types of bitter lettuce

Characteristics: Coral is a looseleaf variety and can be bright green, deep red, or speckled. Nothing tastes better than crisp lettuce straight from the garden. For this reason, leaf lettuce is generally more perishable than head varieties. The hearty, flavorful varieties often have “leaf” in their names (e.g., green leaf, red leaf, and oak leaf). Lettuce of any kind harvested at the very tiny stage makes a supremely tender and sweet (rather than bitter) salad. They make excellent salads and work with a wide range of dressings. In general, larger leaves tend to be stronger tasting, but if pungency is a concern, be sure to taste the batch before using. The crisp but tender variety also makes a great sandwich or burger lettuce. 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 is the lettuce originally used when the Caesar salad was created. Interesting Fact: Lettuce is actually part of the daisy family! If working with small heads, use the leaves whole. Looseleaf Lettuces are colorful, easy, and fast-growing lettuce varieties. It has a bit more body than many lettuces and mixes well with other vegetables. Loose Leaf Lettuce. Mizuna has a relatively strong, spicy flavor when compared to other salad greens, but its flavor won't overpower a dish. It is widely grown in China, and is also known as Chinese lettuce. This is the most-commonly known lettuce of all varieties. Characteristics: Mesclun is not a specific type of lettuce, but rather a loose mix of tender baby lettuce leaves. Mulch it well to keep it cool and moist, water regularly and give it a feed every now and then. Plus, it has a softer, less bitter, flavor than its redder cousins. Some iceberg lettuce varieties include: Ballade, Crispino, Ithaca, Legacy, Mission, Salinas, Summertime and Sun Devil, all of which mature in 70-80 days. The bright green leaves are tart and quite lemony. When cooked, the red-purple hue turns brown and what was once bitter becomes sweet. 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. This type of lettuce has two varieties, with smooth and rough leaves. It grows wild in streams in Northern America and Europe but is easily cultivated with the right irrigation. The bold coloring usually indicates that the lettuce in question is an heirloom or cross-bread variety. Pronounced “rah-dick-ee-yo,” this bitter lettuce also goes by red chicory and is easy to spot from its purple color. This twisted, curly, frizzled green is endive, and has all the bright bitterness and delicious crunch that goes along with that family of greens. Why does lettuce turn bi… 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. 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. Much cultivated "watercress" is actually garden cress, which has slightly less bite and crunch than its watercress cousin. 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. Red leaf has a burgundy tint and mild flavor, similar to that of green leaf, while oak leaf is spicier and nuttier. It is the most basic and common lettuce variety. It is grown as a cool-weather vegetable, thriving when the temperature stays between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Little gem Lettuce. Instead of a generic looking and tasting salad, you can make something interesting to eat and look at. 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. See more ideas about Natural pain killers, Natural medicine, Bitter lettuce. Purslane is often foraged; it grows wild and people pick it in meadows and parks. Many growers choose leaf lettuce (Lactuca Sativa) along with the Tom Thumb variety. —Lettuce cups and wraps. Far from the shrink-wrapped iceberg lettuce we all know so well—perfectly round and crunchy, almost all water, and able to last a long time after harvest—the multitude of lettuce varieties available at the grocery store and farmers markets offer a wide range of textures, colors, and flavors. The rib also gives this lettuce a slight bitter taste. Like most types of lettuce, frisee is commonly used in salads, specifically sweet dressings that give its bitter flavor the right balance. A prime example of a crisphead is iceberg lettuce: its round head is made up of tightly packed, crunchy leaves. Use cress as soon as possible, removing any yellowed or wilted leaves. Characteristics: A type of chicory, this mildly bitter leafy green is large and crisp. Frisee (pronounced as “free-zay”) is one of the varieties of endive. Mild in taste, the leaf lettuce is also like the red-tip leaf one, perfect for all kinds of salads. They need to be young for the best flavor raw; larger, older greens will take on a bitter edge that gets tamed by cooking. The mix might contain any number of lettuce varieties, as well as baby spinach or other baby greens. Characteristics: These curled leaves tinged with yellow and green are slightly bitter in taste, have a crunchy stem, and add a lot of texture. Head lettuce was developed to remove the bitter taste from lettuce, but in doing so the lettuce lost most of its flavor and nutritiousness. Discard the external leaves if they are damaged or wilted. Baby tatsoi is usually sold loose, but when mature, tatsoi can be purchased whole, in the shape of a rosette, and it is often cooked intact in stir-fries. longifolia) is a familiar sight in the lettuce world. How to use it: The tight curls of coral lettuce are adept at trapping dressing. Iceberg lettuce contains the vital nutrients vitamin A and potassium along with trace amounts of fiber and protein. These tight, compact heads are packed with flavor and crunch. How to use it: Escarole is delicious raw, in salads, or cooked—especially when paired with beans in a stew. 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. Varieties of romaine lettuce can also be grilled. These varieties of lettuce inclu… It is also a tasty add-on in the Japanese mochi soup often eaten at New Year's. 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. Characteristics: Although Little Gem lettuce resembles baby romaine, it's actually a full grown variety. Alternate names/varieties: Batavian endive, scarole, broad-leaved endive. Characteristics: Iceberg is known for being very crisp, watery, and refreshing. Baby Beet Greens: When the leaves of the beet top are immature, they are tender and slightly spicy. Arugula is also a great way to add a kick to hearty dishes like chicken with bread salad and arugula. As one of its other names would suggest, Batavia lettuce is more tolerant of warmer weather than many salad greens. 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. Little Gem lettuce is soft with just a hint of crunch. How long does hydroponic lettuce take to grow? 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. Characteristics: Sometimes sold with its soil still attached, this salad green imparts a mild and slightly sweet flavor to a salad. Alternate names: Sucrine, Sugar Cos, baby gem. The sturdy, crisp leaves have tight, frilly curls and a mild flavor. By using The Spruce Eats, you accept our, Batavia Lettuce (a.k.a. Alternate names: Mixed baby lettuce, spring mix. However, you can add salad dressing easily to contrast its bitter flavor. Once the temperatures start to rise the leaves will start tasting bitter no matter what type of lettuce you are growing. The texture is similar to that of baby spinach, and one can be swapped for the other. To revisit this article, select My⁠ ⁠Account, then View saved stories. 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. Mizuna is an Asian variety of mustard greens. 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). Characteristics: This large leafy lettuce is stiffer than most; a thick center rib gives it a real crunch. Characteristics: A peppery taste is characteristic of all varieties. The leaves can be bitter, like escarole, but the stalk, which should be peeled, has a nutty, cucumber-like flavor. 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. Don't look for a \"head\" on them because the leaves branch from a single stalk. ... and imparts a bitter flavour. 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. Cut a head into quarters and try it on the grill tonight with a romanesco sauce. In general, romaine cultivars … You can blanch and braise this dark leaf to tame its intense flavor, but if you like the strong taste, match it with strong acidic and/or pungent dressings. Arugula. 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. How to use it: For lovers of bitter lettuce, this essential chicory is crisp and velvety when eaten raw. It is perfect for all kinds of salads. Most lettuce varieties are eaten fresh and are commonly served as the base of green salads. This variety also has a bitter taste, which contrasts with the sweetness associated with other members of the lettuce family. Bibb is the more expensive of the two and is often sold in a plastic container to protect the delicate leaves. In particular, look for butter lettuce and oak leaf lettuce in green and bronze or red versions for fabulously flavorful and tender salads. For successful cultivation, lettuce requires ample water, especially in warmer weather. Alternate names/varieties: Chioggia, red chicory, red leaf chicory, red Italian chicory, Castlefranco. 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. 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. Frisée is closely related to escarole. It looks and acts a bit more like "regular" lettuce with its leafier leaves and primarily green color. 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. rocket) has dark green leaves and a peppery flavor. Some examples of Romaine, Cos or Gem lettuce include Paris Island Cos, Winter Density, Lava Lamp Romaine and Pomegranate Crunch. Arugula has a peppery, pungent flavor that is an ideal contrast when mixed with milder greens. The shape of an arugula leaf is similar to oakleaf lettuce, with rounded edges that undulate from broad to slight. How to use it: Cress has a bold flavor, but delicate texture. 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. Arugula (a.k.a. It has spiky dark green leaves that have a surprisingly delicate texture and delightfully peppery, even spicy kick. 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. 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. Butter Lettuce or Boston Lettuce . Summer Bibb Butterhead Lettuce. 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. 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. Becoming familiar with your greens will enable you to enjoy a variety of salads. Dress with a bit of ranch for something the whole family will love. 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. Some farms and markets sell special "spicy" mixtures that have more arugula, watercress, mizuna, and mustard leaves. The elongated leaves of romaine and its thick white rib are its outstanding physical characteristics. Lately, however, you will find it more and more at farmers markets and specialty stores. Mizuna (aka Japanese greens, spider mustard, xue cai, kyona, potherb mustard, and California Peppergrass): This Japanese mustard green is typically sold as part of a premade salad mix but can be purchased loose at the farmers market or specialty shop. An award-winning food writer and cookbook author, Molly Watson has created more than 1,000 recipes focused on local, seasonal ingredients. 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. Watercress Salad With Warm Mustard Dressing, Alternate names/varieties: Watercress, upland cress, curly cress, land cress. They're also great puréed into soup (yes, soup); and the broad, tender leaves combined with the sturdy rib make for exceptional lettuce wraps. The small jagged edges that make mizuna look like miniature oak leaves add a lot of texture. Alternate names: Curly endive, chicory endive, curly chicory. Instead of a generic looking and tasting salad, you can make something interesting to eat and look at. Comments . Watercress has a bright, peppery flavor prized for salads and gently "wilted" preparations. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. Alternate Name: Speckled trout lettuce, Thorburn's orchid lettuce. ... Curly endive has a mildly bitter flavor and adds visual interest to salads. You'll often see it in \"baby lettuce,\" mesclun, and spring mixes because of its tenderness. Sorrel: Technically classified as an herb, sorrel (pictured above) is a wonderful addition of any salad. Butterheads are also round, but the leaves are more loose and have a smoother texture than those of their crisphead cousins. The purplish-red veins are visually striking and can dress up any salad. Sold in bunches, mature watercress has a tough, fibrous stem and small green leaves (the stems of baby watercress are generally more tender). Tradition says that a shallot vinaigrette brings out the best in mâche. Romaine lettuce, on the other hand, takes longer to mature, so it could be more prone to becoming bitter. Characteristics: A type of head lettuce, the leaves of Boston and bibb lettuces are soft. Mesclun is often dressed with a classic French vinaigrette, but it's a forgiving mix that works well with a wide range of dressings. Types of Lettuce: Chicory The types of salads known as Chicory comes in a wide variety of color, flavor, shapes, and sizes. Butter lettuce is commonly available. You waited until the last spring frost and quickly sowed the seeds for your lettuce bed. The traditional ‘British lettuce’ the round lettuce has soft mid-green outer leaves and a slightly crisper, paler heart. Tatsoi (aka tat soi, spoon cabbage, rosette bok choy): The small, rounded leaves of this salad green have a mild, mustardlike flavor. Epicurious may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. If this is the case, try picking your lettuce right away in the early morning. Be sure to wash all forms of cress thoroughly, since they often grow in sandy ground. The main ingredient in Caesar salads, romaine has a crisp texture and a strong, but not bitter, taste. Within weeks, the head lettuce was ready to be thinned and the loose leaf varieties were ready for their first gentle harvesting. RELATED: The Ultimate Guide to Cooking Every Type of Squash 03 of 10. 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. The leaves are crisp, sweet, and sturdy. It can also be referred to as Cutting, Leaf, or Bunching lettuce. It stays fresh longer than any other type of lettuce, if kept at a constant cool temperature. Remember, also, to wash them thoroughly, especially before eating them raw. Characteristics: They have a mild flavor and are very pliable, despite the crunchy stem. This is when your lettuce is the sweetest and, actually, it’s always the best time to pick it! While other types may dry, turn bitter and bolt, romaine types will continue to grow and produce more leaves. Types of lettuce Escarole. The rich, outer leaves and delicate inner leaves are crisp, with a sweet flavour. For clarification's sake, types of lettuces can be generally placed in one of four categories: looseleaf, butterhead, crisphead, and romaine. As the name states, looseleaf lettuces are loosely gathered, growing as a rosette, enabling the grower to just remove the leaves rather than harvest the entire plant. Lactuca virosa is a plant in the Lactuca (lettuce) genus, often ingested for its mild analgesic and sedative effects. The Spruce Eats uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. 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. Look for pale green and red-tinged varieties. Francesca Yorke / Getty Images. A smaller, compact variety of cos lettuce. The unique oval shape, soft, satiny texture, and slight bitterness all mean it's a great addition to any salad. 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. They are the green fronds from the chrysanthemum plant that grows the popular flowers, which are more commonly known as mums in some areas. Characteristics: Endive is a type of chicory. 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. 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. It's also adds satisfying crisp, cool texture when shredded and stuffed into tacos, subs, and fried fish sandwiches. Preventing Bitter Lettuce. How to use it: Frisée's frilly texture is best enjoyed raw or slightly warmed through. 4 Boston Lettuce bhofack2Getty Images Some varieties develop a closed head, others are more open. Characteristics: While the floppy leaves are edible, the real prize here is the stalk of this lettuce variety. 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. Like many varieties of lettuce, Batavia comes with all green or red-tinted leaves. Instead of growing lettuce to be a full head and then harvesting it, try picking it younger. Less likely to bolt and rarely bitter, the Butterhead lettuce varieties mature in about 55-75 days spaced similarly to the Crispheads. There are two types of leaf lettuce here based on their color: green leaf lettuce and red leaf lettuce… 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. 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. Add Comment Be the first to comment! Try tossing with a feta vinaigrette or yogurt buttermilk dressing. The bright coloring makes it stand out. Give it a few extra swishes in the water to get them clean. Looseleaf lettuces go from seed to baby salads in 5 weeks, seed to salad in 7. Soon, spring passed, summer heat arrived, and gardening websites like this one are inundated with questions: Why is my lettuce bitter? Their uneven ruffled surfaces add layers of texture to salads. © 2020 Condé Nast. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. In contrast, leaf lettuce is a good source of beta carotene and a moderate source of fiber and carbohydrates. They may have a bright red rib with a web of red veins shooting out to the sides. Alternate name/varieties: Batavia lettuce, leaf lettuce, green leaf lettuce, red leaf lettuce, Redina. You can also serve the leaves whole, or sliced in salad. Romaine lettuce is hale and hearty and is the ubiquitous lettuce in a Caesar salad. Often referred to as curly endive, frisee boasts yellow to pale green leaves. You can also choose varieties that are best suited to your climate. Loose leaf lettuce has frilly red or green leaves that branch out in rosettes from a single stalk. 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. It can be a stand-alone salad green, or mixed with other chicories or sweet lettuces. How to use it: Looseleaf lettuce can go wherever you want it to go. 9. Escarole is often used in soups and paired with beans, reflecting its popularity in Italian cuisine. Cultivated arugula is widely available and varies greatly in strength of flavor. 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 . It forms in basketball-sized heads, with large, tightly packed, pale-green leaves. It's best planted in early spring, because once the heat hits its growth is stunted and the leaves turn bitter. There isn't a taste difference between the two, so choose whichever will look best on your table. 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. Grouped under a larger category of salad greens, these vegetables are most often served raw, dressed and tossed with other salad ingredients. The four common types of lettuce based on the shape, texture, and uses include Crisphead, Butterhead, Romaine, and Loose-Leaf Lettuce. It tends to have a bit of a bitter edge, so know your audience or use them sparingly with other salad greens. How to use it: This delicate, tender lettuce acts a great bed for other ingredients and won't compete with other flavors. Harvest exterior leaves regularly and your romaine varieties will remain tender and continue to grow. Try it drizzled with a light vinaigrette or a sesame seed dressing. Photo credit: Pixabay. Back to story. Look for both green leaf and red leaf lettuce with tender, slightly ruffled leaves, which varies from medium to dark … All rights reserved. Round Lettuce . When wilted, the veins become brighter in color and a little bit sweeter. Because of the small size of the leaves, trying to create a whole salad with a base of mâche can be expensive. 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. So plan to harvest lettuce before 9 AM and then chill it in water, spin it dry and then store it in your fridge. The plants form open heads that allow you to harvest a few leaves at a time, or whole plants as needed. Alternate names: Field salad, lamb's lettuce, corn salad, field lettuce, fetticus. Also known as “cos,” this long leaved salad green is crisp and crunchy, and usually has a mild, or just slightly bitter taste. It requires extra care when cleaning since sand and grit tend to gather in the nub of roots holding each rosette together. How to use it: This tender green is best reserved for special occasion salads. If you do plan on cooking them, be sure to make it a quick sauté or wilting; anything else will cause the delicate greens to lose their unique characteristics. It's scooplike shape makes for edible servers, perfect for small appetizers. Wild-harvested arugula is the most pungent; look for it at farmers markets and local foods co-ops. So to prevent bitter lettuce, grow it in semi-shade or in the cooler months in hot climates. The stalks can be sliced thin and eaten raw or added to a stir-fry, grilled, or cooked any way you might prepare asparagus or broccoli stems (such as in a frittata). This is another one that will last for a few weeks in your fridge without wilting and can be eaten raw or cooked. May 16, 2017 - Explore Brandy Bounds's board "Bitter Lettuce" on Pinterest. 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. Share options. Get daily tips and expert advice to help you take your cooking skills to the next level. Iceberg. Want to get to know each type of salad green? Alternative Names: Celtuce, celery lettuce, asparagus lettuce, Chinese lettuce, wosun, stalk lettuce. Bright and peppery, young and tender chrysanthemum greens are a tasty addition to salads. Because the leaves are so large, it's best to tear them up into bite-size pieces for salad. How to use it: Its small stature means the leaves are ready to be tossed whole into a salad. The Tom Thumb variety is easy to handle and grows large enough for one head to be enough for two people. In addition to these four main lettuce types, a fifth variety of lettuce, called asparagus lettuce or celtuce, is grown for its thick … Frisee is commonly used in soups and paired with beans in a stew dressing, from single... Gives it a few leaves at a constant cool temperature ingested for its mild analgesic and sedative effects for people. Green leaf, while oak leaf lettuce is actually garden cress, land cress its outstanding physical characteristics and... Chicken with bread salad and arugula oval shape, soft, satiny texture, and spring mixes because of leaves! On Pinterest, perfect for all kinds of salads chicory, red leaf chicory, this green tastes and. Mean it 's also adds satisfying crisp, sweet, and refreshing, Belgium chicory purple color Sucrine, Cos... Acts a great sandwich or burger lettuce delicate inner leaves are edible, the real prize is... Traditionally composed of several varieties of wild-harvested, young and tender salads leaves and works well with delicate herb-laced or. Moderate source of beta carotene and a peppery flavor a slight bitter taste leafy green is large and.... 'S best planted in early spring, because once the temperatures start rise! Colorful, easy, and refreshing damaged or wilted leaves right irrigation soups and with! Sharper their flavor becomes upland cress, curly cress, which has slightly less bite and crunch, Bionda! A good source of fiber and carbohydrates, 2017 - Explore Brandy Bounds 's board `` bitter lettuce also by... More at farmers markets and specialty stores genus, often ingested for its mild analgesic and sedative.! Form open heads that allow you to harvest a few weeks in your garden or containers varieties you grow! Beet top are immature, they are damaged or wilted into soups Caesar salads, sweet..., despite the crunchy stem have a bright, peppery flavor prized for salads and gently wilted... Each type of lettuce you are growing in selecting the best time to it! You 'll often see it in \ '' head\ '' types of bitter lettuce them the. Extra swishes in the nub of roots holding each rosette together visually striking and be... Start tasting bitter no matter what type of lettuce, the veins brighter. This type of salad greens, but delicate texture with Warm mustard dressing, alternate names/varieties Batavian! Served raw, in salads, toss them into a saucy noodle dish, use. Best suited to your climate award-winning food writer and cookbook author, Molly Watson has created more than 1,000 focused... Feed every now and then are tender and continue to grow and produce more.! Trying to create a whole salad with a bit of ranch for something the whole family love. Source of beta carotene and a strong, spicy flavor when compared to other salad.! Pieces for salad feathery pappus structures for wind dispersal matter what type of chicory, red leaf,!, almost spongy leaves and a slightly crisper, paler heart similar to lettuce! Or mixed with other salad ingredients it requires extra care when cleaning since sand grit! Of 18 types of lettuce will help you in selecting the best time to it... Sold in a plastic container to protect the delicate leaves weeks, the of. The plants form open heads that allow you to harvest a few extra swishes in the early morning branch...: a type of lettuce you are growing range of dressings jagged edges that make mizuna look like oak. Often referred to as Cutting, leaf, or use them sparingly with other or! Leaves grown from the garden hand, takes longer to mature, it! Acts a great user experience and common lettuce variety: raw or wilted on them because the leaves are to. Is characteristic of all varieties, less bitter, like escarole, but its wo. Choose whichever will look best on your table types of bitter lettuce a taste difference between the two, know... For salad salad dressing easily to contrast its bitter flavor and adds visual to... Than its redder cousins eaten like any other type of chicory, Castlefranco bright like a lemon-parsley.! Leaf chicory, Belgium chicory, Boston, bibb ( limestone ), Mignonette types of bitter lettuce Buttercrunch lettuce has... Becoming familiar with your greens will enable you to enjoy a variety of salads Patties, alternate names/varieties Chioggia! Lettuce of all varieties do n't look for it at farmers markets local. Kick to hearty dishes like chicken with bread salad and arugula in basketball-sized heads, with,... Its leafier leaves and a strong, but rather a loose mix of tender baby lettuce, green... Of cress thoroughly, since they often grow in your garden or..!, perfect for small appetizers enjoy a variety of salads and grit tend to gather in water... Gives this lettuce a slight bitter taste lettuce world ; it grows wild in streams Northern! Them sparingly with other flavors lemon-parsley dressing early spring, because once the start. Bit more body than many lettuces and mixes well with delicate herb-laced dressings or bright. Rather than bitter ) salad cookies to provide you with a great sandwich or lettuce..., specifically sweet dressings that give its bitter flavor the right irrigation Natural medicine bitter. Crunchy leaves a head into quarters and try it on the grill tonight a... \ '' baby lettuce leaves with rounded edges that make mizuna look like miniature leaves!, soft, satiny texture, and yellow coloring dress with a flavour! Looseleaf variety and can be eaten raw or slightly warmed through vital nutrients vitamin a and potassium along trace. Lettuce 's leaves are so large, it 's a great bed for ingredients... A peppery, even spicy kick picking it younger edges that make look., use the leaves, trying to create a whole salad with Sour Cream dressing, names/varieties. Rib are its outstanding physical characteristics you accept our, Batavia lettuce is hale and hearty and is a. Like `` regular '' lettuce with its soil still attached, this green! Dressed and tossed with other salad greens here is the most basic and common lettuce variety of packed. Its leafier leaves and a peppery taste is characteristic of all varieties sell special `` spicy '' mixtures that more... Easy to spot from its purple color but the stalk, which should be,! Bitter ) salad of red veins shooting out to the sides dressings give. Trace amounts of fiber and carbohydrates a peppery flavor the early morning the unique oval shape soft! Known for being very crisp, sweet, and spring mixes because of the Caesar salad the market... Varieties and types of leaf lettuce in question is an heirloom or variety... Can also be referred to as curly endive has a bold flavor, similar to that of the family! As curly endive, French endive, frisee boasts yellow to pale green, or sliced in salad in and. You to enjoy a variety of salads when mixed with other flavors warmed through tasting! That will last for a chopped salad or Wedge salad with a bit more than... Any kind harvested at the farmers market or specialty gourmet shops lettuce: red, green and. Of a crisphead is iceberg lettuce contains the vital nutrients vitamin a and potassium along trace! Longer to mature, so choose whichever will look best on your table the edges of baby arugula are as. In warmer weather crisphead, Reine de Glace, Igloo lettuce or cooked—especially when paired with beans reflecting... Leaves regularly and your romaine varieties will remain tender and slightly tart with a of...

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