Help me use all this lettuce!

[tamawrite]

Augh! My CSA just delivered 3 more huge heads of lettuce. DH and I haven't finished the 2 heads from last week. What can I do with it all, besides make MORE salads???

[jabelt]

The only thing I can think of is lettuce wraps (asian inspired) or replacing burger buns with the lettuce which was popular when I lived in CA.

Good luck!

[doggerham]

I did a quick search on the internet for "lettuce soup" and there is quite a variety.

[sfarler]

I haven't tried this, but it got some good reviews and it sounds good to me. I'm sure you could use much less butter.

PEA AND LETTUCE PUREE WITH TARRAGON


Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 30 min

8 scallions, chopped
1/2 stick (1/4cup) unsalted butter
1 lb Boston lettuce (3 small heads), coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons water
1 (10-oz) box frozen peas (preferably baby peas), thawed, or 2 cups shelled fresh peas (2 to 2 1/2 lb in pods)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon
Cook scallions in butter in a 3-quart heavy saucepan, covered, over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add lettuce and water and simmer, covered, until wilted, about 5 minutes. Stir in peas and cook, uncovered, stirring, until just heated through, about 3 minutes.

Coarsely purée in a food processor, then transfer to cleaned pan. Cook over moderate heat, stirring, until heated through, then stir in salt, lemon juice, and tarragon.

Cooks' note:

• Purée can be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Add lemon juice and tarragon just before serving.

Makes 8 servings.
Gourmet
April 2001

[erin elizabeth]

We love wilted lettuce. There is no real recipe, but here is the formula--

Chop bacon. Fry until crisp, remove from pan leaving drippings. Cook a little onion in the grease. Add big handfuls of clean, dry lettuce. Let wilt in the grease and onion--add back bacon and a good glug of cider vinegar (plain old white vinegar works good, too). Let cook a minute and serve.

It's kinda like using lettuce as a spinach substitute. We always eat a couple of pans of this when our lettuce comes in every summer. It may sound kind of odd, but the combo really works! :)

Or you could always give the lettuce away to deserving friends :cool:

[tholbrook]

Originally posted by tamawrite
Augh! My CSA just delivered 3 more huge heads of lettuce. DH and I haven't finished the 2 heads from last week. What can I do with it all, besides make MORE salads??? Boy, am I glad to see this thread! I have the same issue thanks to my CSA... not that I'm complaining, of course! :D But I really don't want to waste it, and I can only eat so many green salads.

The lettuce soup posted by sfarler looks like a good option - especially since tarragon was in the same CSA delivery.

erin elizabeth, do you think olive oil would work instead of bacon, or would it just be missing too much of the flavor that way?

[erin elizabeth]

Bacon is an essential part of that recipe, but I guess going in the spirit of lettuce as a spinach stand-in I would give olive oil a whirl. It won't be the same, but it might be good :)

[pattyp.]

How have you been storing the lettuce? Tupperware, plastic veg. bag, cloth bag? Wash it before you store it or use it? No matter what I do it seems I always end up tossing before I use all of it because it gets rusty or yucky.:(