Lettuce Celebrate Amazing Leafy Greens
Lettuce Celebrate Amazing Leafy Greens
Lettuce celebrate all the wonderful and flavorful benefits of this increasingly popular vegetable called lettuce. Some leading experts have said that lettuce is the second most popular fresh vegetable in the U.S. behind the potato and that the average American may consume over 30 pounds of lettuce every year. Lettuce is 95 % water so… Read More »
Lettuce celebrate all the wonderful and flavorful benefits of this increasingly popular vegetable called lettuce. Some leading experts have said that lettuce is the second most popular fresh vegetable in the U.S. behind the potato and that the average American may consume over 30 pounds of lettuce every year.
Lettuce is 95 % water so it is best eaten fresh and it’s crispness and flavor has been a catalyst for so many different kinds of reinvented fresh ideas in cooking. Lettuce’s diversity is helping it play a starring role in innovative cuisine around the world. Lettuce is no longer known just for salads or the green on top of burgers and is visible in soups, juices or smoothies, used as wraps instead of bread, can be seared, sautéed, grilled & braised with much success, layered into dishes like spring rolls or tacos, added to rice & noodles bowls, or used as a main ingredient in making a green sauce similar to pesto.
Lettuce’s latin name Lactuca sativa means “milk forming, common” named for the sticky milk white ooze that appears when a stem is cut. Lettuce is an annual plant in the Aster family making them cousins to the Daisy. Lettuce is mainly categorized into five distinct types; leaf (aka loose-leaf lettuce), Cos or romaine, crisphead, butterhead and stem.
We grow over twenty different types of lettuce here on our farm typically beginning early spring through late fall/early winter with the help of our high tunnels. Lettuce is said to have been first cultivated by the Egyptians thousands of years ago and that there are hieroglyphic records of lettuce potentially dating back 6000 years. Many historians believe that the Egyptians used the seeds to produce oil and also utilized the leaves for food and religious significance as lettuce was considered sacred. There have also been mentions in medieval texts that lettuce was considered to possess medicinal qualities and was possibly prescribed as medicine during that time.
Health experts say that lettuce is a good choice to include this leafy green vegetable in your diet as it’s rich in antioxidants & antimicrobial properties along with vitamin K for bone health, vitamin A for eye health and contributes to the hydration of the body. Health experts also believe that it may be a good remedy for neurodegenerative diseases, may help to control inflammation, may be useful as a sleep inducer and may be beneficial in lowering cholesterol.
Lettuce is a cool weather crop and if you are eating in season along with us, you might enjoy making this delicious Salad Nicoise specially curated by our culinary & educational specialists, Jenn Borrealo. Click here for the recipe. Remember to tag us on social when posting your recipe creations.
