What do you make with lettuce that is not a salad?

[punkin]

I bought a huge carton of mixed greens at Costco this week, and we will not be able to finish it before it wilts. Is there anything I could use it for besides salads?

This is a budget question because I don't want to waste money throwing anything out.

 

[Piecey]

We're having tacos tonight with leftover lettuce. BLTs?

 

[punkin]

We're having tacos tonight with leftover lettuce. BLTs?

I was hoping for something cooked so it might last a little longer.

 

[FoodLover]

I am the "using up leftover lettuce" queen because my CSA (community supported agriculture) group always gets a LOT of lettuce.

Lettuce soup is good, believe it or not! Chop up the lettuce and cook it until it's very soft in some chicken stock (or vegetable stock) with some garlic. Blend it in small batches. The only lettuce that doesn't work well with this is butter lettuce (too slimy when cooked). Be sure to season it heavily (salt, pepper, cayenne).

Braised lettuce is yummy. Put a little olive oil or butter in a big skillet, throw in roughly chopped lettuce, put a lid (or foil) on for a few minutes until wilted, add plenty of salt & pepper, and a little thyme if you have it. If you have some frozen peas, you can throw those in with the lettuce. They don't take long to cook and give this a nice mixture of textures.

If you don't want to cook it, make lettuce wraps. You can wrap almost any sandwich filling (hot or cold) in lettuce leaves.

 

[mrsklamc]

Wraps?

 

[3boymthr]

Hamburgers with L &T

Sandwiches

and from the Food Network - Lettuce & Arugala soup.

 

[M5ward]

Cream of lettuce soup..discard the core, chop the leaves fine and simmer them in chicken broth until tender, then whisk in a mixture of cream, egg yolks a little bit of nutmeg .

 

[punkin]

I am the "using up leftover lettuce" queen because my CSA (community supported agriculture) group always gets a LOT of lettuce.

Lettuce soup is good, believe it or not! Chop up the lettuce and cook it until it's very soft in some chicken stock (or vegetable stock) with some garlic. Blend it in small batches. The only lettuce that doesn't work well with this is butter lettuce (too slimy when cooked). Be sure to season it heavily (salt, pepper, cayenne).

Braised lettuce is yummy. Put a little olive oil or butter in a big skillet, throw in roughly chopped lettuce, put a lid (or foil) on for a few minutes until wilted, add plenty of salt & pepper, and a little thyme if you have it. If you have some frozen peas, you can throw those in with the lettuce. They don't take long to cook and give this a nice mixture of textures.

If you don't want to cook it, make lettuce wraps. You can wrap almost any sandwich filling (hot or cold) in lettuce leaves.

That's exactly what I was looking for. I think I'll make a lettuce soup. Mixed field greens will work for this right?

 

[MMS1125]

Lettuce Soup (haven't tried this..I don't like leeks)

Ingredients

* 1/4 cup unsalted butter
* 2 leeks, chopped
* 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
* 4 cups chicken broth
* 2 teaspoons salt
* 1 head romaine lettuce - rinsed, dried, and chopped
* 1/4 cup chopped fresh tarragon
* salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Place leeks and garlic in the pan and slowly cook and stir 10 minutes, or until tender and lightly browned. Mix in the chicken broth and salt. Reduce heat and simmer approximately 15 minutes.
2. Increase heat to medium low and stir in the romaine lettuce. Cook 5 minutes. Stir in the tarragon. Remove from heat.
3. In a blender, blend the soup until smooth.
4. Return soup to the saucepan and warm over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

BLT Soup (have tried a version of this..was pretty good)

Ingredients

* 5 slices bacon, diced
* 2 tablespoons margarine
* 3 1/2 cups iceberg lettuce, julienne cut 1 1/2 to 2 inches lo
* 5/8 cup all-purpose flour
* 3 1/2 cups hot water
* 1 tablespoon chicken soup base
* 3/4 cup chopped tomatoes
* 1 pinch ground nutmeg
* 1 pinch ground cayenne pepper
* 1 cup hot half-and-half cream

Directions

1. In a heavy 3-quart saucepan cook bacon over medium heat until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Do not drain fat.
2. Add butter or margarine and heat until melted. Stir in lettuce and saute 2 minutes. Blend in flour with a wire whisk. Stir over medium heat until well blended and evenly cooked, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
3. Add hot water, chicken soup base, tomatoes, nutmeg, and red pepper. Heat to boiling, stirring frequently. Reduce heat and gently boil 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Add cream, mixing well. Heat to simmering, stirring frequently. Serve hot, garnished with crumbled bacon bits. ENJOY!

both from All Recipes

 

[MMS1125]

I imagine a mixed green would be fine instead of regular lettuce or romaine...

I <3 lettuce wraps! yumm

 

[FoodLover]

That's exactly what I was looking for. I think I'll make a lettuce soup. Mixed field greens will work for this right?

Yep, they'll work great. You can add a little cream or milk if you want it richer, but I like it with just the greens and broth.

 

[punkin]

Thanks guys. You're the best!

 

[disneydreamersx4]

I don't have anything to add except that the pp is a genius with the wrap idea!! My DD12 doesn't like bread so that will work perfect with her tuna

 

[punkin]

I don't have anything to add except that the pp is a genius with the wrap idea!! My DD12 doesn't like bread so that will work perfect with her tuna

The problem with wraps in my case is the lettuce is a mix of cut up lettuces in a carton. Nothing is big enough to wrap. Otherwise, I agree, wraps are fabulous.

 

[Sagginit]

maybe instead of making spinach dip you could cook the greens and use them instead?

i eat lots of salads b/c those tubs of greens always seem to turn on me over night and i have to eat three salads in a day before it goes rotten. for future refernce though i find that if i put in a napkin or paper towel it lengthens the life of the lettuce in the tub by a few days.

 

[mistysue]

For future reference- we have some of those green storage containers that are supposed to make veggies last longer. They really work!

Back in May I put wilted lettuce in one of those containers and it perked back up
If you are regularly going to buy in large amounts, those can be a good investment.

Now when we get lettuce I cut it up and put it in one of those storage containers right away... it lasts a few weeks.

 

[dreamin_disney]

i put lettuce in my tuna fish for sandwiches
tacos
tostadas
taco saladin burritos,sandwiches, burgers