In this article, we’ll tell you all about butter lettuce.We’re covering taste, texture and tips for how to get the most out of your butter lettuce salads.
Let’s dive in…
What Does Butter Lettuce Taste Like?
Most people are acquainted with iceberg, but you may not know its more flavorful cousin, butter lettuce.Bibb or Boston lettuce, as it’s frequently called, doesn’t taste like butter, but it’s one of the sweeter kinds of lettuces.
Butter lettuce is mild but far from bland.Some heads of butter lettuce may even have a slightly bitter taste, but even so, they’ll still be more sweet than bitter.
Butter Lettuce Texture
This is where this lettuce earns its name.Butter lettuce texture is very smooth, almost creamy as you chew it—like butter.But it’s also firm and crisp, a bit like baby spinach.
This is one of the silkiest lettuces you can buy.For this reason, the texture is what’s most enjoyable about it in sandwiches, wraps and salads.
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Is Butter Lettuce the Same as Romaine Lettuce?
Butter lettuce and romaine are entirely different, though they’re considered two of the basic types of lettuce widely available in supermarkets.
Romaine has a more powerful flavor that’s more bitter than sweet.It’s also firmer and crunchier without the same smoothness.It’s another lettuce people love for the texture, but for different reasons.
Read Also: Why is Butter Lettuce Called Butter Lettuce?
Green leaf and red leaf lettuces have similar softness and taste, so they make reliable substitutes for butter lettuce.Really, though, any mild lettuce can work.
What type of lettuce you use in place of butter lettuce can be highly dependent on what you’re making.If it’s not the main feature of a salad, mixed baby greens, especially baby spinach, can be used.
If you’re going for texture in a sandwich, romaine is crunchier but will add a contrasting mouthfeel and crispness like butter lettuce, plus a little more flavor.
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Butter Lettuce Recipes
Did you know you can use butter lettuce in place of a wrap?Soft as it may be, it’s strong enough to hold all the fillings.Check out these video links to see what you can do with it.
If you have access to either romaine or butter lettuce, you can make these Asian-style lettuce wraps.Here’s everything you’ll need:
- Hoisin sauce
- Soy sauce or tamari
- Rice vinegar
- Sesame oil
- Neutral oil
- Extra firm tofu
- Cremini mushrooms
- Water chestnuts
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Red pepper flakes
- Green onions
- Butter lettuce (or romaine)
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This is a great summer salad inspired by Mexican cooking.Grab these ingredients at the store:
- Olive oil
- Fresh coriander or cilantro
- Garlic
- Oregano
- Lemon juice
- Cumin
- Chili flakes
- Butter lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Charred corn
- Kidney beans
- Avocado
- Spring onions
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Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
