Variety: Encore Lettuce Mix, Head Lettuce (Mirlo, Muir, New Red Fire, Cantarix).
We grow a lettuce mix as well as several different kinds of head lettuce. The flavor and texture varies based on the variety and there are lots of different recipes to try. April’s general recipe for salads include your choice of lettuce, crisp chopped veggies, pickled things, nuts, and a cheese. For example, a regular in our house might be mixed greens, cucumber, olives, pine nuts, and feta cheese. Try your own combination and see what stands out as your favorite!
Recipes
Balsamic Vinaigrette
This vinaigrette is a staple in our house and a regular for summer dinners.
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup Balsamic vinegar
- ½ cup Olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- ¼ tsp. Oregano
- ½ T Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp Salt
- ¼ tsp Pepper
Steps:
Whisk together all ingredients adding the olive oil last. Toss with your salad right before serving. Always start slow and add more dressing as needed. It stores in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
Carlyle Grand Salad
April’s first job out of school was just outside of Washington DC in Shirlington, VA. Her team regularly frequented a nearby restaurant called the Carlyle Grand. This salad is one that April had often on these team lunches. It’s still on their menu as a Roast Chicken Salad and we recreate it at home throughout the summer.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups Lettuce mix
- ¼ cup Pine nuts
- ¼ cup Corn
- 4 Dates, sliced
- ½ cup Cherry tomatoes
- 3 T Dried cranberries
- Goat cheese
- Optional: roast chicken or chickpeas
Champagne Vinaigrette
- ⅓ cup champagne vinegar
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 small shallot coarsely chopped
- ⅔ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- kosher salt or fine sea salt, to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
Steps:
Combine all ingredients for the salad. Whisk vinaigrette ingredients until emulsified. Toss salad with dressing. Top with roasted chicken or chickpeas.
Vegetarian Thai Lettuce Wraps
These lettuce wraps are savory and satisfying with a nice mix of flavors and textures. It’s vegetarian but has been a hit in our house even with meat-eating visitors. It’s great as a standalone salad but we also love it using our butter lettuce.
Go to the recipe