A New Leaf on Lettuce

Lettuce is one of those common, everyday vegetables that most people enjoy.  Eating these leafy greens is a good way to boost your vegetable consumption.  And they taste great too!  But, do you know your lettuce types?

BOSTON LETTUCE

Boston lettuce is soft and thin, with buttery pale leaves.  It is ideal for salads or sandwiches.  But be careful—Boston lettuce bruises easily so tear it gently when using.

ESCAROLE

Escarole has crisp, green outer leaves with a pale heart.  You can chop and mix escarole with milder greens (as these that a sharper taste), or you can even cook it as a side dish.

RADDICCHIO

You can always tell radicchio lettuce by its bright distinctive red leaves.  This lettuce has a bit of a bitter tang to it.  It adds a lot of color to your salads, though.  It is great mixed with other types of lettuce.

BELGIAN ENDIVE

Belgian endive is very pale in color—white with a light greeny-yellow at the tips.  It comes in small oval shaped heads and has a crunchy, mild, slightly bitter taste.  Separate the tightly closed leaves and toss them into a salad.  The leaves themselves can be like little boats that you can fill for hors d’oeuvres too.

ARUGULA

This type of lettuce has a peppery taste to it and is dark green in color.  It is great in a salad with fresh fruit, or you can stir it into a hot pasta for your supper’s main dish.

LEAF LETTUCE

This type of lettuce comes in green and red varieties.  It is loose-headed with soft, delicate leaves.  It has a mild flavor that goes with almost anything.  Try mixing both red and green varieties into your salad with other types of lettuce to make a really spectacular dish.

ROMAINE

Romaine lettuce is famous for its use in Caesar salads.  It comes in a large closely bunched group of leaves that are long and crisp.  It is used so successfully in Caesar salads because it holds its crispness when the dressing is added.

ICEBURG LETTUCE

This is the most common lettuce used—the one that is light green in color in a tightly closed ball shape.  It has a very mild crisp flavor and is very good as a salad base, or you can chop it up for use on tacos too. 

Why not try exploring the different types of lettuce in your salads and find brand new tastes to enjoy?  Soft, crunchy, bitter or sweet—they all are perfect for individual salads or as a base for a variety of other vegetables or ingredients.