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Red Boston lettuce is a medium to large varietal and round in shape with loose, wavy, cupped leaves and an open center, similar in appearance to a rose. The broad, soft, outer leaves are thick and frilled at the edges with swirls of red, purple, and burgundy, and these leaves encompass more tightly bound, yellow-green leaves in the center of the head. Together they form a rosette pattern of leaves that are wide and have a smooth, silky consistency with a uniform crunch. Red Boston lettuce is tender and crisp with a nutty, mild, and sweet flavor.
Seasons/Availability
Red Boston lettuce is available year-round.
Current Facts
Red Boston lettuce, botanically classified as Lactuca sativa, is an annual variety belonging to the Asteraceae family. The lettuce is also known more generally as Red Butter lettuce and is one of dozens of butterhead lettuce varieties. Besides its general moniker, Red Boston lettuce is sometimes known as a Limestone lettuce, a type of lettuce successfully cultivated in limestone-rich soils. Red Boston lettuce is recognized by its compact rosette-shaped head and large, easily separated, buttery leaves. The variety is also favored by commercial growers and home gardeners for its tolerance to heat, adaptability to different soils, smooth, crisp texture, and mild, vegetal flavor for use in wraps, soups, and salads.
Nutritional Value
Red Boston lettuce contains calcium, iron, vitamins A and C, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. It also contains anthocyanins, which are antioxidants responsible for the lettuce's red pigments.
Applications
Red Boston lettuce is best suited for both raw and cooked applications such as braising or boiling. Predominately used as the principle ingredient in salad, its textures and subtle flavors are perfect for savory and bold, or bright, fruity companion ingredients. Red Boston lettuce is commonly layered in sandwiches or used as a wrap for tuna or chicken. In addition to fresh preparations, Red Boston lettuce can be cooked and transformed into an earthy and sultry ingredient when slowly braised or added to simmering soup, achieving a level of caramelization when paired with the right ingredients such as butter, rich meats, and chicken stock. It can also be used in stir-fries or mixed into cooked peas. Red Boston lettuce pairs well with bright herbs including dill, basil, and mint, lemon juice, mustard, vinaigrettes, citrus-based dressings, blue cheese, feta cheese, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, bacon, anchovies, shallots, leeks, nuts such as pistachios, walnuts, hazelnuts, and Marcona almonds, apples, pears, seedless grapes, persimmons, and sliced grapefruit. It will keep 3-4 days in a loosely closed container when stored in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Bibb lettuce has increased in popularity in the commercial marketplace since the early 1900s, and in the 1980s it became a favored lettuce to be hydroponically grown. The benefits of hydroponically grown lettuce are cleanliness and shelf life. When the roots are attached and kept in water, bibb lettuce can last for over a month and will stay crisp and fresh. In the market today, bibb lettuce is often labeled when it is hydroponically grown and is sought after for its ability to be used a little at a time without the worry of the leaves wilting.
Geography/History
Red Boston lettuce is named for its original cultivator, John Bibb. In 1865 he grew his special bibb lettuce in Kentucky's alkaline soil and this variety, also called limestone, would become the very first American gourmet lettuce. Red Boston lettuce may be a descendant of the first ever cultivated red butterleaf lettuce known as mervielle des quatre saisons, a French heirloom introduced before 1885. Today Red Boston lettuce is widely found at supermarkets, specialty grocers, and farmers markets in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and select regions in South America.
Red butter leaf lettuce are available at Hillcrest Farmers Market D'Acquisto farms …..Red Boston lettuce is a visually striking variety with leaves blending shades of red, purple, burgundy, and yellow-green into a rose-like rosette. The outer leaves are broad, frilled, and silky, wrapping around a tender core. Its flavor is delicate yet satisfying, offering a mild sweetness with nutty undertones, making it an excellent choice for salads and fresh dishes.
South Anchorage Farmer's Market
1111 O'Malley Center Dr Anchorage AK 99515
(907) 354-5833
Red Boston lettuce: This versatile lettuce shines in both raw and cooked dishes. Its mild texture and delicate flavor make it a great base for salads, pairing beautifully with ingredients like citrus dressings and blue cheese. When cooked, it becomes rich and caramelized, especially when braised with butter and chicken stock. It stores best in the fridge’s crisper for 3-4 days in a loosely closed container.
From Sage Hill Ranch Gardens…Red Boston lettuce is an annual variety belonging to the Asteraceae family, often called Red Butter lettuce or Limestone lettuce. The compact rosette-shaped head has buttery, easily separated leaves, making it perfect for wraps, soups, and salads. Its heat tolerance and adaptability attract commercial growers and gardeners, while its mild flavor complements various recipes.
From Maciel Farm…Red Boston lettuce is believed to be a descendant of the mervielle des quatre saisons, a French heirloom red butterleaf variety introduced before 1885. It was first cultivated in North America by John Bibb in Kentucky’s alkaline soil in 1865, earning the name bibb lettuce. This gourmet lettuce is now widely available in markets across multiple continents, including North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
From Al Cantar Farms…Bibb lettuce has gained popularity for its hydroponic growth since the 1980s. This method ensures cleanliness, extended shelf life, and freshness. With roots attached and kept in water, the lettuce can last over a month without wilting, allowing for use in portions as needed. It's often labeled as hydroponically grown in markets, making it a sought-after choice for its convenience and crisp quality.
Markthalle Neun
Eisenbahnstraße 42/43, 10997 Berlin, Germany
Red Boston lettuce forms a rosette of loose, wavy leaves with a smooth, silky texture and a uniform crunch. Its outer leaves are frilled, showcasing vibrant hues of red, purple, and burgundy, while the inner leaves are tightly bound and yellow-green. The lettuce is appreciated for its tender and crisp nature, offering a nutty, mild sweetness that makes it a popular choice for fresh and flavorful dishes.
JR Organics
Escondido, CA
Red Boston lettuce is versatile, suitable for raw dishes like salads or sandwiches, and cooked applications including braising, soups, stir-fries, and paired with peas. It complements bold flavors like blue cheese and citrus dressings, and can achieve caramelization when cooked with butter, meats, or chicken stock. Store it in the fridge’s crisper for up to 3-4 days in a loosely covered container.
Solutions Farms
Vista, CA
Red Boston lettuce is a butterhead variety known for its compact rosette-shaped head and large, buttery leaves. It thrives in various soils, including those rich in limestone, and is tolerant to heat, making it popular among commercial growers and gardeners. Its mild flavor and crisp texture complement wraps, soups, and salads. Nutritionally, it offers vitamins A and C, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and antioxidant-rich anthocyanins.
Paradise Found Vermiponic Urban Farm
Bonita, CA
Red Boston Lettuce: Red Boston lettuce may trace its origins to the French heirloom variety, mervielle des quatre saisons, introduced prior to 1885. Its more recent history is tied to John Bibb, who cultivated its ancestor, Bibb lettuce, in Kentucky's alkaline soil in 1865. This variety became America's first gourmet lettuce. Nowadays, Red Boston lettuce is accessible globally in supermarkets, specialty grocers, and farmers markets across continents.
Solutions Farms
Vista, CA
Bibb lettuce has been a popular choice in the marketplace since the early 1900s, gaining additional traction in the 1980s as a favored lettuce for hydroponic cultivation. One key advantage of hydroponically grown bibb lettuce is its long shelf life. With roots attached and kept in water, the lettuce can stay crisp and fresh for over a month, making it a preferred choice for consumers who value freshness and the ability to use it incrementally without worrying about wilting leaves.
