Braised Lettuce Recipes

BRAISED ROMAINE LETTUCE WITH MUSTARD AND BACON

Steps:

• Brown the bacon in the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Remove the bacon from the pan and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Place the romaine halves in the same pan, cut-side down, and brown in the rendered bacon fat, turning as needed until wilted, about 4 to 6 minutes. Remove the lettuce to the plate with the bacon. Add the wine to the skillet and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits that cling to the pan. Add the broth, thyme, and mustard and bring to a simmer. Return the lettuce to the skillet, and season with salt and pepper. Bring the liquid to a boil over high heat, and then adjust heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Place a circle of parchment paper directly on the lettuce, or set a lid slightly ajar on the skillet. Cook the romaine until tender, about 30 minutes.
• Transfer the romaine to a serving dish and reduce the cooking liquid to a saucy glaze. Remove the thyme sprig and pour the cooking liquid over the lettuce, sprinkle with the bacon, and serve.

BRAISED LETTUCE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan of boiling salted water, blanch lettuce for 3 minutes and refresh. Drain gently, squeeze dry. Slice each head in half lengthwise. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Fold in half crosswise and shape with your hands to make fat triangles.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and set rack in lower third of oven.
• In a casserole, cook the scallion and carrot in the butter until tender but not browned. Arrange the lettuce in the casserole, and spoon the vegetables over the lettuce.
• Pour in enough liquid barely to cover the lettuce. Add the thyme and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer on top of the stove. Place the buttered paper over the lettuce to cover the casserole.
• Place casserole in center of preheated oven. Regulate heat so lettuce simmers slowly for 1 hour. Remove the lettuce to a serving dish and keep it warm. Quickly boil down the braising liquid until it has reduced to a syrup (about 1/2 cup).
• Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

BRAISED LETTUCE AND PEAS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium frying pan over medium-high heat. When it shimmers, add shallots, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle flour over the top and cook until raw taste is gone, about 30 seconds. Add stock and bring to a boil. Stir in lettuce and peas, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until lettuce and peas are tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in yogurt or sour cream, if using. Taste, adjust seasoning as desired, and serve.

BRAISED LEEKS, PEAS, AND LETTUCE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large wide saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook leeks, partially covered and stirring occasionally, until tender but not browned, 5-7 minutes. Season with 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper, then pour in wine. Increase heat to medium-high and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until wine is reduced by half, 1-2 minutes. Add lettuce, peas, and 1 cup water. Partially cover pan and bring liquid to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low to maintain a gentle simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until lettuce and peas are tender, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat, then stir in chives, mint, and lemon zest; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a platter. Top with pistachios.

BRAISED LETTUCE

Steps:

• Trim about 1/2 inch of stem and many outer leaves from lettuce heads, leaving tight, fairly firm centers about the size of large lemons. Reserve about 15 unbruised outer leaves. Rinse lettuce heads and leaves, and shake lightly to remove excess water.
• Grease bottom and sides of a heavy 3-quart casserole with 1 tablespoon butter. Line casserole bottom and sides with outer leaves. Place trimmed heads standing up snugly in casserole. Dot with remaining butter, season with salt and pepper, cover and place over very low heat until lettuce is tender when poked in center with a small knife, about 1 hour. Swirl casserole from time to time to keep butter emulsified.
• Remove lettuce to a serving dish. Discard loose leaves. Swirl sauce in pan, whisk in lemon juice, check seasoning and spoon sauce over lettuce. Serve.

BRAISED LETTUCE ON ANCHOVY TOAST

Steps:

• Remove the outer leaves from the romaine, saving them for soup. Trim the stem, leaving it intact and leaves connected. Cut the head into 6 thin wedges, each wedge connected at the core/stem.
• Make anchovy butter by pounding the anchovies to a paste with the garlic paste, then mashing in 4 tablespoons butter. Combine well.
• Toast the bread.
• Warm a pan large enough to fit all of the lettuce wedges. Add remaining butter. Once it has melted, add the stock, and fit the romaine wedges closely into the pan in a single layer. Salt lightly. Cook over medium heat for about 2 minutes, and turn all the wedges to another side. Salt again, and scatter with lemon zest. Continue to cook, turning once or twice more, until the liquid in the pan is absorbed and the lettuce is very wilted on the leaf end and tender on the stem end. Turn off heat.
• In the pan or on a cutting board, cut each wedge once or twice horizontally.
• Spread each piece of toast thickly with anchovy butter, then top with the sections of a wedge of lettuce. Sprinkle each lightly with salt again, if desired. Serve hot.