8 types of lettuce and what each is best used for
Lettuce isn’t just lettuce. In fact, there are enough varieties with different flavors and textures that it really does matter which type you use for a hamburger, BLT sandwich or Caesar salad. That’s why we’re giving you a top 8 of lettuce varieties, so you know exactly which head to get.
8 types of lettuce
1. Romaine lettuce
One of the best-known types of lettuce is the fresh and crisp romaine. The heads are long in shape, with softer leaves on the outside that become crispier as you get closer to the core. Romaine is the ultimate go-to for a classic Caesar salad.
2. Little gem
Little gem is romaine’s little brother. They have almost everything in common, except for their shape. You can therefore replace romaine with little gem, or vice versa. The small leaves are also delicious served as bites, for example filled with Thai larb.
3. Butter lettuce
Butter lettuce can be recognized by its round head with large, soft, green outer leaves. Butter lettuce has a slightly sweeter flavor, making it best used in wraps or as lettuce on a sandwich, such as this next-level BLT.
4. Iceberg lettuce
Many a foodie turns their nose up at this lettuce. But why, really? We admit that we don’t often make a salad with it, but as a topping on a dish (think shawarma, a shrimp cocktail or a nacho casserole), iceberg lettuce is the very best. Let’s make iceberg lettuce great again!
5. Oak leaf lettuce
The leaves of oak leaf lettuce resemble the leaves of an oak tree. They are usually bright green, with a reddish-brown color along the edges. Like butter lettuce, this variety is somewhat softer, but has a slightly more nutty flavor. Delicious in a salad.
6. Mesclun
Mesclun is the French word for mix. Mesclun is therefore not a type of lettuce, but a mix of different lettuce varieties. Mesclun is perhaps most commonly used for everyday salads.
7. Arugula
Arugula isn’t an ordinary lettuce leaf; although arugula can always be found in supermarket aisles next to the other bags of lettuce, officially it isn’t a type of lettuce. Nevertheless, peppery arugula makes a delicious change from mild lettuce leaves, or in warm dishes such as this black pasta with squid.
8. Lamb’s lettuce
A leafy green you might not expect to also not be a type of lettuce is lamb’s lettuce. Lamb’s lettuce is a plant that used to be considered a weed. It has a nutty and peppery flavor. These flavors are especially concentrated in the white base. Want to score some brownie points? Good idea! Lamb’s lettuce in a salad, soup or on a sandwich: it all works!
Also read:
- 8 of the tastiest (and easiest) salad dressings
- Recipe: How to make the famous Italian bread salad Panzanella
- Sorry to disappoint you: that wakame salad isn’t actually that healthy
