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Vegetables · Salad leaves

Iceberg lettuce

Tight, round lettuce head with pale, very crisp, watery leaves; used shredded in burgers, tacos and wedge salads.

Also called: iceberg, crisphead lettuce

A kind of lettuce

1 recipe with it

What it is

Iceberg (crisphead) lettuce forms a dense, heavy, round head of pale-green, tightly packed leaves. It is crunchier and milder than romaine or butterhead but less flavourful. It holds its crunch under heavy dressings and warm fillings.

Lactuca sativa (Capitata group)

How it’s used

  • Wedge salad with blue-cheese dressing
  • Shredded in burgers, tacos and sandwiches
  • Lettuce cups
  • Prawn cocktail

Characteristics

Taste
Very mild and watery.
Texture
Very crisp and crunchy.
When cooked
Stays crisp longer than other lettuces.
Sold as
fresh
Cooking uses
Usually eaten raw, Used as a garnish

Storage

Refrigerated. Refrigerate whole in a bag; it keeps longer than other lettuces.

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
14 kcal
Protein
0.9 g
Carbohydrate
2.97 g
Fat
0.14 g
Fibre
1.2 g
Sugars
1.97 g

USDA FoodData Central: Lettuce, iceberg (includes crisphead types), raw.

Substitutes

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

  • Lettuce — Romaine is crunchy with more flavour.
  • Cabbage — Finely shredded, in tacos.

Related ingredients

Recipes with iceberg lettuce

More salad leaves