Southern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. Try one leafy variety and another that's a bit more crunchy. Although crisphead is the least nutritious, all lettuces provide dietary fiber and vitamins A, C and K. The average lettuce has less than 10 calories per shredded cup! (Yes, I said grill.). Green Leaf & Red Leaf Lettuce. A member of the cabbage family, kale has a slightly bitter flavor and hearty texture. For smaller heads, you can use the leaves as is, but for larger heads, we recommend tearing the leaves into bite-sized pieces to make quick and easy dishes like Company Green Salad or Swiss Cobb Salad. Taste of Home is America's #1 cooking magazine. Butterhead lettuce forms a loose head featuring soft, smooth-textured, red-tinged or pale green leaves that become lighter toward the center. The main varieties are Boston and bibb (which is smaller and more pricey). Crisphead, or iceberg, is probably the best-known lettuce in the U.S., in part because of its shrink-wrapped presence at nearly every grocery store in the country. Romaine is especially versatile since it's leafy at one end and crunchy at the other. It’s best to purchase lettuce that hasn’t been pre-cut or processed (but, I know, it’s hard to deny the convenience of prepackaged greens). These strong peppery greens can stand up to bold salad dressings—best drizzled on just before serving to avoid wilting. Strongly flavored, romaine is probably the more well-known types of salad for its use in the classic Caesar salad… Iceberg has a very mild taste and is generally eaten raw in salads and on sandwiches; it’s also found shredded in tacos and other dishes. 1. These long lettuce leaves are crisp and slightly bitter. In this article, you will learn how to make a very simple lettuce salad that also tastes good. Use our guide to learn the texture and flavor of different types to help you choose the best variety of lettuce for your, Credit: Romaine is sturdy and holds its own on the grill—or mixed with crunchy apples, pears and nuts in this Holiday Lettuce Salad. Given its seasonal name, the green- and red-tinted lettuce fairs especially well in warm weather and won’t wilt like many other lettuces might in this midst of hot, humid weather. We recommend buying organic if it’s available. 2. Find the best type of lettuce for your salad.With all of the different varieties of lettuce to choose from, you may not know which option is best for your recipe. Roll the leaves in several layers of paper towels or a kitchen towel, then seal in a plastic bag and store in the crisper drawer of the fridge up to one week. Where to use it: In salads with light-to-medium dressings, baby lettuce mixes, wilted lettuce salads, wraps and sandwiches. It suits nearly any occasion, can be simple or sophisticated, dressed up or down. It comes in both red and green variety and is … It is a great dressing that will go well with many salads! Best Salad With Mesclun Mesclun … If you want a sweeter flavor, tender baby spinach may be the perfect base for your salad. Commonly available in red and green varieties, loose-leaf lettuce is a bit more perishable than head-type lettuces and should be dressed just before serving to avoid wilting. Many people enjoy iceberg lettuce for its texture and moisture. Where to use it: In lettuce cups and wraps (like these Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps), with light, delicate salad dressings and on sandwiches. The most common types of lettuce for salads include iceberg, green leaf, red leaf, and romaine. 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. https://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/ingredients/slideshow/lettuce-recipes These types of lettuce grow in bunches and is a great choice for salad bases. The taste is mild and sweet. A big green salad is the little black dress of the culinary world. Lettuces are a subset of salad … If you’re the health-minded sort, a good rule of thumb is the darker the leaf, the more nutritious the lettuce. Learn about the types of lettuce you can buy to perk up salads, make great wraps or char on the grill. How To Cut Lettuce For Salad. Loved for its mild flavor and awesome deep color, leaf lettuce is a staple in gourmet salads. Now that you know about the four main types of lettuce, make them extra tasty with your own homemade salad dressings. Mesclun is not a specific lettuce variety but a mixture of various salad greens like young lettuce, arugula and endives. Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing, Grilled Romaine with Chive-Buttermilk Dressing, Christmas Tree Delivery Is a Thing and We’re So on Board, How to Grill a Turkey Perfectly This Thanksgiving, 10 Tips for People Who Think They Can’t Cook, Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. These soft, ruffled leaves look pretty in a salad and have a delicate, buttery flavor that works best with bright, fruity ingredients. It’s typically used as a base to build from and is more commonly known as Spring Mix in the US. Get Started With These Non-Boring Lettuce Recipes, Dana is an editor and writer who shares her passion for travel, food and the beauty of American landscapes. Learn about the types of lettuce you can buy to perk up salads, make great wraps or char on the grill. Use our guide to learn the texture and flavor of different types to help you choose the best variety of lettuce for your salad. Handle this lettuce with care; the leaves are quite tender and bruise easily. This will be helpful especially when one is in a rush, or just … Where to use it: In salads with heavy dressings, dishes that call for shredded lettuce, sandwiches and overnight layered salads. Store fresh lettuce away from ethylene-emitting produce such as apples, plums and grapes because, while harmless to consume, ethylene can cause lettuce to wilt. Also called Boston or bibb lettuce, butter lettuce is the most nutritious of the lettuces on this list.