Lettuce is a leaf vegetable typically eaten on sandwiches, in salads and many other North American dishes, but is commonly cooked before being ate in Asia. An annual or biennial member of the Asteraceae (daisy) family, lettuce grows best in temperate climates and is harvested before it flowers when grown for food. Six major groups of lettuce are cultivated for human consumption: Chinese, butter head, crisp head (iceberg), looseleaf, summer crisp and romaine.
Lettuce is believed to have originated in the Mediterranean region and can be seen in Egyptian tomb paintings dated to 4500 B.C. Christopher Columbus introduced lettuce to the new world, and wild varieties are now common in Europe, North America and temperate Asia.
Fast Facts:
- Romans ate lettuce after meals to induce sleep
- 95% of all lettuce in US grown in California and Arizona
- Largest known head weighed 25 lbs
- Valuable source of vitamin A and folic acid
- Lactucarium ("Lettuce Opium") is a substance resembling opium present in all lettuce
Leftover Turkey or Chicken Lettuce Wraps
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Lettuce Cookbooks
- Google Product Search: Lettuce and Salad Cookbooks
Lettuce Merchandise
- Amazon.com: Salad Spinners | Lettuce Crispers
How often do you need to water your vegetables in a day?(0 Answers)
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What are some good uses for lettuce besides in salads and as a sandwich topping?(7 Answers)
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Lettuce wraps are my favorite. Just not Asian food but a few years ago the fad in fast food was lettuce wrapped whatevers (burgers, chicken, etc.) for those ...
How can I keep lettuce from turning brown?(2 Answers)
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These are some tips on how to avoid your lettuce from turning brown fast: 1. If you are selecting a head of lettuce from the bin, look for ...
