‘Living lettuce’ is sold with a small, clean root ball still attached. This lettuce is grown on water, in special gutters or on floating platforms. The root ball remains attached to the lettuce until the leaves are picked for consumption. This keeps the lettuce fresher for longer, plus the root ball improves the flavour and crunchiness of the leaves. A living lettuce can contain just one head of lettuce or it can be a mix of several types, such as Lollo Rosso, Lollo Biondo and Oakleaf.
How to prepare
Thanks to its crunchiness and fullness of flavour, this lettuce is especially suitable for salads. But you don’t need to use it all at once – simply pick as many leaves from the head as you need to garnish your sandwich or to make a small salad.
Buyer's and storage guide
Living lettuce is available in supermarkets or from greengrocers. It is sold in a special bag that holds the root ball firmly in place. It doesn’t have to be stored in the fridge, but a cool spot is best. Provided that the root ball is not allowed to dry out, it stays fresh for at least a week longer than regular lettuce.
