘hearts’ or whole heads in North America. Its vase-shaped heads can grow to a height of 12 inches.
4. Loose-Leaf Lettuce
One of the most fast-growing lettuce varieties, the loose-leaf lettuce contains large, moderately crispy, loosely-packed leaves that do not form compact heads. It has a mild, sweet flavor.
5. Arugula
Originating in the Mediterranean and southern Europe, Arugula is now grown in most countries around the world. It has a peppery flavor and contains dark green leaves that are either shorter and rounded or long and spiked. Wild-harvested variety is the most pungent, while the cultivated type varies in the strength of taste.
6. Batavia Lettuce
It is more resistant to a warmer climate, staying crispier than other lettuce varieties. Batavia consists of red-tinted or green leaves that are crunchy and nutty-flavored.
7. Frisee
Frisee comes with curly, frizzled green leaves tinged with yellow and has a slightly bitter flavor along with a crunchy texture.
Quotes
Climate
- In general, salad greens are cool weather crops, at their best in spring and early summer before high heats and long days make them bolt and turn bitter. Look for lettuce year-round in ultra-temperate climates, fall and spring in mainly temperate areas, and in the late spring through the summer months in cooler climates.
Description
- Arugula (a.k.a. rocket) has dark green leaves and a peppery flavor. The leaves can be long and spiked or shorter and more rounded, but they all share that dark green color.
Cultivation
- As one of its other names would suggest, Batavia lettuce is more tolerant of warmer weather than many salad greens. It stays crisp and doesn't bolt (flower) and turn bitter as easily as other lettuces, so is a favorite with summer gardeners who want to keep themselves in lettuce all season long.
Varieties
- Butter lettuce is commonly available. It is a crisp-head lettuce, meaning its leaves form a compact head as it growsalthough its head is much less compact than iceberg lettuce. Butter lettuce has a tender texture and large, cupped leaves that work beautifully in salads, especially with delicately flavored dressings such as buttermilk dill salad dre...
Uses
- Bright and peppery, young and tender chrysanthemum greens are a tasty addition to salads. They are the green fronds from the chrysanthemum plant that grows the popular flowers, which are more commonly known as mums in some areas. They need to be young for the best flavor raw; larger, older greens will take on a bitter edge that gets tamed by cooking. Some might say it's str…
Cuisine
- This twisted, curly, frizzled green is endive, and has all the bright bitterness and delicious crunch that goes along with that family of greens. Frisée is best known as the base for a classic French bistro salad that includes bacon and a poached egg on top and is also delicious in a pear salad with blue cheese and walnuts.
Preparation
- It requires extra care when cleaning since sand and grit tend to gather in the nub of roots holding each rosette together. Give it a few extra swishes in the water to get them clean. Tradition says that a shallot vinaigrette brings out the best in mâche.
Composition
- Mesclun means \"mixed\" in Provencal and is traditionally composed of several varieties of wild-harvested, young greens. Most mesclun sold today is cultivated, meaning planted as beds of mixed lettuce seeds and harvested when the leaves reach the desired size of 3 to 6 inches. Look for mixes that contain young, sweet leaves from a variety of tender lettucesmaybe a bit of curly …
Variations
- Some farms and markets sell special \"spicy\" mixtures that have more arugula, watercress, mizuna, and mustard leaves. Mesclun is often dressed with a classic French vinaigrette, but it's a forgiving mix that works well with a wide range of dressings.
Characteristics
- Watercress has a bright, peppery flavor prized for salads and gently \"wilted\" preparations. It grows wild in streams in Northern America and Europe but is easily cultivated with the right irrigation. Much cultivated \"watercress\" is actually garden cress, which has slightly less bite and crunch than its watercress cousin.
Diet
- Whatever cress we're talking about, they're all members of the mustard family. The older they get, the sharper their flavor becomes. Use cress as soon as possible, removing any yellowed or wilted leaves. Tender stalks and roots are perfectly edible along with the dark green leaves. Try tossing with a feta vinaigrette or yogurt buttermilk dressing.