What Is Butter lettuce and How Can I Use It?
Butter lettuce is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store it, what to substitute, and 10 recipes to get you started.
Key Points
- Butter lettuce is the umbrella name for butterhead; Boston and Bibb both qualify.
- Soft, sweet, cup-shaped leaves: great for wraps and gentle salads, but they bruise easily.
- See boston lettuce for full butterhead buying, pairing, and storage guidance.
What is butter lettuce?
Butter lettuce is the general name for butterhead lettuce: a loose head of soft, sweet, cup-shaped leaves that feel almost silky. When a recipe just says butter lettuce, Boston and Bibb both qualify, since those are the two common types sold under this umbrella name.
The leaves are tender and mild with a faint sweetness, and they peel off whole into natural bowls. That softness is the whole appeal, and also the catch: butter lettuce bruises and wilts faster than crisp lettuces.
Using Butter Lettuce
Use it as a lettuce wrap or a gentle salad green. The cupped leaves cradle a filling, while in a bowl they want only a light dressing tossed at the last moment.
You will see it as the soft base in salads like Crab n' Pink Grapefruit Salad and Sweet and Sour Chinese Chicken Salad, where tender leaves suit delicate toppings.
Buy a loose, springy head with no slimy spots and use it within a few days. For the full rundown on butterhead, how to pick it, what to pair it with, what to swap in, and how to revive limp leaves, see the boston lettuce page.
Quick facts
- In Chinese
- 奶油生菜
- British (UK) term
- Butter lettuce
- en français
- laitue beurre
- en español
- lechuga mantequilla
Recipes using butter lettuce
There are 10 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Crab n' Pink Grapefruit Salad
Sweet crab, tangy grapefruit on tender crisp on a bed of Boston lettuce drizzled with a perfectly balanced vinaigrette.
Warm Turkey & Sweet Potato Salad
Warm turkey and sweet potato salad tossed in a creamy tarragon mustard dressing with peppery watercress and butter lettuce. A hearty, satisfying way to use leftover turkey.
Salami & Avo Salad
Salami and avocado salad: salty cured salami strips over creamy sliced avocado and butter lettuce, finished with a dab of sour cream and a squeeze of lemon. A fresh, no-cook plate ready in minutes.
French Green Salad with Basil Shiitake
French green salad with butter lettuce, spinach, and sauteed shiitake mushrooms in a lemon-Dijon vinaigrette topped with fresh basil. An elegant, earthy side salad.
Grilled Chicken Breasts with Salad
Grilled chicken breasts marinate in red wine, balsamic, garlic and oregano, then sear quick over hot coals. Served on a bitter-sweet trio of radicchio, butter lettuce and Belgian endive with salsa garnish. Mediterranean weeknight grill.
Tuna Burgers with Wasabi Mayonnaise (Main)
Fresh tuna burgers with basil, mint, lemon zest, and red chili, grilled and stacked on whole-wheat ciabatta with wasabi mayonnaise. A lighter burger with a Thai-Japanese lean.
Spicy Black Bean & Lentil Salad
Marinated black beans and red lentils on a composed salad platter with red potatoes, carrots, and bell peppers. A tangy mustard-garlic vinaigrette with red pepper flakes ties this high-protein salad together.
Manderin Almond Salad
Add a new salad to your meals with this recipe that includes almonds and mandarin oranges.
Sweet & Sour Chinese Chicken Salad
"Chinese" chicken salad by David Cassidy, adapts to serve any number of people.
Leek & Artichoke Soup
Spring artichoke hearts, tender leeks, and sweet peas simmer into light herbed soup brightened with mint, parsley, and a drizzle of Parmesan-topped olive oil.
