Lettuce: season and benefits
Seasonal calendar - Lettuce
Nutritional values
Very low in calories, lettuce is rich in vitamin A (beta-carotene) and vitamin K, essential for vision and blood clotting.
Storage
Lettuce keeps 4 to 5 days in the fridge vegetable drawer, wrapped in a damp cloth. Only wash at serving time. Spin gently in a salad spinner to avoid bruising. It does not freeze. Remove wilted outer leaves to prolong the heart's freshness.
Origin
Lettuce has been cultivated since ancient Egypt, over 4,500 years ago. Its name comes from the Latin "lactuca" (milk), referring to the white latex its stem secretes. Romans ate it at the end of a meal for its sleep-inducing properties. France today has over 300 cultivated varieties: batavia, romaine, oak leaf, iceberg and more.
Cooking Lettuce
Goes well with
Recipe ideas
- Caesar salad
- Warm goat's cheese salad
- Braised peas and lettuce
- Summer composed salad
- Lettuce wraps
Did you know?
Ancient Egyptians considered lettuce a symbol of fertility and associated it with the god Min. Lettuce latex does indeed contain lactucarium with sedative properties.