Iceberg lettuce is crunchy.
When you think of lettuce you might only think of iceberg lettuce, that pale green ball of leaves that has crunch but not much flavor. However, lettuce also comes in colors such as red, pale yellow and purple (radicchio, endive and purple oak leaf, respectively). Textures vary from the crunch of romaine to the soft leaves of butter lettuce. The leaves may be round, oval, frizzled, lobed or oblong. Tastes vary from mild Bibb lettuces to pleasantly bitter lettuces such as spinach and arugula.
Basic
The basic lettuce salad is simply washed greens dressed with oil and vinegar, or oil and lemon juice, seasoned with salt and pepper. While this salad is healthy, tastes good and has lots of vitamins, fiber and flavor, don't stop there. Vary the salad by adding other vegetables, dressings, nuts and cheeses.
Classic
There are standby salads that have become classics. A wedge of iceberg lettuce topped with blue cheese dressing and bacon bits, for example, though some diners prefer to use thousand island dressing -- a combination of ketchup and mayonnaise with sweet pickle relish -- instead of the blue cheese. Caesar salad depends on crisp romaine lettuce tossed with Parmesan cheese, olive oil, lemon juice, mustard and anchovies. Spinach salad, made with raw spinach, hard boiled eggs and mushrooms and dressed with a warm bacon apple cider dressing, is another classic.
Ethnic Cuisines
Greek salad combines dark green lettuces such as escarole and oak leaf with tomatoes, green peppers, onions, cucumbers and olives dressed with feta cheese, olive oil and lemon juice. Italians combine arugula, sometimes called Italian rocket lettuce, with cherry tomatoes, cannelloni beans and lots of parsley and basil. Chinese chicken salad is not truly Asian in origin but does combine Asian flavors of ginger, soy sauce and rice wine vinegar with chicken and mesclun (mixed baby lettuce leaves). It's topped with sliced almonds and mandarin orange slices.
Meat Salads
Combine the lettuces with cheese, chicken or meat for a tasty salad that is satisfying enough to be a meal. Add chicken, grilled steak or shrimp to the classic Caesar salad. Slice ham, turkey and cheese to add to an iceberg lettuce salad for a chef's salad. Tuna fish or chicken salad tucked into Bibb lettuce leaves turns the lettuce into a tasty wrap.
Dips and Mousses
Endive and radicchio have stiff leaves that make edible spoons or mini bowls. Tuck a spoonful of salmon mousse on the wide end of an endive leaf. Egg salad or cottage cheese mixed with grated vegetables work well, too.
Tags: dressed with, lemon juice, lettuce leaves, blue cheese, Caesar salad, cheese olive