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There are so many things to do with lettuce, add it to sandwiches, salads, wraps, smoothies, slaws and so much more. Botanically, lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is an annual plant of the daisy family, Asteraceae. There are a few different types of lettuce out there like leaf lettuce, romaine, iceberg, and butterhead and all these have very different uses and nutrient profiles. But no matter what you choose, each kind comes packed with antioxidants, water, fibre, and essential nutrients, food that most of us could eat a lot more of.
Leaf Lettuce
Leaf lettuce comes in three types red, oak and green. Red leaf lettuce has a burgundy tint with a mild flavour, green leaf lettuce is similar to burgundy while oak leaf lettuce is nutty and spicy.
Romaine Lettuce
It’s a crunchy addition to your basic salad. With long and sturdy leaves, this lettuce is perfect in a Caesar salad. And is also called cos lettuce.
Butterhead Lettuce
There are two different types of butterhead lettuces Boston lettuce and Bibb lettuce. The leaves of this lettuce are soft and as the name suggests a smooth buttery texture. These are great in wraps.
Iceberg Lettuce
This lettuce is super crispy, watery, and refreshing. When you see them in the market, they look like huge basketballs. This is cut up as wedges and added to tacos, subs, and sandwiches.
Kale
Most people don’t know this, but kale is actually lettuce and easily the healthiest type of green leafy veggie out there. It has a bitter after taste which can be reduced by massaging the kale.
Arugula
Also called rocket or Italian cress, this leafy vegetable is great in sandwiches and pesto and loaded on pizzas. It has a nice earthy taste and a bold, peppery kick to it.
