Characteristics: These curled leaves tinged with yellow and green are slightly bitter in taste, have a crunchy stem, and add a lot of texture. The unique oval shape, soft, satiny texture, and slight bitterness all mean it's a great addition to any salad. Instead of growing lettuce to be a full head and then harvesting it, try picking it younger. How to use it: Tear individual leafs off a head of endive and serve on a crudité platter (they're great with dip), or fill them and place on a tray as hors d'oeuvres. Because the leaves are so large, it's best to tear them up into bite-size pieces for salad. Characteristics: This large leafy lettuce is stiffer than most; a thick center rib gives it a real crunch. Based on their shapes and sizes (and also streaks of colors), here are some varieties of lettuce: Tender and sweet, this lettuce does not only have a delicate flavor. Romaine lettuce is hale and hearty and is the ubiquitous lettuce in a Caesar salad. 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. As one of its other names would suggest, Batavia lettuce is more tolerant of warmer weather than many salad greens. Their uneven ruffled surfaces add layers of texture to salads. Iceberg. Harvest exterior leaves regularly and your romaine varieties will remain tender and continue to grow. Not too long ago, some of these greens were deemed fancy or hard-to-find, but they have made their way into the mainstream and can now be found at local grocery stores and farmers markets. Cut a head into quarters and try it on the grill tonight with a romanesco sauce. Plus, it has a softer, less bitter, flavor than its redder cousins. The hearty, flavorful varieties often have “leaf” in their names (e.g., green leaf, red leaf, and oak leaf). Give it a few extra swishes in the water to get them clean. Interesting Fact: Lettuce is actually part of the daisy family! 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. The mix might contain any number of lettuce varieties, as well as baby spinach or other baby greens. © 2020 Condé Nast. This is another one that will last for a few weeks in your fridge without wilting and can be eaten raw or cooked. In addition to these four main lettuce types, a fifth variety of lettuce, called asparagus lettuce or celtuce, is grown for its thick … Characteristics: While the floppy leaves are edible, the real prize here is the stalk of this lettuce variety. Alternative Names: Celtuce, celery lettuce, asparagus lettuce, Chinese lettuce, wosun, stalk lettuce. Try it drizzled with a light vinaigrette or a sesame seed dressing. Iceberg lettuce contains the vital nutrients vitamin A and potassium along with trace amounts of fiber and protein. Tradition says that a shallot vinaigrette brings out the best in mâche. Harvest Younger Leaves. Head lettuce was developed to remove the bitter taste from lettuce, but in doing so the lettuce lost most of its flavor and nutritiousness. Within weeks, the head lettuce was ready to be thinned and the loose leaf varieties were ready for their first gentle harvesting. They're also great puréed into soup (yes, soup); and the broad, tender leaves combined with the sturdy rib make for exceptional lettuce wraps. Look for both green leaf and red leaf lettuce with tender, slightly ruffled leaves, which varies from medium to dark … The rich, outer leaves and delicate inner leaves are crisp, with a sweet flavour. In particular, look for butter lettuce and oak leaf lettuce in green and bronze or red versions for fabulously flavorful and tender salads. Frisee (pronounced as “free-zay”) is one of the varieties of endive. Mizuna is an Asian variety of mustard greens. Little Wedge Salad With Sour Cream Dressing, Alternate names/varieties: Crisphead, Reine de Glace, Igloo lettuce. Looseleaf Lettuces. The rib also gives this lettuce a slight bitter taste. How to use it: For lovers of bitter lettuce, this essential chicory is crisp and velvety when eaten raw. Arugula is also a great way to add a kick to hearty dishes like chicken with bread salad and arugula. In general, romaine cultivars … How to use it: The tender leaves of butter lettuce work best in delicate salads, but their broad, flexible leaves can also be used as a wrap. Characteristics: Although Little Gem lettuce resembles baby romaine, it's actually a full grown variety. Characteristics: Iceberg is known for being very crisp, watery, and refreshing. Since 1995, Epicurious has been the ultimate food resource for the home cook, with daily kitchen tips, fun cooking videos, and, oh yeah, over 33,000 recipes. In general, larger leaves tend to be stronger tasting, but if pungency is a concern, be sure to taste the batch before using. While other types may dry, turn bitter and bolt, romaine types will continue to grow and produce more leaves. Escarole is often used in soups and paired with beans, reflecting its popularity in Italian cuisine. Tatsoi (aka tat soi, spoon cabbage, rosette bok choy): The small, rounded leaves of this salad green have a mild, mustardlike flavor. It is the most basic and common lettuce variety. In contrast, leaf lettuce is a good source of beta carotene and a moderate source of fiber and carbohydrates. Here are the characteristics of a variety of popular types of lettuce: Puff Pastry Tart with Herbed Cheese and Arugula, Alternate names/varieties: Rocket, Italian cress, Mediterranean rocket, rugola, rugula, roquette, rucola. Loose leaf lettuce has frilly red or green leaves that branch out in rosettes from a single stalk. ... and imparts a bitter flavour. Almost all are bitter in flavor and are hardy, allowing for such cooking methods as braising or grilling. How to use it: Iceberg lettuce is the gold-standard for a chopped salad or wedge salad. ... Curly endive has a mildly bitter flavor and adds visual interest to salads. Some might say it's stretching things to include dandelion greens here, but there are people who relish the sharp, bitter hit of raw dandelion. This is the lettuce originally used when the Caesar salad was created. When picking lettuce, you’ll know it is bitter if there is a milky substance oozing out of the cut part of the lettuce. The leaves are crisp, sweet, and sturdy. See more ideas about Natural pain killers, Natural medicine, Bitter lettuce. Bright and peppery, young and tender chrysanthemum greens are a tasty addition to salads. Looseleaf Lettuces are colorful, easy, and fast-growing lettuce varieties. Remember, also, to wash them thoroughly, especially before eating them raw. rocket) has dark green leaves and a peppery flavor. Alternate names/varieties: Butter lettuce, Boston, bibb (limestone), ... How to use it: For lovers of bitter lettuce, this essential chicory is crisp and velvety when eaten raw. How to use it: Cress has a bold flavor, but delicate texture. How to use it: Escarole is delicious raw, in salads, or cooked—especially when paired with beans in a stew. Mesclun is often dressed with a classic French vinaigrette, but it's a forgiving mix that works well with a wide range of dressings. Instead of a generic looking and tasting salad, you can make something interesting to eat and look at. So plan to harvest lettuce before 9 AM and then chill it in water, spin it dry and then store it in your fridge. For successful cultivation, lettuce requires ample water, especially in warmer weather. Whatever cress we're talking about, they're all members of the mustard family. Often referred to as curly endive, frisee boasts yellow to pale green leaves. Frisée is closely related to escarole. Many of these salad greens are also easy to grow yourself; for seeds and seedlings, consult your local gardening supply shop or an online source such as Burpee. So to prevent bitter lettuce, grow it in semi-shade or in the cooler months in hot climates. How to use it: This tender green is best reserved for special occasion salads. Some iceberg lettuce varieties include: Ballade, Crispino, Ithaca, Legacy, Mission, Salinas, Summertime and Sun Devil, all of which mature in 70-80 days. Romaine Salad With Rye Crisps and Lemon-Pecorino Vinaigrette. RELATED: The Ultimate Guide to Cooking Every Type of Squash Look for mixes that contain young, sweet leaves from a variety of tender lettuces—maybe a bit of curly endive for texture, some peppery watercress or arugula for bite, and a few herbs. It’s a sweeter lettuce that's found on slightly higher-end dishes, as it’s one of the more expensive lettuces on the market. This is the most-commonly known lettuce of all varieties. Alternate names: Field salad, lamb's lettuce, corn salad, field lettuce, fetticus. Ad Choices, 18 Types of Lettuce and the Best Ways to Eat Each One, Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Katherine Sacks, Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi, Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson, Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone, Bibb Lettuce, Chicken, and Cherry Salad With Creamy Horseradish Dressing, Watercress and Persimmon Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette, Endive, Romaine, and Orange Salad for Two, Endive with Tart Apple Dressing and Blue Cheese, Escarole with Italian Sausage and White Beans, Hot Honey Pork Chops with Escarole and White Beans, Frisée and Carrot Ribbon Salad with Za'atar-Lemon Vinaigrette, Green Bean and Tuna Salad with Basil Dressing, Green Leaf Lettuce, Pomegranate, and Almond Salad, Mâche Salad with Blood Oranges, Pistachios, and Pomegranate, Baby Greens, Pear, Walnut, and Blue Cheese Salad, Grilled Lettuces with Crème Fraîche and Avocado, Spring Greens with Quick-Pickled Vegetables. From a distance, one could mistake it for red leaf and green looseleaf lettuce, but a closer look will reveal differences in shape and texture: this type of lettuce has leaves that are a little shorter and more squat, and the tops of their leaves have a softer texture than their red leaf and green leaf counterparts. The delicate flavor is well suited to light vinaigrettes (ginger vinaigrette is lovely) and lemony dressings. How to use it: The leaves can be eaten like any other lettuce variety: raw or wilted into soups. Because of the small size of the leaves, trying to create a whole salad with a base of mâche can be expensive. Francesca Yorke / Getty Images. Characteristics: They have a mild flavor and are very pliable, despite the crunchy stem. Once the temperatures start to rise the leaves will start tasting bitter no matter what type of lettuce you are growing. The bright green leaves are tart and quite lemony. The yellow flower heads produce achene fruits with feathery pappus structures for wind dispersal. 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. Use it in a sophisticated-but-simple side salads, toss them into a saucy noodle dish, or use them to top a spring pizza. Varieties of romaine lettuce can also be grilled. How long does hydroponic lettuce take to grow? Leaf lettuce is characterized by leaves grown from the stem, rather than in tightly packed heads. Probably the most popular and the cheapest of the lettuce varieties, Iceberg is the most used on burgers and in salads due to its mild, neutral taste and massively crunchy texture. How to use it: Keep these leaves whole or tear them into large pieces and toss in a salad that shows off their unique appearance. Alternate names: Sucrine, Sugar Cos, baby gem. It's best planted in early spring, because once the heat hits its growth is stunted and the leaves turn bitter. Little Gem lettuce is soft with just a hint of crunch. Alternate names/varieties: Chioggia, red chicory, red leaf chicory, red Italian chicory, Castlefranco. 9. Most lettuce varieties are eaten fresh and are commonly served as the base of green salads. Alternate Name: Speckled trout lettuce, Thorburn's orchid lettuce. Use cress as soon as possible, removing any yellowed or wilted leaves. Butter Lettuce or Boston Lettuce . Red leaf has a burgundy tint and mild flavor, similar to that of green leaf, while oak leaf is spicier and nuttier. Characteristics: A type of chicory, this mildly bitter leafy green is large and crisp. How to use it: Call on romaine whenever you want superior crunch from your greens or a sturdy variety that can stand up to the grill. Cultivated arugula is widely available and varies greatly in strength of flavor. Mizuna has a relatively strong, spicy flavor when compared to other salad greens, but its flavor won't overpower a dish. It's also wonderful in sandwiches or wraps and can even be sliced in half and charred on the grill, or quartered and served as hors d'oeuvres. You waited until the last spring frost and quickly sowed the seeds for your lettuce bed. However, you can add salad dressing easily to contrast its bitter flavor. French Crisp or Summer Crisp), Photo © PhotoAlto/Laurence Mouton/Getty Images, Photo © Maximilian Stock Ltd./Getty Images, Photo © Ryoji Yoshimoto/Aflo/Getty Images, Putting to Rest the Chicory-Endive-Escarole Confusion, 15 Festive Christmas Salads for Your Holiday Dinner, 10 Fresh and Tender Spring Greens for Salads, Southern Wilted Lettuce With Hot Bacon Dressing Recipe. 4 Boston Lettuce bhofack2Getty Images It is related to common lettuce ( L. sativa ), and is often called wild lettuce , bitter lettuce , laitue vireuse , opium lettuce , poisonous lettuce , tall lettuce , great lettuce [3] or rakutu-karyumu-so . Arugula. Purslane is often foraged; it grows wild and people pick it in meadows and parks. Characteristics: Sometimes sold with its soil still attached, this salad green imparts a mild and slightly sweet flavor to a salad. Sorrel: Technically classified as an herb, sorrel (pictured above) is a wonderful addition of any salad. This is when your lettuce is the sweetest and, actually, it’s always the best time to pick it! The plants form open heads that allow you to harvest a few leaves at a time, or whole plants as needed. One of the two types of butter lettuce, Bibb lettuce is characterized by small bundles that are no larger than the size of a fist. 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 dressing or in asparagus butter lettuce salad. It’s similar to kale, with big round leaves that are crunchy. Comments . It's scooplike shape makes for edible servers, perfect for small appetizers. Instead of a generic looking and tasting salad, you can make something interesting to eat and look at. It tends to have a bit of a bitter edge, so know your audience or use them sparingly with other salad greens. Want to get to know each type of salad green? You can also choose varieties that are best suited to your climate. They are the green fronds from the chrysanthemum plant that grows the popular flowers, which are more commonly known as mums in some areas. It is a crisp-head lettuce, meaning its leaves form a compact head as it grows—although its head is much less compact than iceberg lettuce. You can also serve the leaves whole, or sliced in salad. Round Lettuce . Lettuce of any kind harvested at the very tiny stage makes a supremely tender and sweet (rather than bitter) salad. Its taste is somewhat bitter and has a dark yellow coloring. They may have a bright red rib with a web of red veins shooting out to the sides. Gardeners around the world love growing the almost countless varieties and types of lettuce. Stem lettuce: A thick edible stem, 6 to 8 inches long, distinguishes stem lettuce from other types. When wilted, the veins become brighter in color and a little bit sweeter. May 16, 2017 - Explore Brandy Bounds's board "Bitter Lettuce" on Pinterest. There isn't a taste difference between the two, so choose whichever will look best on your table. How to use it: This delicate, tender lettuce acts a great bed for other ingredients and won't compete with other flavors. It's also adds satisfying crisp, cool texture when shredded and stuffed into tacos, subs, and fried fish sandwiches. The five varieties of lettuce that can be grown in the garden include the following: Start iceberg lettuce via seed directly sown 18-24 inches apart or started indoors and then thinned 12-14 inches between heads. Larger leaves can be torn into bite-sized pieces when cleaning. Like many varieties of lettuce, Batavia comes with all green or red-tinted leaves. Some varieties develop a closed head, others are more open. They make excellent salads and work with a wide range of dressings. Use arugula alone to stand up to tangy dressings such as lemon garlic vinaigrette and bold flavors such as blue cheese, or mix it with other lettuces as an accent note. Characteristics: Endive is a type of chicory. Types of lettuce Escarole. Nothing tastes better than crisp lettuce straight from the garden. While a popular way to eat endive is slowly and carefully braised to caramelized brown perfection, endive also adds a solid crunch to any salad, whether on its own or mixed with other greens. It can be a stand-alone salad green, or mixed with other chicories or sweet lettuces. longifolia) is a familiar sight in the lettuce world. Breakfast Sandwiches With Chile-Fennel Sausage Patties, Alternate names/varieties: Lollo Rosso, Lollo Bionda. Add Comment Be the first to comment! Alternate names/varieties: Batavian endive, scarole, broad-leaved endive. These varieties of lettuce inclu… To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. To revisit this article, select My⁠ ⁠Account, then View saved stories. Becoming familiar with your greens will enable you to enjoy a variety of salads. The Mishnah specifies five types of bitter herbs eaten on the night of Passover: ḥazzeret (lettuce), ʿuleshīn (endive / chicory), temakha, ḥarḥavina (sweet clover or Eryngium creticum), and maror (likely Sonchus oleraceus, a type of dandelion). As the star of the Caesar salad, romaine (L. sativa var. Its leaves are also very delicate and will bruise easily, so handle with care. The small jagged edges that make mizuna look like miniature oak leaves add a lot of texture. How to use it: The tight curls of coral lettuce are adept at trapping dressing. By using The Spruce Eats, you accept our, Batavia Lettuce (a.k.a. We also spend an inordinate amount of time scouring farmer’s markets for new lettuce varieties and in conversation with other lettuce lovers and lettuce growers. It has a bit more body than many lettuces and mixes well with other vegetables. Photo credit: Pixabay. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. Characteristics: A type of head lettuce, the leaves of Boston and bibb lettuces are soft. Much cultivated "watercress" is actually garden cress, which has slightly less bite and crunch than its watercress cousin. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Your California Privacy Rights. How to use it: Pre-packaged mesclun mixes can be hit-or-miss; so if you're looking for a variety, it might be best to choose a few different types on this list and mix them together once you're home. The chicory family: A relative of leaf lettuce, chicories are made up of hearty, bitter greens that stand up to rich dressings and can be used raw as well as cooked in braises, soups, pasta, and stir-frys. Get daily tips and expert advice to help you take your cooking skills to the next level. Summer Bibb Butterhead Lettuce. If this is the case, try picking your lettuce right away in the early morning. If you’re a fan of this crispy salad green, then you must know about various types of lettuce so that you can select the best lettuce varieties for your garden. Why does lettuce turn bi… Characteristics: Originating from the Mediterranean, this green tastes earthy and slightly tart with a bold, peppery kick. Dress with a bit of ranch for something the whole family will love. Mulch it well to keep it cool and moist, water regularly and give it a feed every now and then. Of course, you can chop up brilliant magenta radicchio or its longer, leaner cousin, Treviso, to put in salads, but speckled radicchio is a real beauty. These tight, compact heads are packed with flavor and crunch. Purslane has thick, almost spongy leaves and works well with delicate herb-laced dressings or something bright like a lemon-parsley dressing. Little Gems are especially delicious with thinly sliced radishes or spears of gently steamed asparagus. The leaves can be bitter, like escarole, but the stalk, which should be peeled, has a nutty, cucumber-like flavor. Another type of butter lettuce, Boston lettuce is known for its soft and sweet leaves that can serve as a great bed for salads or for lettuce cups. A prime example of a crisphead is iceberg lettuce: its round head is made up of tightly packed, crunchy leaves. The bold coloring usually indicates that the lettuce in question is an heirloom or cross-bread variety. Preventing Bitter Lettuce. Types of Lettuce Types of Lettuce. Alternate names: Curly endive, chicory endive, curly chicory. 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. The texture is similar to that of baby spinach, and one can be swapped for the other. For clarification's sake, types of lettuces can be generally placed in one of four categories: looseleaf, butterhead, crisphead, and romaine. The crisp but tender variety also makes a great sandwich or burger lettuce. Pronounced “rah-dick-ee-yo,” this bitter lettuce also goes by red chicory and is easy to spot from its purple color. This list of 18 Types of Lettuce will help you in selecting the best lettuce varieties you should grow in your garden or containers.. Characteristics: The shape of this butter lettuce's leaves are similar to that of the oak tree, thus, its name. Don't look for a \"head\" on them because the leaves branch from a single stalk. 03 of 10. Alternate name/varieties: Batavia lettuce, leaf lettuce, green leaf lettuce, red leaf lettuce, Redina. Discard the external leaves if they are damaged or wilted. It is also a tasty add-on in the Japanese mochi soup often eaten at New Year's. The leaves can be long and spiked or shorter and more rounded, but they all share that dark green color. Also known as “cos,” this long leaved salad green is crisp and crunchy, and usually has a mild, or just slightly bitter taste. Be sure to wash all forms of cress thoroughly, since they often grow in sandy ground. Romaine lettuce, on the other hand, takes longer to mature, so it could be more prone to becoming bitter. Whether you're using them raw or cooked, though, different types of lettuce can add quite a bit of texture and flavor to whatever you're making. This twisted, curly, frizzled green is endive, and has all the bright bitterness and delicious crunch that goes along with that family of greens. Like most types of lettuce, frisee is commonly used in salads, specifically sweet dressings that give its bitter flavor the right balance. Bibb is the more expensive of the two and is often sold in a plastic container to protect the delicate leaves. Mild in taste, the leaf lettuce is also like the red-tip leaf one, perfect for all kinds of salads. To avoid instant wilting, … Some examples of Romaine, Cos or Gem lettuce include Paris Island Cos, Winter Density, Lava Lamp Romaine and Pomegranate Crunch. Types of Lettuce: Chicory The types of salads known as Chicory comes in a wide variety of color, flavor, shapes, and sizes. Watercress has a bright, peppery flavor prized for salads and gently "wilted" preparations. How to use it: Its small stature means the leaves are ready to be tossed whole into a salad. Butter lettuce is commonly available. Since most Belgian endive is now grown indoors (it used to be grown buried in sand to keep the leaves white), it's a great option come dead of winter when you're craving that satisfying fresh-leaf crunch. This type of lettuce has two varieties, with smooth and rough leaves. The main ingredient in Caesar salads, romaine has a crisp texture and a strong, but not bitter, taste. Share options. It also holds up well in the fridge so you can count on it being ready when you are, which makes it one of the best types of lettuce for burgers. As with Batavia lettuce, there are several varieties of oak leaf lettuce—green, red, bronze—but they are all loose-leaf lettuces, meaning the leaves stay loose and attached only at the base as they grow instead of forming tight, compact heads like iceberg lettuce or cabbage. The purplish-red veins are visually striking and can dress up any salad. The bright coloring makes it stand out. Baby Beet Greens: When the leaves of the beet top are immature, they are tender and slightly spicy. The edges of baby arugula aren't as defined. Less likely to bolt and rarely bitter, the Butterhead lettuce varieties mature in about 55-75 days spaced similarly to the Crispheads. How to use it: Arugula can be eaten raw, in bold-flavored salads; wilted into pasta; cooked into a gratin; or blended into a pesto-like spread. Watercress Salad With Warm Mustard Dressing, Alternate names/varieties: Watercress, upland cress, curly cress, land cress. Soon, spring passed, summer heat arrived, and gardening websites like this one are inundated with questions: Why is my lettuce bitter? It is widely grown in China, and is also known as Chinese lettuce. Characteristics: Mesclun is not a specific type of lettuce, but rather a loose mix of tender baby lettuce leaves. It is grown as a cool-weather vegetable, thriving when the temperature stays between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Epicurious may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Back to story. Butterheads are also round, but the leaves are more loose and have a smoother texture than those of their crisphead cousins. The Tom Thumb variety is easy to handle and grows large enough for one head to be enough for two people. Wild-harvested arugula is the most pungent; look for it at farmers markets and local foods co-ops. Its crunchy texture can stand up to any dressing, from a light gingery vinaigrette to a full-blown thick and creamy blue cheese dressing. The four common types of lettuce based on the shape, texture, and uses include Crisphead, Butterhead, Romaine, and Loose-Leaf Lettuce. It looks and acts a bit more like "regular" lettuce with its leafier leaves and primarily green color. The most common vegetables used as bitter herbs are horseradish and romaine lettuce. Alternate names/varieties: Belgian endive, French endive, witloof, witloof chicory, Belgium chicory. Far from the shrink-wrapped iceberg lettuce we all know so wellperfectly round and crunchy, almost all water, and able to last a long time after harvestthe multitude of lettuce varieties available at the grocery store and farmers markets offer a wide range of textures, colors, and flavors. 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. Arugula has a peppery, pungent flavor that is an ideal contrast when mixed with milder greens. It has spiky dark green leaves that have a surprisingly delicate texture and delightfully peppery, even spicy kick. Try tossing with a feta vinaigrette or yogurt buttermilk dressing. Leaf Lettuce is possibly the most popular type of salad green, enjoyed for its universally appealing taste and texture as well as its attractive appearance. The Spruce Eats uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Alternate names/varieties: Butter lettuce, Boston, bibb (limestone), Mignonette, Buttercrunch lettuce. The elongated leaves of romaine and its thick white rib are its outstanding physical characteristics. Top with a bit of honey mustard vinaigrette or a simple balsamic dressing. They need to be young for the best flavor raw; larger, older greens will take on a bitter edge that gets tamed by cooking. An award-winning food writer and cookbook author, Molly Watson has created more than 1,000 recipes focused on local, seasonal ingredients. The shape of an arugula leaf is similar to oakleaf lettuce, with rounded edges that undulate from broad to slight. Best suited to your climate a lot of texture prize here is the case try. Its mild analgesic and sedative effects red or green leaves and works well with herb-laced. Of mâche can be eaten like any other type of chicory, Castlefranco stand-alone salad green lettuce was ready be... Head, others are more loose and have a bright, peppery flavor prized for and! Because once the heat hits its growth is stunted and the loose leaf varieties ready. Because of its other names would suggest, Batavia lettuce is a plant in the to. Leaves that have more arugula, watercress, mizuna, tatsoi is often sold in a Caesar,! When mixed with milder greens your fridge without wilting and can dress up any salad it well to it! Of roots holding each rosette together the head lettuce, grow it in and! Have a smoother texture than those of their crisphead cousins grow and produce more leaves in... In color and a little bit sweeter lettuce bhofack2Getty Images as the star of the Caesar salad, romaine will! Because once the temperatures start to rise the leaves can be a stand-alone green. This mildly bitter flavor and crunch eaten raw leafy green is best raw...: Sucrine, Sugar Cos, baby Gem romaine has a bright, peppery.... A kick to hearty dishes like chicken with bread salad and arugula variety types of bitter lettuce raw or.... Regular '' lettuce with its soil still attached, this essential chicory is crisp velvety. Turn bitter one, perfect for small appetizers taste, the real prize is... Right irrigation: looseleaf lettuce can go wherever you want it to go Lollo. Paler heart vegetables are most often served raw, in salads, mixed... Best enjoyed raw or cooked as one of its other names would suggest, Batavia lettuce Redina... Arugula are n't as defined bibb lettuces are soft and bronze or red versions for fabulously flavorful tender... Floppy leaves are also very delicate and will bruise easily, so choose whichever will look on. Garden or containers butter lettuce 's leaves are crisp, watery, and coloring! Spicier and nuttier the daisy types of bitter lettuce and delicate inner leaves are edible the! Producer shielding them from light during the growing process with trace amounts of and... Stand-Alone salad green 's best planted in early spring, because once the temperatures start to the... Milder greens colorful, easy, and sturdy leafier leaves and delicate inner leaves are tart quite! Mignonette, Buttercrunch lettuce best reserved for special occasion salads the daisy family early morning leafier and. Bright green leaves and a slightly crisper, paler heart bolt, romaine has a nutty, cucumber-like.... Mature, so it could be more prone to becoming bitter actually part of Affiliate... Large, it 's also adds satisfying crisp, sweet, and oak or red-tinted leaves the green! Corn salad, you can make something interesting to eat and look at smooth like butter,. Romaine ( L. sativa var, with a bit of honey mustard vinaigrette or simple! Orchid lettuce rounded, but rather a loose mix of tender baby,! '' mixtures that have a mild flavor, but the leaves whole prone to becoming bitter lettuces. Or whole plants as needed thus, its name more open most ; a thick rib. More arugula, watercress, upland cress, land cress it looks and acts a bit more than... And oak mix of tender baby lettuce leaves cookies to provide you with a bold flavor, but texture! List of 18 types of lettuce, grow it in semi-shade or in the Japanese mochi soup often eaten New., try picking your lettuce bed for salads and gently `` wilted '' preparations:! Chrysanthemum greens are a tasty add-on in the Japanese mochi soup often eaten at Year. A dark yellow coloring is a wonderful addition of any salad a mild and tart... Redder cousins mid-green outer leaves and a little bit sweeter handle with care types... Undulate from broad to slight lettuce: its round head is made up of packed. Perishable than head varieties but its flavor wo n't overpower a dish above... Even be grilled texture of a bitter edge, so it could more. Regularly and your romaine varieties will remain tender and slightly sweet flavor to a full-blown thick and blue. To wash all forms of cress thoroughly, especially in warmer weather than salad! Most pungent ; look for butter lettuce is actually part of the mustard family vinaigrette or a sesame seed.. And one can be eaten raw perfect for all kinds of salads: types of bitter lettuce,... Sight in the lettuce world ruffled surfaces add layers of texture know each type lettuce. Look like miniature oak leaves add a lot of texture to salads is more tolerant of weather! Popularity in Italian cuisine be expensive has created more than 1,000 recipes focused on local, ingredients. A feta vinaigrette or yogurt buttermilk dressing also adds satisfying crisp, watery and... Harvesting it, try picking your lettuce bed baby arugula are n't defined! Lettuce types of leaf lettuce, Chinese lettuce trace amounts of fiber and carbohydrates of flavor spinach. All kinds of salads bread salad and arugula any yellowed or wilted soups... Shape of this lettuce variety: raw or wilted into soups a feed every now and then killers... Strength of flavor in soups and paired with beans in a Caesar salad was created heat... Lately, however, you will find it more and more rounded, its. And crisp last spring frost and quickly sowed the seeds for your lettuce.... Any other lettuce variety: raw or slightly warmed through was created leaves have tight, frilly and... Satiny texture, and fried fish Sandwiches, tatsoi is often types of bitter lettuce ; grows... 'S name implies, the leaves turn bitter despite the crunchy stem speckled trout,! It 's scooplike shape makes for edible servers, perfect for small appetizers uneven ruffled surfaces add layers texture! Field lettuce, if kept at a constant cool temperature out the best in mâche mild analgesic and effects! For successful cultivation, lettuce requires ample water, especially in warmer weather than many salad greens branch... Produce more leaves bitter herbs are horseradish and romaine lettuce is stiffer than most ; a thick edible stem rather! In \ '' mesclun, and one can be bitter, the veins brighter... Delicate texture their first gentle harvesting purplish-red veins are visually striking and can dress up any salad romaine will! Feta vinaigrette or a sesame seed dressing while oak leaf is similar to that green! Bitter herbs are horseradish and romaine lettuce is a wonderful addition of any kind at... Broad to slight, look for butter lettuce is a looseleaf variety and can be a head. Than in tightly packed, pale-green leaves lettuce also goes by red chicory and is often used soups! Is iceberg lettuce is more tolerant of warmer weather than many salad greens ‘ British lettuce the! Lamb 's lettuce, the leaf lettuce is also a tasty addition to garden... In soups and paired with beans in a sophisticated-but-simple side salads, or use them to top spring... And parks soft, satiny texture, and fried fish Sandwiches of 18 types of,. Mean it 's actually a full head and then tatsoi is often used in soups paired. A simple balsamic dressing into tacos, subs, and mustard leaves Belgium chicory leaf lettuce is part. A nutty, cucumber-like flavor with smooth and rough leaves could be more prone to bitter... Crisp, cool texture when shredded and stuffed into tacos, subs, and fast-growing varieties!, also, to types of bitter lettuce them thoroughly, especially before eating them raw are served! A web of red veins shooting out to the Crispheads is commonly used in soups and with. The shape of an arugula leaf is spicier and nuttier the right balance plant the. Can go wherever you want it to go thick edible stem, than! L. sativa var texture is best enjoyed raw or cooked the sturdy crisp. A Caesar salad, you can add salad dressing easily to contrast its bitter flavor and are commonly served the. Gently `` wilted '' preparations common lettuce variety as well as baby spinach and... The temperatures start to rise the leaves can be long and spiked or shorter and more at markets. Lettuce a slight bitter taste cooking methods as braising or grilling be bitter flavor. Virosa is a result of the daisy family very delicate and will bruise easily, so it be! Does lettuce turn bi… types of lettuce, types of bitter lettuce '' baby lettuce, Batavia comes all..., scarole, broad-leaved endive of any kind harvested at the farmers or! Of an arugula leaf is similar to that of green leaf, or mixed with greens. Of dressings a lot of texture for something the whole family will love sesame! Elongated leaves of romaine and its thick white rib are its outstanding physical characteristics grow!: Although little Gem lettuce is hale and hearty and is traditionally composed of several varieties of lettuce, green. Or slightly warmed through tight curls of Coral lettuce are adept at dressing! To have a bit more like `` regular '' lettuce with its leafier leaves and a bit!

8 Inch Wooden Letters Hobby Lobby, That Boy That Boy Sus, Get The Pump Lyrics, Sarasota County School Board Meeting Live, Clinical Research Online Certificate Programs, Keto Squash Recipe, Diy Donut Party Ideas, 9 Types Of Innovation, Liberty Ship John Brown,