Still, it’s pretty impressive given that you’re only consuming 14 calories in that 3.5-ounce serving. The nutrient profile isn’t amazing, that’s true. You’re also getting a gram of fiber and a gram of protein in that serving size.
Not surprisingly, the varieties of lettuce all have their nutritional differences.
The stem of the lettuce can be eaten as well, although you need to first remove the bitter skin to get to the soft green core. Stem lettuce leaves are best consumed when the plant is young, as they become bitter and tough as the lettuce matures. This type of lettuce has a thick stem and a distinct flavor that’s reminiscent of celery, artichoke, and cucumber. Stem lettuce also goes by the name celtuce, which comes from combining the words celery and lettuce. The flavors tend to be subtle and mellow, with no bitterness to worry about – making this the perfect vegetable for any picky eaters. Even saying that the lettuce is buttery isn’t too much of a stretch. Butterheadīutterhead lettuce is named perfectly, as this lettuce variety tends to be soft and surprisingly creamy. There are plenty of others too, including Great Lakes and Ithaca. Iceberg lettuce is the most famous example of this variety. Many varieties have a subtle flavor, which gives your other ingredients the chance to shine. These are the lettuces that you’ll use when making a refreshing summer salad or perhaps some sandwiches. Lettuce varieties in this category tend to contain plenty of water, which makes them crisp and crunchy. This category has a few names as well, including heading lettuce or simply head lettuce. The leaf size can vary dramatically depending on the variety of lettuce that you choose, all the way from the tiny ‘little Caesar’ to giant ‘Vivian’ romaine leaves that can be up to 16 inches. There are interesting cos varieties to play around with too, including ones that are red, bronze, or speckled. The length and crunchiness of the leaves works well in that salad, along with many other places. CosĬos or romaine lettuce is the type that you find in a Caesar salad.
While green is a common color for the lettuces, you’ll also see red, purple, and yellow versions. You’ll see other differences too, like the way that some types have smooth leaves, while others have curled or crinkled ones instead. The flavor is somewhat mild and sweet, while the texture is tender – although there’s still plenty of difference between varieties. This type of lettuce forms tight rosettes of leaves when it grows, rather than creating heads or hearts. This type also goes by the name loose leaf lettuce and it should be very familiar. While we can’t possibly cover all the types of lettuce in this post, we can talk about the main types and their key features. Many of these differences influence the way that you use lettuce. Lettuce is a surprisingly diverse type of vegetable, with many different varieties that vary in their color, texture, size, and the way their leaves are arranged.