What Are Lettuce leaves and How Can I Use Them?

Wondering what to do with lettuce leaves? This guide covers how to pick them, cook them, store them, and swap them, plus 180 recipes to put them to work.

What are lettuce leaves?

"Lettuce leaves" is how a recipe asks for whole, intact leaves pulled off the head rather than chopped salad. The leaf is the unit here, used for its shape and structure: a liner under a salad, a wrap around a filling, or a fresh layer in a sandwich.

This is the same lettuce covered in the main lettuce entry, just kept whole. Which leaf you want depends on the job.

Putting Leaves to Work

For a wrap or a cup, you need a leaf that bends without snapping. Butterhead types like Bibb and Boston fold softly around a savory filling, while the inner leaves of iceberg form a sturdier bowl that holds a heavier load.

Romaine wraps too, as long as you keep to the upper, flexible part of the leaf and leave the stiff rib out.

As a liner, almost any leaf does. A bed of leaves under a Tarragon Crab Salad or a scoop of Curried Chicken & Mango Salad gives a plate a clean edge and a little crunch.

In a sandwich or burger, the leaf is a barrier as much as a garnish. A whole leaf laid against the bread, as in these Tuna Steak Sandwiches, keeps a wet filling from soaking through.

Handling and Common Mistakes

Peel leaves off whole rather than tearing them loose. Cut out the core first, then run cold water into the cavity, and the leaves separate cleanly without ripping.

Dry them well. A wet leaf will not hold a filling, and water trapped against the bread is what makes a sandwich soggy. Spin or pat each leaf before you build anything.

The usual mistake is the wrong leaf for the wrap. A crisp leaf that shatters when you fold it spills its filling, while a floppy looseleaf cannot hold its shape at all. Match the leaf to the load.

Choosing and Keeping Leaves

Pick whole heads over bagged loose leaves when you need them intact, since heads give larger, unbroken leaves with their stems attached. Look for firm, unblemished outer leaves with no slimy patches.

Keep the head whole until you need the leaves; cut and separated leaves spoil faster. Store it unwashed, wrapped loosely in a paper towel inside a bag, in the crisper at around 35°F (2°C). The towel pulls off excess moisture that would otherwise rot the leaves.

For reviving a limp head and the differences between the lettuce types, see the main lettuce entry.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find lettuce leaves: Lettuce leaves are usually found in the produce section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Lettuce leaves are a member of the Vegetables and Vegetable Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

莴笋叶

British (UK) term

Lettuce leaves

en français

feuilles de laitue

en español

hojas de lechuga

How much do lettuce leaves weigh?

Related

Vegetables and Vegetable Products

Recipes using lettuce leaves

There are 180 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Grilled Burgers

Grilled burgers with sour cream, dried thyme, and parsley mixed right into the patty for extra moisture and herby savor. The juicy weeknight cookout staple in 20 minutes.

Good Morning Sandwich

A quick, easy and refreshing sandwich is perfect for a morning breakfast.

Yummy Burgers

Sour cream burgers stay juicy because the sour cream goes right into the beef, along with green onion and a little crumb to keep them tender. Cook them fast in the microwave or sear them on the grill, then load up the buns.

Salad Platter

Creamy avocados, juicy-sweet tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, meaty chickpeas and salty olives are on top of a bed of lettuce or any your favorite greens. Drizzle some freshly homemade vinaigrette and serve with a few slices of good bread.

Refreshing Herring Salad

Refreshing herring salad tosses pickled herring with tart apple, juicy orange segments, green pepper, and grated onion in a quick oil and vinegar dressing. No cooking required.

Tuna Salad Sandwiches for Kids

Learn how to make tuna salad sandwiches for kids with canned tuna, celery, and mayonnaise. This recipe is super quick, easy, and kid-friendly.

Cottage Cheese with Seaweed

A nice and healthy breakfast. Very good with a double mug of cocoa.

Protein/Paleo Burger

Protein paleo burger: a seasoned beef patty mixed with scallion, garlic, and serrano, stacked bunless on lettuce with a fried egg, grilled portobello, avocado, and chimichurri. High-protein, grain-free.

Huevos Rojo y Verdes (Mexican Red & Green Eggs)

I had these for breakfast frequently when staying in Tlaqupaque, Mexico outside Guadalajara. Here's my version that recreates this local specialty. I haven't seen them anywhere else. Perfect for Cinco de Mayo.

Almost BLT Sandwich

A few slices of Canadian bacon, fresh tomatoes and crisp lettuce. Sandwiched between two slices of whole grain bread, a quick, easy, delicious and well-balanced meal.

Bistro Cheeseburger

Grilled cheeseburger with melted Swiss, charred Vidalia onions, and Dijon mayonnaise on toasted crusty bread. A French-bistro spin on the American classic.

Tikka Chicken

Chicken pieces marinated in spiced yogurt with ginger, garlic, turmeric, and coriander, then grilled on skewers until charred and tender. Authentic Indian chicken tikka at home.

Waldorf Salad

My slightly sweet version of a classic.

Grilled Pork Tenderloin & Onion Marmalade Sandwich

Use your leftover grilled pork tenderloin and onion marmalade to make this delicious and filling sandwich within no time.

Garden-Fresh Turkey Burgers

Lean turkey burgers loaded with shredded zucchini, sweet bell pepper, and onion. Oats bind everything together for juicy, vegetable-packed patties on whole wheat buns.

Chicken Burgers

Homemade chicken burgers ground from chicken breast and bound with soaked bread, egg, onion, garlic, marjoram and paprika. Pan-fried golden and served on buns with tartar sauce, lettuce, tomato and dill pickles.

Pesto Chicken & Pepper Wraps

Easy and delicious chicken wraps are packed with goodness and yumminess.

Israeli CousCous & Cucumber Salad

Israeli couscous and cucumber salad tosses toasted pearl couscous with crisp cucumber, tomato, lemon, and a handful of fresh parsley and mint. A bright, herby Mediterranean side that eats clean and refreshing.

Spanish Chicken Salad

Spanish spiced chicken breast with fresh avocado, orange dressed boston lettuce.

Favourite Caesar Salad

This quick and easy caesar salad is surprisingly refreshing and delicious. There is no reason to buy store-bought dressing, when you can make your own fresh dressing at home within a few minutes, and it tastes just delicious!

Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burgers

Grilled portobello mushroom burgers marinate big meaty caps in balsamic, garlic, and a touch of cayenne, then grill until juicy and tender. A satisfying vegan burger piled with tomato, onion, and lettuce.

Sauteed Mushrooms & Lettuce Sandwich

Sandwich is probably one of the simplest way for a quick-fixing meal, and there are so many ways to assemble a sandwich, such as this one that gives you a tasty and healthy meal within less than 15 minutes.

Lettuce Wrap

A Chinese inspired stir-fry dish is wrapped into lettuce leaves to serve, and enjoy all the yummy goodness in one wrap!

Chicken Salad with Lemon, Raisins & Croutons

Super quick, easy and it came out delicious with layers of great textures.

Walford Salad

Walford salad is a Waldorf-style fruit salad with celery, grapes, diced apple, dates, and walnuts in a wine-thinned mayonnaise dressing. Crisp, sweet, no cooking required.

Bean Veggie Burgers with Mexican Spicy Guacamole

This yummy veggie burger won't disappoint you! Several kinds of spices are mixed into mashed beans, spiced cuacamole spread on top of the burger... Enjoy delicious burgers without feeling guilty!

Tomato, Cucumber & Lettuce Sandwich

Refreshing and packed with goodness. This easy sandwich is a great breakfast to start up a new day or a quick-fixing lunch.

Grilled Marinated Portobello Mushroom Burgers

Marinate the portobello in the mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper, really makes the mushroom tender and juicy after grilling, also very flavorful. A delicious burger, top with any your favorite condiment and other vegetables.

Chunky Tuna Salad Roll-Ups

These quick-easy roll-ups taste delicious and are also very nutritious. Use whole grain tortillas for a even heartier result.

Chicken Salad Contessa

Chicken salad Contessa: roasted chicken tossed with sweet grapes, toasted walnuts, and a creamy tarragon dressing. Roasting the chicken instead of boiling builds real flavor. Pile it on greens or a croissant.

Cafe Kati's Mango Spring Rolls

Fresh no-cook mango spring rolls wrapped in rice paper with vermicelli, basil, mint, bean sprouts, and shredded carrots. Light, vibrant Thai-inspired rolls with spicy vinaigrette for dipping.

Tomato, Basil & Millet Salad

Brought this salad to a pot luck recently, everyone raved about it. It was easy, simple, refreshing and delicious.

Healthy Hamburger with Savory Feta Sauce & Cucumber

Creamy feta sauce adds zip, and cucumbers adds a pleasant crunch to a juicy hamburger.

Cold German-Style Potato Salad

While this cold salad has some elements of a traditional warm German potato salad, it is totally Americanized to suit my family's tastes. Great with grilled burgers, dogs, meats and poultry.

Vietnamese Pork Burgers

Grilled pork patties loaded with garlic, scallions, and soy sauce, then wrapped in lettuce leaves with hoisin, crushed peanuts, and fresh cilantro. Bunless and bursting with flavor.

Tuna Steak Sandwiches

Grilled tuna steaks brushed with Caesar dressing, nestled on toasted whole-grain onion buns with crisp lettuce and fresh tomato. This 20-minute high-protein sandwich is summer grilling at its simplest and most satisfying.

Curried Chicken & Mango Salad

Light curried chicken and mango salad with a honey-lime yogurt dressing. Poached chicken breast and juicy mango cubes on lettuce, ready in 30 minutes. Low-fat and refreshing.

Master Seafood Risotto

Italian seafood risotto layered with shrimp, scallops, squid, mussels, and clams in a white wine garlic broth. Finished with bright gremolata and fresh herbs for a restaurant-worthy showstopper.

Low Fat Turkey Burgers

Low-fat turkey burgers with couscous, warm spice blend of curry, cumin, allspice, and ginger, plus sauteed red pepper for moisture. A globally-spiced lean burger on whole-wheat buns.

Vegetable Salad with Soba Noodles

Fresh soba noodle salad with crunchy vegetables, herbs, and lime-sesame dressing served in crisp lettuce cups. This healthy Asian-inspired salad is ready in 25 minutes.

Amazing Chicken & Tomato Greek Salad

Greek-style chicken salad built fast from pantry staples: canned chicken and tomatoes tossed with cucumber, zucchini, red onion, black olives, and feta in a sharp white wine vinegar dressing.

Smorrebrod (Denmark)

A traditional Danish Smørrebrød spread with smoked salmon, shrimp, roast beef, ham, blue cheese, eggs and fresh fruit on rye bread. A stunning no-cook platter that feeds 12.

Gabrielle Carteris's Chicken Nest with Tomatoes Beans & R

Layered chicken nest platter with breaded chicken cutlets, sun-dried tomato rice, beans, and steamed asparagus, peppers, and snow peas over lettuce. A colorful all-in-one dinner.

Tangy Salmon Mousse

Light salmon mousse made with canned and smoked salmon, Greek yogurt, ginger, and whipped egg whites, served with a grapefruit-walnut oil salad. An elegant British-style starter.

Potato Salad with Bratwursts

Warm German-style potato salad with browned bratwurst, tossed in a tangy beer and cider vinegar dressing with Dijon and tarragon. No mayo, just hearty skillet flavor served warm.

Jackstraw Salad

Jackstraw salad with matchstick-cut apple, shredded cabbage, celery, green pepper, and onion rings tossed in poppy seed dressing. A crunchy, colorful slaw-style side salad that's diabetic-friendly.

Vegetable-Rice Salad

Cold vegetable rice salad with crisp-tender green beans, peas, cucumber, and tomatoes tossed in a tangy tarragon vinaigrette. A refreshing make-ahead side for potlucks and summer cookouts.

Horseradish Beef Sandwiches

Roast beef sandwich on pumpernickel with creamy horseradish sauce, pickled beets, lettuce, and mayo. A tangy, savory deli sandwich with an Eastern European twist.

Hot & Sour Vermicelli Salad (Yam Wun Sen)

Yam Wun Sen: Thai hot and sour glass noodle salad with button mushrooms, black fungus, carrot, and a bright lemon-soy-chili dressing. A vegetarian take on a Bangkok street classic.

Tapioca Soup

Thai tapioca soup with ground pork, crab meat, garlic, and fish sauce in a savory pork broth. Silky tapioca pearls thicken this fragrant bowl, served over lettuce with fresh cilantro.

All 180 recipes