Romaine lettuce
Lactuca sativa var. longifolia
Crisp, mildly sweet, slightly bitter in outer leaves; very mild overall.
About Romaine
Romaine lettuce (also called cos lettuce) is the crisp, elongated head lettuce with distinct ribbed leaves and pale crunchy hearts. It's the defining lettuce of Caesar salad (its sturdy structure holds creamy dressing without wilting) and the workhorse of Greek and Lebanese salads. Romaine's nutritional density is higher than iceberg — significant vitamin K, folate, vitamin A — making it the supermarket-default 'health-conscious' lettuce. The pale heart is sweet and crisp; the darker outer leaves are slightly more bitter and chewier. Pre-cut romaine bagged for convenience has E. coli outbreak history (2018-2020) — whole heads are more reliable.
Variety profile
Common uses
- Caesar salad
- Greek salad
- Lebanese fattoush
- Lettuce wraps
- Grilled romaine
Editorial notes
Romaine hearts (just the pale centers) sold in 3-packs are excellent value — they're the most-used part anyway. Outer leaves work for green smoothies if removed before salad.