Common Types of Lettuce

The essential salad ingredient, lettuce is packed with chlorophyll, which gives it a fresh green, grassy taste. The most perishable of vegetables, it is at its best when raw.

Romaine

This crisp, slightly bitter lettuce is an old standby—and the go-to leaf for Caesar salads. Its elongated, narrow leaves have a prominent rib that gives a good crunch. Of all lettuces, romaine has the highest levels of vitamin C; it is also a good source of fiber, potassium, and folate. Look for dark green outer leaves that lighten toward the center.