Is Gongcai the same as lettuce? Is romaine lettuce a type of lettuce leaf? These two issues often end up in a heated argument at hot pot parties. Today, let’s introduce another little-known vegetable: lettuce. These are actually one species in taxonomy – lettuce (Lactuca sativa). You think you ate four kinds of vegetables, but in fact you only ate one.
Lettuce belongs to the genus Lactuca of the family Asteraceae. Since lettuce was domesticated by the ancient Egyptians over 6,000 years ago, with the spread of human civilization to all parts of the world, many varieties have emerged. Lettuce, Chinese cabbage, bok choy and romaine lettuce are varieties derived from lettuce.
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The bright little yellow flowers of lettuce, like those of bitter gourd
Stem lettuce – celtuce, gongcai
Lettuce originated along the Mediterranean coast, and the early cultivated variety was the stem lettuce known as “celtuce”. After nearly a thousand years of cultivation, it has long been the most familiar and delicious vegetable on people’s dining tables.
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“Lettuce”
Fresh lettuce, peeled and washed, cut into one-inch strips, blanched in boiling water, then cooled in ice water. Add seasonings and mix well, then serve in a white plate. There is the beauty of Mr. Du Fu’s saying, “Standing on a white jade plate, it looks like a rosy cloud.”
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Shredded lettuce salad
Later, people cultivated a thinner, longer and crisper variety of lettuce. This kind of lettuce is cut into strips and dried, and then it becomes a very popular “gong CAI” when people have hot pot. However, Chao-Shan Gongcai is not made from lettuce. For more details, please click here.
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Gong CAI
In summary, lettuce is a species, among which the varieties that eat stems are collectively called “lettuce shoots”, and the varieties used to make tribute dishes are part of the lettuce shoots.
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The lettuce used to make gongcai
Leaf lettuce – lettuce, romaine lettuce
Lettuce
It was not until modern times that the fellow product of lettuce – lettuce – quietly crossed the ocean and entered our lives. Lettuce, originally known as leaf lettuce, is so named because it is very suitable for eating raw.
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Roman lettuce is the most suitable for salads
Lettuce is an authentic foreign vegetable. Although its sibling, the Chinese cabbage, has long occupied our dining tables, lettuce arrived in China rather late. It’s not because it’s hard to grow, but because it doesn’t quite suit our eating habits.
Some people have the habit that anything put in their mouths must be cooked first. Lettuce can also be cooked and eaten, but the flavor will be quite different. It was not until the changes in the dietary environment in recent years that raw lettuce made its way onto our dining tables.
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At Guokr Canteen, there is often a bowl of raw lettuce served with a bowl of salad dressing
There is always a risk in eating raw lettuce, but it is rarely heard that eating raw lettuce can cause illness. Why is lettuce so suitable for eating raw?
When we break open the fresh lettuce leaves, we will find that there is milky white juice flowing out. This is the answer. The liquid that flows out contains lactucarium, which can kill bacteria. Therefore, the chance of getting sick from eating raw lettuce is lower. However, even with the protection of antibacterial lotion, we still cannot be careless. Our health is still important. Therefore, it is best not to eat raw lettuce that is not fresh. Before eating it raw, make sure to wash it thoroughly.
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Lettuce
There are many varieties of lettuce, such as head head lettuce, large-leaf Boston lettuce, long-leaf Roman lettuce, and purple lettuce, etc.
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Head lettuce like cabbage
Romaine lettuce
The common romaine lettuce on our dining table is actually also lettuce, and it is also called “Niu Li lettuce”. It is mentioned alone because many people do not consider it a type of lettuce. Romaine lettuce, like lettuce, is a good brother under the lettuce family.
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Stir-fried romaine lettuce
Romaine lettuce can also be eaten raw, but its bitterness is stronger than that of lettuce. Because it is closer to lettuce, the content of lactucarium in its leaves will be higher.
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The leaves of romaine lettuce are also very similar to those of Chinese lettuce
Be careful of this kind of lettuce. It’s poisonous
Whether it’s romaine lettuce, lettuce or Chinese cabbage, they have become the pride of dining tables all over the world. And their wild close relative, which shares the same ancestor, is still growing in the wilderness and is on the list of poisonous plants. It is the romaine lettuce.
Lactuca serriola, also known as poisonous lettuce, lives in Europe and Central Asia. This thorny creature is rich in toxic, milky white SAP. In ancient Greece and Rome, it was discovered that the milk of romaine lettuce had a hypnotic effect, and consuming an appropriate amount of milk extract could cause hallucinations. In ancient Egypt, this poisonous plant was even offered as a sacrifice, symbolizing sexual desire and fertility.
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Wild counterparts of lettuce: Romaine lettuce
Just by looking at its appearance, it is hard to tell what the ancestors of the spiny lettuce have to do with those of the lettuce and the Chinese cabbage. It looks more like a dandelion, but when it is about to bloom, it will rise up from the ground like a lettuce, growing very tall and blooming bright yellow flowers on its head.
Romaine lettuce is highly adaptable and has spread all over the world along with human footsteps. Because it is toxic and can easily mix with the lettuce seeds we consume, it is also one of the dangerous species that customs quarantine focuses on guarding against.
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The flowers and leaves of romaine lettuce
Hold fast to the numerous varieties under the lettuce brand, and you can enjoy all kinds of flavors, cooking methods and delicious treats!