Second, If you missed my blog entry yesterday, take a quick peak, I am spending my next few blog entries talking about the wonderfulness of GREEN SALADS and yesterdays blog gives you an itinerary of how I am breaking down this GINORMOUS subject. Today we are talking "Foundation", the bed of green lushness that will play host to the toppings and dressings you enjoy.
Watercolour by: Todd Koons
Speaking of ginormous, huge, lots, plenty, plethora...you get the idea. :) You would almost not believe the number of lettuce/greens varieties there are: Radicchio, Buttercrunch, Mignonette, Chicory, Red Coral, Romaine, Oakleaf, Cos, Rocket, Celtuce, Mizuna, Arugula, Bib, Iceberg....OH but the list does go on!
These varieties are separated into groups based on how they grow/form: Head, Cos/Romaine, Leaf, Asparagus and Chinese. These groupings also tell us a bit about how different lettuces/greens taste, as well as their water and vitamin content.
BUT! Let's leave that for maybe another time. Let's talk taste, let's talk texture, let's get to that good green foundation.
HEADS UP! SEVEN UP!
These are seven basic varieties of lettuce/greens you can find at your local grocer or produce stand.
Romaine & Oak Leaf Lettuce
Romaine: If you are going to break yourself or anyone else away from the safety blanket of Iceberg Lettuce, this is a good place to start. Romaine, is crisp and crunchy with a clean refreshing taste. There are several different varieties of Romaine and all serve as a hearty base for any salad. This lettuce will hold up to creamy dressings and is the go to lettuce for the Classic Caesar Salad.
Oak Leaf: OK, this one is a bit tricky as Oak Leaf covers a wide scope of lettuces you see in the store or at your produce stand. Which means there is a wide array of textures and colours. When you see that Red Curly Leaf Lettuce, when you see almost anything that is not a Romaine, it is a Oak Leaf Lettuce. Clean in taste, crunchy in texture any of these lettuces are such a great option for your dinner salad. The wonderful thing about choosing Oak Leaf Lettuces over Iceberg, are the nutrients they contain. The RICHER the colour in the leaves the more vitamins YOU are getting~WHOOP!
Butter Lettuce
Butter: It is what it says it is...it's like "BUTTA". :) Soft with a wee bit of crunch as you bite into the silky leaves. This "head style" lettuce; Butter Lettuce, is the girl you want to treat softly with light dressings, so as to not weigh her down. Butter Lettuce leaves are pliable and have a cup like quality making them the perfect conduit for Chinese Chicken Wraps.
Arugula
Arugula: Spice'r up baby! Arugula is also known as, "Rocket Green", it is a green with a bit of "bite" to it, a bit of a peppery taste if you if you will. It is a great green to mix with any variety of lettuce to add a little KICK! When eating Arugula you want to be mindful of where it is at in it's growth. Baby Arugula is primo! The more mature this green gets, the more peppery and bitter it can be. (Hmm is there an analogy in there?) I could die happy eating a salad of Arugula, Beets, Chev re, Apples and Pecans, drizzled with a vinaigrette.
Radicchio
Endive/Escarole
Endive: Another Chicory or sometimes even called Chicory; LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! Endive! It has a wide scope of growth and flavor profiles, from the less peppery/bitter,compact heads of broad leaves, referred to as Escarole, to the CRAZY MOPS of Green Curly Endive, or Frisée. Escarole make the best little containers for any filling your heart desires. Perfect for a green appetizer, fill them with tuna, chicken, egg salad or a mash up of dressed veggies, nuts and fruit. Escarole like Radicchio, is also great on the grill. On the other hand, Frisée adds a pleasantly surprising texture to your salad while continuing to lend the peppery/bitter flavor of other Chicories.
Watercress
Watercress: MMMM..Watercress! I LOVE this water dwelling green! If you can't find Watercress at your grocer, check your local farmers market or produce stand for Nasturtiums. YES! a flower, but an edible one, one that will add peppery tangy goodness to your salad. It is also going to be great in those Chinese Chicken Wraps you do with your Butter Lettuce or, for all you Avocado lovers out there (Kaycee this means you!) this great salad I found on Epicurious.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Avocado-and-Watercress-Salad-242342
WHEW! hope I didn't loose you. A lot of information! The main thing I always want to encourage anyone to do is "TRY IT, YOU MIGHT LIKE IT!". Our taste buds change as we age and what you may not have liked as a child might become a new favorite if you give it a chance. Also, it is GOOD to step outside of the box and experience new things and a simple way to do that, is also a enjoyable way, tasting NEW FOODS!
Next blog we are going to talk about all sorts of yummy things you can put in your salads...some might even surprise you. :)
As always, please let me know if you have recipe quandries I am always happy to pass along a recipe!
ALL content accept noted images are original to Cobwebs To Cookies, please respect my time and creativity and ask permission before copying.
Photo/Image Credits: Romaine/Oak Leaf Lettuce- Stacey Roeber, Salad Greens Watercolour- Todd Koons, Endive-Photobucket:kaveh0dk, Radicchio, Butter Lettuce-www.natures-health-foods.com, Watercress-Blogthismedia, Arugula-Photobucket,Purplebabe85.
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