What is it?

一种奶油生菜,波士顿生菜, soft, tender, gently cupped leaves. It’s terrific in salads and sandwiches, or the leaves can be used as a bed for other dishes.

Kitchen math:

6 oz. (1 to 2 heads) = about 5 cups bite size pieces

Don’t have it?

Substitute Bibb, red leaf or green leaf lettuce

How to choose:

Look for leafy rosettes that are dense and heavy for their size. Avoid those with wilted or flaccid outer leaves or brown edges.

How to prep:

Lettuces are great at trapping soil in their leaves, so wash them as many times as it takes to remove the grit. The best way is to soak separated leaves in water and then lift the greens out of the water to leave the grit behind. Dry thoroughly, preferably in a spinner.

How to store:

Pack washed and dried leaves loosely in a zip-top bag lined with paper towels, gently squeeze out most of the air, and seal.

Cross Reference

butter lettuce; Bibb lettuce

Recipes

• 
  Recipe

  Ginger-Sesame-Chicken Lettuce Wraps

  These wraps satisfy on every level, delivering the perfect balance of sweet, salt, heat, and crunch in each bite. Ground turkey, pork, and beef all make good substitutes for the…

• 
  Recipe

  Thai Salad Lettuce Wraps

  Reminiscent of a shrimp summer roll, this wrap is refreshing and cool with a kick of heat from Sriracha. Serve with other Thai -inspired sauces, like our Peanut Dipping Sauce,…

• 
  Recipe

  Korean-Style Spicy Steak Lettuce Wraps

  We love lettuce wraps: so tasty and so fun to assemble. The zesty flavors in this one make it a standout.

• 
  Recipe

  Spicy Pulled Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce

  A quick peanut sauce and a bright, refreshing carrot-and-cucumber slaw dress up the chicken in these Asian-inspired lettuce wraps. You can put all the fixings on the table and let…

• 
  Recipe

  Seckel Pear and Crispy Mortadella Salad

  A warm, tangy-sweet dressing of balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, and brown sugar acts like a glaze when poured over petite pears. Gruyère and crispy crumbles of mortadella add salty, savory…

• 
  Recipe

  New England Lobster Rolls

  This New England summer classic is filled with more than a full lobster's worth meat. The contrast between cool, creamy lobster salad (not to be confused with a Connecticut lobster…

• 
  Recipe

  Tea-Smoked Shrimp Salad with Mango

  Smoking food in a wok over a bed of tea leaves, rice, and sugar is a classic Chinese technique, but the flavors of this salad are decidedly western and very…

• 
  Recipe

  Peach, Pancetta, Lettuce, and Tomato Sandwiches

  In this riff on a BLT, pancetta stands in for bacon and peaches add a sweet note. Use pre-sliced pancetta—it’s very thin and cooks up quickly.

• 
  Recipe

  Brazilian Chicken Salad Sandwich

  This easy take on a sandwich sold by vendors along Rio de Janeiro’s beaches is packed with grated vegetables, sweet raisins, fresh lime juice, and cilantro. It’s like no chicken…

• 
  Recipe

  Summery Avocado BLTs

  These sandwiches are wonderful as is, though you can certainly layer on some sliced turkey or sharp Cheddar if you like. Pick up the best ingredients—a juicy heirloom tomato, fresh…