Recipes  

10 Lettuce-Forward Recipes That Aren’t Salad

There’s nothing wrong with making all kinds of salads, but if you’re looking for ways to use lettuce differently, there’s no shortage of ideas. Here are 10 fresh recipes that highlight this grocery cart essential!

1. Salmon Tartare and Crispy Wontons

Salmon tartare gets a different twist when served on a crunchy lettuce leaf base. The raw fish is combined with avocado, mayonnaise and hot sauce, and then served with marinated cucumbers and topped with crispy wonton strips.

2. Lettuce Frittata

For a simple brunch, you can never go wrong with serving a frittata: a mixture of eggs, vegetables and cheese baked in the oven. It’s much like a quiche, but without a crust. In this recipe, add your preferred type of lettuce for a lovely burst of green!

3. Lettuce Pancakes and Tzatziki

What’s the secret to cooking lettuce? Quickly sauté it in a bit of oil and drain it well in a sieve, much like you would with cooked spinach. This prevents the leaves from releasing too much water during cooking. In this recipe, the lettuce is added to pancakes that have a doughnut-like texture, and served with a yogurt-based tzatziki sauce.

4. Lettuce Cream Soup with Nordic Shrimp

For a vibrant green soup, add a generous helping of your preferred lettuce to this soup made of leek, potatoes and broth. Purée it all in a blender and then garnish with lettuce leaves, barley, shrimp and cherry tomatoes. It makes for a satisfying bowl of soup.

5. Persian Herb Frittata (Kuku Sabzi)

Kuku sabzi is a traditional Persian dish. It’s an egg frittata that’s cooked in a skillet along with loads of fresh herbs and chopped lettuce for a beautiful deep green result.

6. Grilled Steak Lettuce Wraps

For a fresh and healthy meal, use a Boston lettuce leaf as a wrap for this grilled flap steak. The beef is marinated in balsamic vinegar, oil, coriander seeds and cumin seeds. Everyone at the table can customize their own wraps and drizzle a balsamic vinegar and date vinaigrette on top.

7. Cold Lettuce and Radish Soup

Lettuce is synonymous with freshness, so what better way to use it than in a cold soup? To ensure the soup maintains its vibrant green hue, set the colour by cooling the soup on a bed of ice before refrigerating it.

8. Poke Bowl with Spicy Shrimp

Sushi rice, seafood or raw fish, and creativity are the basic ingredients for a tasty poke bowl. When it comes to the rest of the toppings, let your imagination run wild. Fruit, vegetables and thinly sliced lettuce will add crunch and freshness to your bowl.

9. Roasted Pork Loin and Onions in Cider with Spelt Crumble and Sautéed Lettuce

When wilted, lettuce is transformed into a stylish side dish for a rack of pork. Simply cook it in the same skillet that you’ve browned your meat in; this way, the lettuce absorbs all those cooking juices.

10. Veggie Pâté Lettuce Wraps

On donne du «pep» au végé-pâté en le servant dans des feuilles de laitue Boston avec des radis, des concombres libanais et des carottes. Servis avec une vinaigrette à la moutarde et au miel, ces wraps sont un lunch vite fait.

And these are just a few great ideas for cooking lettuce differently. Its versatility and crunchy texture can adapt to many dishes beyond the usual salad. Whether raw or cooked, rolled or chopped, it’s a great addition to any menu!