What is Leaf Lettuce?
Leaf lettuce is a lettuce with an open growth habit, which forms loose clusters of leaves rather than a tight head of lettuce. There are a number of varieties of leaf lettuce including red leaf lettuce and butter lettuce. There are a wide range of uses for leaf lettuce, ranging from salads to taco fillings. This lettuce variety is vary easy to grow, and it is readily available in most markets, for people who do not want to cultivate their own lettuce.
Some other varieties of lettuce include head lettuce, which forms tightly furled heads of leaves, and cos lettuce, which forms an elongated cluster of leaves, as is the case with Romaine lettuce, a popular cos lettuce variety. These lettuces have different tastes, textures, and nutritional values, and they also mature at different rates. Many people like to grow a mixed lettuce garden with several varieties so that their diets will be diverse, but since leaf lettuces grow so quickly and easily, they often make up the majority of a lettuce garden.
As leaf lettuce grows, it forms a loosely arranged rosette of irregularly shaped and sized leaves. Leaf lettuce is often very lightweight and ruffly, with a wrinkly surface and a soft, almost velvety texture. Leaf lettuces are not as crisp and crunchy as some head lettuces; they are more soft and delicate. In addition to being served washed and raw, leaf lettuce can also be lightly wilted for warm salads.
The nutritional value of leaf lettuce varies, depending on the cultivar. Like other leafy greens, leaf lettuce can have lots of calcium and other minerals, especially if it is grown on rich organic soil. It also tends to be very fragile, and it should be consumed within a few days of harvest, before it wilts or becomes slimy. Like other lettuces, leaf lettuce should always be washed before consumption to remove particles of unpalatable material.
When picking out leaf lettuce in the market, look for crisp specimens without discolored or slimy spots. Leaf lettuce will keep best if it still has roots, because you can wrap the roots in a wet towel or leave them in a dish of water. If no roots are present, shake the lettuce to remove droplets of water and wrap it in plastic until you intend to eat it. Leaf lettuce can be used in salads, sandwiches, and a variety of other foods.
Written by S.E. Smith
