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Vegetables · Salad leaves

Butter lettuce

Soft, loose round lettuce (butterhead, Boston, Bibb) with tender, cupped, buttery leaves.

Also called: butterhead, boston lettuce, bibb lettuce

A kind of lettuce

What it is

Butter lettuce forms a loose rosette of soft, smooth, pale to mid-green leaves with a buttery texture. Boston is larger and looser; Bibb is smaller. It is more tender and delicate than romaine or iceberg, and its cupped leaves are ideal for wraps.

Lactuca sativa (Capitata group)

How it’s used

  • Delicate green salads with light vinaigrette
  • Lettuce cups for fillings
  • Sandwich leaves

Characteristics

Taste
Mild and sweet.
Texture
Soft, smooth and tender.
When cooked
Bruises and wilts easily; dress lightly just before serving.
Sold as
fresh
Cooking uses
Usually eaten raw

Storage

Refrigerated. Refrigerate wrapped; use within a few days.

Diet, allergens and safety

No major allergens in typical versions.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy
13 kcal
Protein
1.35 g
Carbohydrate
2.23 g
Fat
0.22 g
Fibre
1.1 g
Sugars
0.94 g

USDA FoodData Central: Lettuce, butterhead (includes boston and bibb types), raw.

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

  • Lettuce — Little gem cups are crunchier.

Related ingredients

Recipes with butter lettuce

No recipe in the catalogue uses it yet.

More salad leaves