health
Stir-fry, soup, smoothies and even cake: 17 delicious ways with lettuce
Forget vinaigrette: if you really want to make the most of these leaves, apply some heat, herbs or double cream and bacon
TL;DR
- Lettuce was first domesticated 6,000 years ago in the Caucasus for its seed oil, later evolving into salad leaves in Egypt and Europe.
- Contrary to popular belief, lettuce is not a negative-calorie food and is a good source of calcium, vitamins K, A, C, and folate.
- Lettuce can be braised with ingredients like peas and leeks, baked in gratins with spring onions and bacon, or used in tarts.
- Grilling lettuce, either chopped or as whole heads, is a popular preparation method, often served with salsas or relishes.
- Lettuce is a key ingredient in various soups, from simple preparations with onion and potato to more complex combinations with peas, herbs, and even yoghurt-based broths.
- Other culinary uses include Keralan stir-fries (thoran), chicken lettuce wraps, green mayonnaise, romaine cream sauce, smoothies, and even lettuce panna cotta and a lettuce 'cake'.
- Wilted lettuce can be revived in hot water or used in recipes like green mayonnaise, cream sauces, or smoothies.