Braised Lettuce Recipes

BRAISED LETTUCE WITH PEAS

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large sauté pan with a lid. Fry the onion gently for about 5 mins, until softened. Meanwhile, pull any damaged or coarse outer leaves from the lettuces and trim the bases. Cut the lettuces in half lengthways, through the base.
• Place the lettuce cut-side up on top of the onions and cook for half a minute, then turn over and cook for another 30 secs. Pour over the stock and lightly season. Put the lid on the pan, reduce the heat to the minimum and cook for 10 mins.
• With a slotted spoon, lift the lettuces out and put into a sieve over a bowl. Raise the heat under the pan and boil the juices until reduced by half. Add the cream or crème fraîche and petits pois and boil for 1 min until heated through. Arrange lettuces in a serving dish and pour over the pea-and-cream sauce.

BRAISED LETTUCE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan of boiling salted water, blanch lettuce for 3 minutes and refresh. Drain gently, squeeze dry. Slice each head in half lengthwise. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Fold in half crosswise and shape with your hands to make fat triangles.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and set rack in lower third of oven.
• In a casserole, cook the scallion and carrot in the butter until tender but not browned. Arrange the lettuce in the casserole, and spoon the vegetables over the lettuce.
• Pour in enough liquid barely to cover the lettuce. Add the thyme and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer on top of the stove. Place the buttered paper over the lettuce to cover the casserole.
• Place casserole in center of preheated oven. Regulate heat so lettuce simmers slowly for 1 hour. Remove the lettuce to a serving dish and keep it warm. Quickly boil down the braising liquid until it has reduced to a syrup (about 1/2 cup).
• Sprinkle with parsley and serve
• Round of buttered paper to cover casserole.

BRAISED LEEKS, PEAS, AND LETTUCE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large wide saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook leeks, partially covered and stirring occasionally, until tender but not browned, 5-7 minutes. Season with 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper, then pour in wine. Increase heat to medium-high and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until wine is reduced by half, 1-2 minutes. Add lettuce, peas, and 1 cup water. Partially cover pan and bring liquid to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low to maintain a gentle simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until lettuce and peas are tender, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat, then stir in chives, mint, and lemon zest; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a platter. Top with pistachios.

BRAISED LETTUCE

Steps:

• Trim about 1/2 inch of stem and many outer leaves from lettuce heads, leaving tight, fairly firm centers about the size of large lemons. Reserve about 15 unbruised outer leaves. Rinse lettuce heads and leaves, and shake lightly to remove excess water.
• Grease bottom and sides of a heavy 3-quart casserole with 1 tablespoon butter. Line casserole bottom and sides with outer leaves. Place trimmed heads standing up snugly in casserole. Dot with remaining butter, season with salt and pepper, cover and place over very low heat until lettuce is tender when poked in center with a small knife, about 1 hour. Swirl casserole from time to time to keep butter emulsified.
• Remove lettuce to a serving dish. Discard loose leaves. Swirl sauce in pan, whisk in lemon juice, check seasoning and spoon sauce over lettuce. Serve.

SAUTEED ROMAINE LETTUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, celery, and red-pepper flakes; saute until celery is softened and golden, about 5 minutes.
• Add lettuce, pressing it down to fit. Season with salt and pepper. Cover; cook, tossing occasionally, until lettuce is completely wilted and liquid has evaporated, 10 to 12 minutes.

QUICK BRAISED LETTUCE & PEAS

Steps:

• Cook the pearl onions for 5 mins and the peas for 2 mins in separate pans of boiling water until the onions are soft and the peas are just cooked.
• Heat the olive oil in a frying pan, brown the onions, then add the peas and shredded Baby Gem lettuce. Cook just to heat through lettuce, then season and serve.

BRAISED LETTUCE ON ANCHOVY TOAST

Steps:

• Remove the outer leaves from the romaine, saving them for soup. Trim the stem, leaving it intact and leaves connected. Cut the head into 6 thin wedges, each wedge connected at the core/stem.
• Make anchovy butter by pounding the anchovies to a paste with the garlic paste, then mashing in 4 tablespoons butter. Combine well.
• Toast the bread.
• Warm a pan large enough to fit all of the lettuce wedges. Add remaining butter. Once it has melted, add the stock, and fit the romaine wedges closely into the pan in a single layer. Salt lightly. Cook over medium heat for about 2 minutes, and turn all the wedges to another side. Salt again, and scatter with lemon zest. Continue to cook, turning once or twice more, until the liquid in the pan is absorbed and the lettuce is very wilted on the leaf end and tender on the stem end. Turn off heat.
• In the pan or on a cutting board, cut each wedge once or twice horizontally.
• Spread each piece of toast thickly with anchovy butter, then top with the sections of a wedge of lettuce. Sprinkle each lightly with salt again, if desired. Serve hot.

QUICK-BRAISED SALMON AND LETTUCE

Steps:

• In a large pot, melt butter over medium. Add shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 10 minutes. Add lemon zest and broth and bring to a simmer. Season salmon with salt and pepper and add to pot. Cover and cook 3 minutes. Add lettuce (pot will be full), cover, and cook until lettuce is wilted and salmon is cooked through, 9 minutes. Sprinkle with lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Serve topped with dill and broth if desired.