Iceberg lettuce is versatile and can be used in numerous ways beyond a simple side salad, allowing you to incorporate large quantities into various meals. Based on the provided references, here are several ways to utilize a lot of iceberg lettuce:
Versatile Uses for Iceberg Lettuce
Iceberg lettuce's crisp texture makes it suitable for salads, wraps, and even cooked applications. You can use it as a base, an ingredient, a vessel, or a topping.
As a Salad Base
One of the most classic ways to use iceberg lettuce is as the foundation for substantial salads. Its crunch stands up well to creamy dressings and toppings.
- Wedge Salad: A popular approach is the iceberg wedge salad. A large wedge of the lettuce is served with dressings like blue cheese or Roquefort, often accompanied by toppings like bacon, as seen in the reference Iceberg wedge salad with blue cheese dressing and Iceberg salad with Roquefort dressing & bacon.
- Chopped/Torn Salads: Shredded or torn iceberg lettuce forms the bulk of salads with various dressings, such as yogurt dressing or classic green salads with buttermilk dressing (like Iceberg with yogurt dressing and Green salad with buttermilk dressing). Mixing it with other greens also increases the total volume used.
As Lettuce Wraps
Iceberg lettuce leaves are naturally shaped like cups or boats, making them perfect for holding various fillings. This method uses whole leaves rather than chopped pieces.
- Meat Wraps: Use sturdy iceberg leaves as a low-carb alternative to tortillas or buns for fillings like ginger turkey lettuce wraps or ginger beef lettuce wraps. The crisp texture provides a refreshing contrast to the warm, savoury fillings. (See references Ginger turkey lettuce wraps and Ginger beef lettuce wraps).
As a Cooked Ingredient
Surprisingly, iceberg lettuce can be briefly cooked, which wilts it slightly while maintaining some of its freshness.
- Stir-fried: The reference mentions stir-fried lettuce. Adding torn iceberg lettuce to a stir-fry at the very end allows it to soften slightly and absorb flavours from the sauce, offering a different texture compared to raw applications. (Stir-fried lettuce).
As a Topping
Iceberg lettuce is a standard topping for many dishes, adding a layer of cool crunch.
- Burgers: Shredded or leaf lettuce is commonly used on burgers, such as The ultimate beef burger. Piling a generous amount of shredded iceberg on a burger adds significant volume and texture. (The ultimate beef burger).
Summary Table of Uses
Here's a quick look at the ways to use iceberg lettuce based on the provided examples:
| Use Category | How it's Used | Example Recipes |
|---|---|---|
| Salad Base | Wedge, chopped, torn | Wedge salad, Salads with various dressings |
| Wraps | Whole leaves used as a vessel | Ginger turkey/beef lettuce wraps |
| Cooked | Briefly cooked in a pan | Stir-fried lettuce |
| Topping | Shredded or whole leaves on top of other food | Burgers |
By incorporating iceberg lettuce in these varied ways – whether as the main bulk of a salad, the wrapper for a filling, a refreshing addition to a stir-fry, or a crunchy burger topping – you can easily use a significant amount.
