What Does it Taste Like?

Lettuce has a subtle and refreshing flavor that can vary depending on the type and variety. There are four main types of lettuce: crisphead, butterhead, looseleaf, and romaine. Each type has its own characteristics, such as shape, color, texture, and taste. Crispheads, such as iceburg, tend to have a mild and slightly sweet flavor. Butterheads, like Boston or Bibb, have a delicate and buttery flavor. Most looseleaf lettuces have a mild and slightly tangy flavor, though some can be a bit pepper as well. And romaine has a crisp and slightly bitter flavor.

Varieties we grow

Fancy Trout

Flashy Trout lettuce, also known as Forellenschluss, features elongated, speckled leaves with vibrant green and red spots. Its texture is tender and slightly buttery, with a mild, slightly sweet taste that adds visual appeal and a delicate flavor to dishes.

Muir

Muir lettuce is a bright green, crisphead variety with tightly packed, frilly leaves that form a dense, rosette-like head. Its texture is crisp and crunchy, offering a mild, sweet flavor that is refreshing and versatile in salads.

Truchas

This is a type of mini-romaine lettuce that has intense crimson leaves with contrasting green ribs and veins. It has a refined and bitter-free flavor and a melt-in-your-mouth texture. It is a game-changer for Caesar salads.

Loma

This is a type of French crisp or Batavian lettuce that has glossy and dark green leaves with a slight frill at the edges. It has thick and firm leaves with a crisp and juicy texture and a sweet and tangy flavor. It's ideal for salads, sandwiches, and wraps.

Buttercrunch

This is a type of butterhead lettuce that has smooth and tender green leaves with a buttery and mild flavor. It forms soft heads with an open rosette of leaves. It's ideal for salads, sandwiches, and wraps.

Why Should I Eat It?

Lettuce is not only delicious, but also nutritious. It provides a range of vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals that can benefit your health in various ways. Here are some of the main benefits of lettuce:

It is low in calories and high in water, which can help you stay hydrated and feel full. One cup of shredded lettuce has only 8 calories and 95% water.
It is rich in vitamin K, which is essential for blood clotting, bone health, and antioxidant activity. One cup of shredded lettuce provides 53% of the Daily Value (DV) for vitamin K.
It is a good source of vitamin A, especially green and red varieties, which contain beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A. Vitamin A is important for vision, immunity, and skin health. One cup of shredded lettuce provides 10% of the DV for vitamin A.
It is a good source of folate, which is also known as vitamin B9. Folate is essential for DNA synthesis, cell division, and brain function. It is especially important for pregnant women, as it can prevent neural tube defects in the developing fetus. One cup of shredded lettuce provides 4% of the DV for folate.
It contains various phytochemicals, such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, and terpenes, that can protect the cells from oxidative stress and inflammation. Some of these phytochemicals may also have anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and anti-obesity effects.

Lettuce

April - October

Lettuce is one of the most common and versatile vegetables in the world. It can be eaten raw or cooked, in salads or sandwiches, as a garnish or a main dish. It can be crisp or tender, mild or bitter, green or red. It can be paired with almost any dressing, sauce, cheese, fruit, nut, or herb. It can be grown in any climate, season, or soil. It can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of age, diet, or preference. Lettuce is the leafy green that can do it all.

Recommended Storage

Refrigerate

Pickle

How Do I Store It?

Short Term

Lettuce can last for several days to weeks, depending on how you store it. Wash and dry the lettuce thoroughly before storing it. You can use a salad spinner or a paper towel to remove excess moisture, which can cause the lettuce to wilt and rot faster. Wrap the lettuce in a paper towel or a cloth and place it in a plastic bag or an airtight container. The paper towel or cloth will absorb any residual moisture and prevent the lettuce from getting soggy. Store the lettuce in the refrigerator, preferably in the crisper drawer.

Long Term

There aren't a lot of ways to store lettuce long-term. The tender leaves don't hold up to freezing or canning, and since it's mostly made up of water, dehydrating lettuce doesn't leave you much to work with. But, and this may sound strange, but you can actually pickle lettuce. It can make a flavorful condiment for sandwiches, or be rinsed off and used in a salad.

Pickling: This works best with sturdier types of lettuce, like romaine and iceburg. Start by cleaning, drying, and trimming your lettuce head. Cut the lettuce into 3/4 in ribbons, then pack into your jars along with your brine. We recommend doing just a quick pickle with this, as processing them in a hot water bath or pressure canner will obliterate the lettuce.

How Do I Cook It?

It may surprise you to learn that lettuce can be cooked! Most of us are used to just eating it raw in a salad or a sandwich, but if you're feeling adventurous, try cooking some up instead/ Here are some of the best methods for cooking lettuce:

Grilling: Grilling lettuce can add a smoky and charred flavor and texture to the lettuce. Grilled lettuce can be used in salads, sandwiches, or as a side dish. To grill lettuce, cut the lettuce into wedges or halves, brush with some oil and seasonings, and grill over high heat for a few minutes, turning once, until slightly wilted and charred.
Sautéing: Sautéing lettuce can create a quick and easy stir-fry or side dish. Sautéed lettuce has a tender and savory flavor and texture. To sauté lettuce, chop the lettuce into bite-sized pieces and heat some oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the lettuce and your choice of seasonings, such as garlic, onion, soy sauce, vinegar, etc. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the lettuce is soft and wilted.
Braising: Braising lettuce can create a hearty and flavorful stew or soup. Braised lettuce has a soft and rich flavor and texture. To braise lettuce, chop the lettuce into large pieces and add them to a pot with some liquid, such as broth, wine, cream, etc. You can also add other ingredients, such as bacon, mushrooms, carrots, herbs, and spices, depending on your preference. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the lettuce is tender and the liquid is reduced.

Recommended Recipes

Pickled Beet and Goat Cheese Salad

Spring Greens and Hakurei Salad with Crispy Shallots

BLTA Wraps

Fried Eggplant Wraps

What Goes Well With It?

With it's mild and refreshing flavor, lettuce can pair well with many other ingredients. Here are some of the best flavor pairings for lettuce;

Dressing: The dressing can make or break a lettuce salad. The dressing should complement the flavor and texture of the lettuce, as well as the other ingredients in the salad. Some of the best dressings for lettuce are vinaigrette, ranch, Caesar, blue cheese, and honey mustard.
Cheese: Cheese and lettuce are a classic combination that can create a delicious contrast of creamy and crunchy textures. Some of the best cheeses to pair with lettuce are feta, goat cheese, Parmesan, cheddar, and mozzarella.
Fruit: Fruit and lettuce are a refreshing and healthy combination that can add some sweetness and acidity to the lettuce. Some of the best fruits to pair with lettuce are apple, pear, strawberry, grape, and orange.
Raw vegetables: While the lettuce may be the base, a salad just isn't complete without a variety of crisp, raw veggies! Try using a variety of different textures and flavors. Since lettuce has such a subtle flavor, you can really get creative with you flavor combinations here, using the right dressing to tie them all together.
Nuts: Nut and lettuce are a crunchy and nutritious combination that can add some protein and healthy fats to the lettuce. Some of the best nuts to pair with lettuce are almond, walnut, pecan, pistachio, and pine nut.
Herbs: Herb and lettuce are a fresh and fragrant combination that can add some flavor and aroma to the lettuce. Some of the best herbs to pair with lettuce are basil, mint, parsley, cilantro, and dill.