Sauteed Romaine Lettuce Recipes

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.

BRAISED ROMAINE LETTUCE WITH MUSTARD AND BACON

Steps:

• Brown the bacon in the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Remove the bacon from the pan and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Place the romaine halves in the same pan, cut-side down, and brown in the rendered bacon fat, turning as needed until wilted, about 4 to 6 minutes. Remove the lettuce to the plate with the bacon. Add the wine to the skillet and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits that cling to the pan. Add the broth, thyme, and mustard and bring to a simmer. Return the lettuce to the skillet, and season with salt and pepper. Bring the liquid to a boil over high heat, and then adjust heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Place a circle of parchment paper directly on the lettuce, or set a lid slightly ajar on the skillet. Cook the romaine until tender, about 30 minutes.
• Transfer the romaine to a serving dish and reduce the cooking liquid to a saucy glaze. Remove the thyme sprig and pour the cooking liquid over the lettuce, sprinkle with the bacon, and serve.

BUFFALO SAUTEED ROMAINE

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat until it begins to brown and is fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the romaine in batches and cook, turning with tongs and adding more as it cooks down, until wilted, about 3 minutes. Stir in hot sauce and season with salt and a few grinds of pepper. Garnish with the prepared fried onions.

PANFRIED ROMAINE

Steps:

• Rinse romaine halves, then shake off water and pat dry.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then add 3 romaine halves, cut sides down, and sprinkle with a rounded 1/4 teaspoon sea salt.
• Cook, turning over once with tongs, until browned, about 2 minutes total, then cover and cook until just crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes more. Transfer to a platter.
• Cook remaining romaine halves in oil in 3 batches in same manner, transferring to platter. Cool to room temperature before serving.

ROMAINE LETTUCE AU GRATIN

Steps:

• Place the romaine, one head at a time, on a flat surface. Slice off the end about 3 inches from the bottom and discard. Cut the remaining lettuce crosswise into 2-inch pieces. If necessary, rinse the lettuce thoroughly and drain well.
• Bring to a boil enough water to cover the lettuce. Add lettuce. When the water returns to a boil let simmer 8 minutes. Drain well. Rinse under cold water and drain well.
• Put the lettuce in the container of a food processor or electric blender and process until finely ground. Scrape the mixture into a colander and drain well. Discard the liquid. There should be about 3 1/2 cups of ground lettuce.
• Grate the cheese, using fine blade of grater. Set aside.
• Preheat the broiler to high.
• Heat butter in a saucepan and add onion. Cook, stirring, until wilted. Add ground lettuce, salt and pepper to taste. Add cream. Cook, stirring, until piping hot.
• Spoon mixture into a small baking dish. Sprinkle with the cheese. Place the dish under the broiler until the cheese is melted and the top is golden brown, about 5 minutes.

STIR-FRIED GARLIC LETTUCE

Steps:

• Combine the rice wine or sherry, soy sauce, sugar, and salt in a small bowl.
• Heat a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok over high heat until a bead of water vaporizes within 1 to 2 seconds of contact. Swirl in the vegetable oil, add the garlic, and stir-fry for 5 seconds. Add the lettuce and stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes, or until it is just limp. Stir the sauce, swirl it into the wok, and stir-fry for 30 seconds to 1 minute more, or until the lettuce is just tender and still bright green. Remove from the heat, drizzle on the sesame oil, and serve.