Is romaine lettuce very bitter?

NuttgirlNuttgirl Raw Newbie

I stopped at the fruit market today and picked up a few items including romaine lettuce or at least I think that is what it looks like. Anyway, I made a small salad with it and it was very very bitter. I’m sure I’ve had romaine before but I don’t recall it being this bitter. Did I pick up something else instead??

Comments

  • alpdesignsalpdesigns Raw Newbie

    Lettuce is considered a bitter flavor in general. Romaine usually isn’t as bitter as kale, but more bitter than iceberg. Maybe it was grown too long. Was it tough?

  • Hello Nuttgirl! Romaine lettuce can be bitter and that usually happens when the grower lets the lettuce grow too long. That is when the lettuce bolts. Which means that in the center of the lettuce the flower stalk comes up and that tells you that the lettuce has gone too far. They probably cut off the flower stalk and sold it. This will cause any lettuce to be bitter. Also spinach will be more bitter if this happens too.

  • NuttgirlNuttgirl Raw Newbie

    I just looked at my receipt and it says collard greens. I thought I bought romaine. Oh well. I think I will try using it up in smoothies instead of salads.

  • devittlesdevittles Raw Newbie

    ani phyo has a delicious recipe for “Stuffed grape leaves” made with collard greens. the collard greens are used as the leaves and her recipe is great. I added a little mint, red onion and apple cider vinegar to make it a bit more authentic. it was totally delicious and not at all bitter. much tastier than eating a bowl of raw collards. her video recipes are on youtube. they are really great.

  • alpdesignsalpdesigns Raw Newbie

    I put a recipe on here for tsatziki sauce that would be great on the stuffed “grape” leaf dolmades from Ani Phyo.

  • devittlesdevittles Raw Newbie

    that sounds awesome. a mediterranean fest!

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