Grace Young's Stir-Fried Iceberg Lettuce Recipe on Food52 (2024)

One-Pot Wonders

by: Genius Recipes

April8,2014

4.5

4 Ratings

  • Serves 4

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

A near-instant springy green vegetable before the springy greens. (And, yes, you can cook lettuce -- here's why you should.) Note: You can use this technique on many other vegetables in season, including romaine lettuce, spinach, watercress, baby bok choy, asparagus (fat spears sliced 1/4-inch thick on the bias; pencil spears in 2-inch lengths), snow peas and snap peas. Adapted slightly from The Wisdom of the Chinese Kitchen (Simon & Schuster, 1999) and Saveur MagazineGenius Recipes

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 1 teaspoonsoy sauce
  • 1 teaspoonsesame oil
  • 1 teaspoonrice wine or dry sherry
  • 3/4 teaspoonsugar
  • 1/2 teaspoonfreshly ground white or black pepper
  • 1 1/2 tablespoonspeanut oil or other neutral oil
  • 4 scallions, cut on the diagonal into 1-inch pieces
  • 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced or smashed
  • 1/2 medium head iceberg lettuce, cored, outermost leaves discarded, inner leaves torn into 4-inch wide pieces (or substitute 12 ounces of other greens -- see headnote)
  • Kosher salt, to taste
Directions
  1. In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine or sherry, sugar, and pepper; set sauce aside.
  2. Heat a wok or 12-inch skillet over high heat. Add peanut oil, half of the scallions (including all of the white and light green pieces), and garlic and cook until garlic is golden, about 5 seconds. Add lettuce and stir-fry until lettuce softens slightly, about 1 minute. Drizzle in sauce and cook until lettuce is just coated with the sauce, about 1 minute. Season with salt, divide between 4 bowls while lettuce is just tender and still bright green, and garnish with remaining scallions.

Tags:

  • American
  • Lettuce
  • Sesame Oil
  • Sherry
  • Soy Sauce
  • Vegetable
  • Green Onion/Scallion
  • One-Pot Wonders
  • Stir-Fry
  • Fall
  • Summer
  • Winter

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Sugartoast

  • drbabs

  • Winniecooks

  • AntoniaJames

  • student epicure

Recipe by: Genius Recipes

Popular on Food52

11 Reviews

jeacooking February 13, 2023

I read several other recipes for stir fried iceberg lettuce before selecting this one because of the simple dressing. However, I was surprised it did not have fresh ginger in it which I noticed is in other recipes. So, I added a tablespoon of grated fresh ginger a minute before adding the lettuce and I doubled the dressing. It was a super nice side dish for some Asian-inspired chicken thighs. I will make it again, with the ginger, and a big pinch of red pepper flakes.

Hadley April 1, 2019

I made this yesterday-so easy and delicious. Had mine with a fried egg on top and rice.

FS September 19, 2018

I remember this dish from long, long ago. Thanks for featuring this recipe, it's a great one.

Sugartoast April 1, 2016

My mother made this all the time when I was little - it was homestyle cooking at its best. Thanks for reminding me of this dish!

drbabs December 21, 2014

I also added bok choy to the lettuce. What a fabulous recipe--I served it with foxeslovelemons' Spicy Orange-Ginger Chicken.

Winniecooks April 10, 2014

Gotta try this tonight. And, of course, there is nothing better than grilled romaine! Lettuce really can be a marvel!

AntoniaJames April 10, 2014

Made this last night. What a revelation! I had to hunt a bit for iceberg lettuce, as it doesn't seem to be in demand at the places I typically shop for produce. I added a dozen teeny tiny bok choy, sliced lengthwise. Served with the Genius fish (recipe posted last week), over my not-recipe quinoa, plus some roast carrots -- put in the oven to roast when I turned it on to heat it for the fish. Active time, all told, for the entire dinner: about 15 minutes, if that much. A keeper! ;o)

koc April 9, 2014

I just made this as written tonight for dinner and it was delicious! Excellent flavor!

barbara April 9, 2014

Love it! I omitted the sesame and peanut oils and replaced with just a tablespoon of grape seed oil. I know sesame would add great flavor, but I am cutting calories. Still awesome.

Barb168 April 9, 2014

Yummy! I was introduced to stir-fried lettuce when I lived with Chinese housemates, and it is delicious. Sometimes they also added fried eggs and chopped tomatoes to the lettuce (don't know the name of that dish, though).

student E. April 9, 2014

yum! i love stir-fried lettuce! i also make a version with fermented tofu and shaoxing wine.

Grace Young's Stir-Fried Iceberg Lettuce Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

How long does iceberg lettuce last in the fridge? ›

While it will vary from one head of lettuce to another, when properly stored, leafy greens should stay fresh and crisp for 7 to 10 days. A whole head of lettuce will typically last longer than individual greens, especially tightly bound heads of lettuce, such as iceberg and endive.

How to crisp a head of iceberg lettuce? ›

Place the lettuce in a container and cover it with water, then store it in the fridge. This will help the lettuce hold a little longer. Just before you want to use it again, throw a little ice in the water and mix it around. You should have nice crisp lettuce.

How long to soak lettuce in water? ›

Soak the leaves for about 10 minutes, giving them a good swirl every few minutes. The dirt and grit will sink to the bottom of the basin. Remove the leaves and place directly into a salad spinner. Drain and clean the sink basin.

How do you know if lettuce has gone bad? ›

Look for brown or black leaves that indicate rotting.

When the dark spots appear on multiple leaves in place of these colors, your lettuce is on its way out. Discolored lettuce often feels slimy and smells bad as well. Small brown spots usually aren't harmful if you eat them.

How do restaurants make their lettuce so crisp? ›

Lettuce actually needs a good amount of airflow, in addition to a bit of moisture (but not too much!), in order to stay crisp. That's why restaurants store their lettuce in special perforated bins that allow for air circulation while it's held in the fridge.

Should you remove the core from iceberg lettuce? ›

If you want to chop up a lot of iceberg without any fuss, the most efficient way is to remove the core, then hack away. You could take the core out with a paring knife and a bit of patience.

What is the lettuce water trick? ›

A new trend has emerged on TikTok that claims drinking a cup of lettuce water before bed can help you get to sleep faster. A compound called Lactucarium found in lettuce is believed to have sedative effects. However, experts say concentrations of lactucarium in lettuce water are too low to have any real effect.

What does the saying "wet lettuce" mean? ›

From the Urban Dictionary: wet lettuce. Phrase commonly used in the North of England to describe a person who acts like a fanny or in a manner betraying his male gender.

Do I need to wash the inside of iceberg lettuce? ›

Field-grown leafy greens, including romaine and iceberg lettuce, should be thoroughly washed before consuming. If we want to keep things safe and healthy, that is.

Is it OK to eat week old lettuce? ›

Our lettuce, when properly refrigerated and kept in its original packaging, can stay fresh for two weeks or more. If the lettuce in your fridge has passed the "enjoy by" date, but still looks good, smells good, and feels crispy (not slimy), you should be safe to enjoy it.

Is lettuce good after 2 weeks? ›

For head lettuces, keep the head intact, but cut off the stem. Wrap it in a dish towel (or paper towel) to absorb any excess moisture during storage, and place in the crisper drawer of the fridge. This way, it should last from one to three weeks.

How long does bagged iceberg lettuce last? ›

While whole heads of lettuce can last as long as two weeks if properly stored, bagged lettuce that has already been cut or torn is likely to deteriorate more quickly—usually in about three to five days.

How can you tell if iceberg lettuce is fresh? ›

When purchasing fresh iceberg lettuce, look for heads that are firm and heavy for their size. The outer leaves should be a vibrant green and free from any discoloration, spots, or blemishes. Avoid heads that have loose or wilted leaves, as this may indicate that the lettuce is past its prime.

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