Braised Lettuce for One

Lest you think that braising and stewing is only for meat, I’m reposting this recipe from last spring–it’s a great way to use up extra lettuce that you might get in your CSA share.

Braised Lettuce for One

Adapted from The Locavore’s Handbook.

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp oil, butter, or bacon fat
• 1 bunch green onions
• half a head of lettuce, rinsed and chopped (My head was rather small so I used the whole thing. I also had some radish tops that I threw in there)
• 1 dash salt

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook until softened.
2. Add lettuce, sprinkle with salt, add enough water to come up half the sides of the pan. Bring to a boil over high heat, cover pan, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
3. Remove lettuce from the liquid with a slotted spoon. Turn heat to high and boil the liquid, uncovered, until it is reduced to a syrupy sauce. (Mine never did make a “syrupy sauce,” so I just drizzled some of the boiled liquid over top of the lettuce).
4. Turn off the heat, return lettuce to pan and toss, adding more salt if desired. Serve warm.

The Verdict: It was actually quite good. I boiled and boiled the leftover water and it never did create a “syrupy sauce,” so I just drizzled some of the boiled leftover water over top of it and called it a day. It was kind of neat, it drew out the lettuce flavor. A nice side dish. Bacon would have been a nice addition.