Butter lettuce, also known as butter or bibb lettuce, is a delicate leafy green that’s great for salads! Here’s what you need to know about this strain.
Nothing catches the eye like the bright green of a cow’s head. butter salad, and delivers that soft green when it comes to flavor! If there’s one leafy green we love most for salads, it’s this one. It’s a category that includes Bibb Salad and Boston lettuce, and it makes the most beautiful salad. Here’s more on what you need to know about buying and storing it, and some of our favorite recipes.
What is butter lettuce?
butter saladalso known lettuce, is a green lettuce variety with a soft and delicate texture reminiscent of the smoothness of butter (hence the name), and a mild and sweet taste. This salad category includes both Boston lettuce and Bibb lettuce. It is often sold as a small head with roots still attached to prevent wilting, or in separate leaf boxes. Lettuce is often found at farmers’ markets, especially in the spring when tender greens are in season.
- Bibb Salad has a small head and light green leaves and is the more common of the two species. Due to its size, it is ideal as a cup for salad wraps. Bibb lettuce was developed from Boston lettuce in Kentucky in the early 1900s by a man named John Bibb.
- Boston salad has a larger head than Bibb, with soft, loose leaves. This variety is a bit harder to find. If you find anything at the grocery store that says butter salad, it’s probably Bibb.
What is a butter lettuce substitute? Try a mild salad like romaine. It’s a bit crunchier, but the taste is similar.
Buy and Stock Butter Salad (including Bibb & Boston)
What to look for when buying butter salad in the store? Here’s what you need to know:
- Look for a lettuce with a strong, compact head and crisp leaves. Avoid soft or dull lettuce with discolored or yellowed parts.
- If The salad comes with a root, leave it until ready to serve. Place in the refrigerator in the original packaging, or wrap in a paper towel and place in a plastic bag. Butter lettuce will keep in the fridge for 3 to 5 days.
- Some lettuce comes with loose leaves in a container. It will keep in the fridge for about 5 days. Wait to wash and dry the vegetables just before serving (or they can be pre-washed). A salad spinner allows for quick drying.
butter lettuce nutrition
Is Butter Salad Good For You? Yes! Butter lettuce is a very low calorie food that is packed with vitamins and nutrients. Here is a nutritional overview of butter lettuce:
- It’s very low in calories. A cup of chopped romaine has only 7 calories (source).
- It contains no fat, cholesterol or sodium. Whatever your dressing, keep that in mind as you prepare these veggies.
- It is a good source of vitamin A, vitamin K and folic acid. (The source)
Butter Salad Recipes
Lettuce is great for salads because of its silky, tender texture and mild flavor. It’s ideal when tossed with a creamy vinaigrette and a sprinkling of other veggies. Or use it in salad wraps or as a tortilla alternative. Here are some recipe ideas:
Try this easy butter salad! These tender lettuce leaves are irresistibly coated in a creamy and savory pepper and parmesan vinaigrette and topped with some veggies and parmesan shavings. A pinch of crunchy breadcrumbs rounds it all off: you won’t want to put your fork down!
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These delicious lettuce wraps are a fun way to turn butter salad into dinner! The filling is this nutritious nut and tofu, sautéed with soy sauce, chili powder, and some sriracha to maximize the savory flavor. Add brown rice and it’s an easy dinner you’ll want to make again and again.
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This recipe is a great way to use butter salad in place of a tortilla! Tender lettuce leaves include a savory and hearty garnish of seasoned black beans, homemade guacamole and a tangy mango salsa. It’s out of this world good.
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Photo credit:
www.marthastewart.com
Do you want to cook your butter salad? Just like grilled romaine lettuce, butter lettuce works on the grill. Charred edges add an irresistibly smoky flavor. Toss with a creamy dressing like Caesar, blue cheese, or peppercorn parmesan.
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More quick guides? Try Quick Guide to Endive, Quick Guide to Romaine and Quick Guide to Frisee.
The description
This crunchy salad is easy and fresh! Garnish this tender salad with parmesan vinaigrette, chives and breadcrumbs.
- 5 ounces Butter Salad (Bibb Salad or Boston Salad)
- 1 shallot
- 1 a handful of cherry tomatoes (or radishes)
- 1 a handful of fresh chives
- ¼ cup Italian Panko*
- ½ cup Parmesan Pepper Vinaigrette (recipe below)
- Parmesan shavings for garnish (optional)
For the parmesan vinaigrette
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup greek yogurt
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- ½ tbsp Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon every kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp the water
- Wash and dry the lettuce (a salad spinner is quick). Then tear it to pieces.
- Finely chop the shallot. Slice or quarter cherry tomatoes or thinly slice radishes. Finely chop the chives.
- Make the Parmesan Dressing: Whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, grated Parmesan, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and water until thick. receive a creamy vinaigrette.
- Arrange the lettuce on salad plates or in a large platter. Garnish with sliced tomatoes or radishes, shallot, chives and Parmesan shavings. Drizzle with about ½ cup dressing and sprinkle with Italian panko.
Remarks
*Panko is a Japanese-style breadcrumb mix that is lighter and airier than regular breadcrumbs. It has a crunchy texture that goes better with salads (the breadcrumbs are much finer with an almost sandy texture). “Italian” means that herbs and salt are added. You should be able to easily find Italian panko or plain panko at your local grocery store (they often sell gluten-free, too). If you just have plain panko, you can season it: Mix ½ cup panko with ⅛ tsp kosher salt and ½ tbsp Italian seasoning (or 1 tsp dried oregano and ¼ tsp dried basil and thyme).
- Category: salad
- Method: Raw
- Kitchen: salad
- Diet: vegetarian
Keywords: Butter Lettuce, Bibb Lettuce, Lettuce
