Red leaf lettuce: it’s bold, it’s bright, and—it’s green? That’s correct. Bring on the color in your next salad with Red Leaf Lettuce. A beautiful leaf as far as salad greens go, red leaf lettuce has a delicate texture and a deep purplish-red finish that looks like it was painted onto the edge of its leaves.
Red leaf lettuce’s light crunch and mild bitterness is a good base for bold flavors like punchy citrus, sweet vinaigrettes, or tangy cheeses. It also pops next to softer flavors like tomatoes, cucumbers, and avocado, and its nutty sweetness sure can carry a creamy dressing. So let’s roll out the red carpet for this colorful, healthy green!
What does red leaf lettuce taste like?
The texture of red leaf lettuce is tender yet slightly crispy; its taste is mild, slightly sweet, and nutty, all complemented by a slight bitterness in its maroon edges. But it’s less bitter than the bolder flavors of some red greens like radicchio.
This combination makes red leaf lettuce a flavorful base for fresh salads or a subtle splash of color in wraps, sandwiches, burgers, and even tacos!
Is red leaf lettuce good for you?
It’s not just a pretty face, it’s also healthy!
Ready for a little science? Red leaf lettuce’s red color comes from anthocyanins—red, purple, and blue-hued natural pigments found in plants, fruits, and vegetables. They’re part of a group of compounds called flavonoids, which is a type of antioxidant. So long story short, red leaf lettuce has antioxidants, which help fight inflammation.
But more than that, it can deliver over 40% of your Daily Value (DV) of Vitamin A per serving—and what’s more, almost 150% of your DV of Vitamin K per serving! Red leaf lettuce is also a great source of folate, which is needed for cell growth and metabolism. It’s also high in water content, making it oh, so refreshing. And it’s only 5 calories per serving.
Taylor Farms products with red leaf lettuce
With everything we’ve just told you about this fantastic lettuce, you better believe it’s in some of our go-to products. Find red leaf in our Sweet Butter Blend, the Spring Mix, the 50-50 Blend, or our fresh bag of Leafy Romaine.
Varieties of red leaf lettuce
Red leaf lettuce is considered a “loose-leaf lettuce,” which means its leaves grow in an open, flowery, ruffly form. Varieties include fabulous names like: Lollo Rosso, New Red Fire, Red Sails, Ruby Gem, and Red Deer Tongue, and they all offer unique differences in leaf shape, color intensity, and flavor.
When shopping, choose red leaf lettuce with fresh, crisp leaves that are vibrant in color.
How to store bulk red leaf lettuce
To keep bulk red leaf lettuce fresh, remove any wilted or damaged outer leaves, wrap the lettuce loosely in a paper towel to absorb moisture, and store it in an open plastic bag or a reusable produce container in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator, where it will stay fresh for about 5 and then some days. For best results, wash and dry it only just before use.
Recipe Ready: Try Red Lettuce and Pink Salmon
When you really want to go bold and paint the town red, try pairing red lettuces with rich and silky smoked salmon lox.
The soft, buttery lox against the airy crunch of a red leaf is a nice textural balance. And the lettuce’s mild profile contrasts lox’s salty smokiness.
Try a Smoked Salmon Citrus Salad: toss red leaf lettuce with grapefruit or orange slices and thinly sliced fennel. Portion the greens on top of a layer of thinly sliced lox, and dress to impress with a lemon-dill vinaigrette for zingy freshness.
More Taylor Farms Recipes
Can’t get enough of this red-hot green? Try an Apple Cranberry Walnut salad made with our Sweet Butter Leaf blend, which includes red leaf lettuce.
Our Spring Mix includes red leaf lettuce too, and is a delicious base for a Grilled Chicken Salad with crunch cucumbers, sweet mandarin oranges, and balancing blueberries.