Baby Red Romaine Lettuce
Estimated Inventory, 2 lb : 11.00
This item was last sold on : 12/20/24
Description/Taste
Baby Red Romaine lettuce is small to medium in size with an elongated shape and stiff, upright leaves. The tightly packed, evenly shaped heads are connected to a central blanched base, and the spoon-shaped leaves are dark green with shades of bronze, red, and purple. The interior leaves have a lighter hue and are typically pale yellow to green with a thin rib in the center. The outer leaves are broad and smooth with many folds and creases and the firm rib is crunchy, juicy, and succulent. Baby Red Romaine lettuce is crisp and tender with a very mild, neutral taste.
Seasons/Availability
Baby Red Romaine lettuce is available year-round, with peak seasons in the spring and fall.
Current Facts
Baby Red Romaine lettuce, botanically classified as Lactuca sativa, is a small, loose-leaf, younger version of the popular mature lettuce belonging to the Asteraceae family. Baby Red Romaine lettuce is the general name given to a wide variety of lettuces including rouge d'hiver, cimmaron, valentine, and flashy troutback and is cultivated in fields packed with heads growing closely together and are harvested in less than two months after planting. Since the heads are harvested before they reach maturity, they are more compact, tender, and crunchy, but still offer many of the nutritional properties of the mature lettuce. Baby Red Romaine lettuce is valued for its bite-sized nature and is commonly used fresh in baby salad mixes with other greens such as spinach, swiss chard, Japanese mustard, and arugula to create dynamic mixes with sweet or bitter flavors.
Nutritional Value
Baby Red Romaine lettuce contains vitamins A, C, and K, potassium, iron, fiber, beta-carotene, manganese, and folate.
Applications
Baby Red Romaine lettuce is best suited for both raw and cooked applications such as braising and lightly boiling. The leaves can be used fresh and torn for salads, especially Caesar salads, or they can be used as a dipping vessel for sauces, dips, and fillings. They can also be layered on sandwiches, burgers, and in wraps for added crunch or used as mini shells for tacos. In addition to fresh preparations, Baby Red Romaine lettuce can withstand high heat which makes it suitable for grilling, braising with cooked vegetables and meat, adding to soups, and chopping and mixing into stir-fries. Baby Romaine lettuce pairs well with avocados, bell peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, tarragon, parsley, mint, chile peppers, garlic, onions, shallots, olives, feta cheese, parmesan cheese, black beans, bulgur, quinoa, brown rice, poultry, steak, fish, shrimp, tofu, eggs, lemon, sour cream, peanuts, balsamic vinegar, and red wine vinegar. The leaves will keep up to one week when wrapped in paper towels to absorb excess moisture and stored in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. It is also recommended to keep the leaves away from ethylene-producing fruits as the gas can prematurely wilt the lettuce.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
The Red Romaine variety known as outredgeous was one of the first lettuce varieties to be successfully grown in space. Scientists have been researching and studying a way to provide astronauts with a sustainable source of nutrients on the space station. The contained garden uses red, green, and blue LED lights to grow the lettuce in approximately thirty-three days and Red Romaine was chosen for its high anthocyanin content which can help protect the astronauts from radiation and environmental stress.
Geography/History
Romaine lettuce is native to the Mediterranean and the Middle East, growing since ancient times, and its two most recognizable names are derived from the papal gardens in Rome and the Aegean Islands of Cos. Originally considered a weed in the Mediterranean, Romaine lettuce is documented as being one of the oldest known cultivated varieties, having been grown for at least 5,000 years. Today Baby Red Romaine is widely found at supermarkets, farmers markets, and specialty grocers in Asia, Europe, Australia, Africa, North America, and South America.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Prager Brothers Artisan Bread | Carlsbad CA | 760-445-9536 |
| Rustic Root | San Diego CA | 619-232-1747 |
| Nobu | San Diego CA | 619-814-4124 |
| Ju-Ichi | San Diego CA | 619-800-2203 |
| Adobo House | San Diego CA | 619-990-8340 |
| Estancia Adobe | San Diego CA | 858-550-1000 |
| Bar Same Same (Kitchen) | Carlsbad CA | 760-470-9143 |
| The Privateer Coal Fire Pizza | Oceanside CA | 760-310-1535 |
| Carte Hotel | San Diego CA | 619-365-1858 |
| Rancho Bernardo Inn (Avant) | San Diego CA | 858-675-8505 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Baby Red Romaine Lettuce. One
is easiest, three is harder.| Food Network |
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Caesar Salad With Red Romaine |
| Bonapetit |
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Baby Romaine and Hot Smoked Salmon Salad |
| Bitchin Camero |
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Steak & Tofu Lettuce Wraps with Bulgur Salad |
