Salade de Laitue
The wordlaituecomes from the Latin word for milk, from the milky juices some lettuces can exude. Hearty, buttery Bibb leaves are a good example of the rich, juicy quality lettuce can have. They're so big and rich, in fact, that this salad almost qualifies as a meal in itself.
This salad is all about freshness. Use plenty of freshly picked fines herbes: parsley, chives, tarragon, and chervil; harder herbs, such as savory, rosemary, and marjoram, would be too strong. Finish it with a squeeze of lemon juice.
Buy nice rounded, mature heads of Bibb lettuce, with good weight; these will have the greatest amount of tender yellow interior leaves. If the leaves have become at all soft and leathery, a rinse in cold water will refresh them.
Ingredients
Makes 4 servings
Step 1
Carefully cut out the core from each head of lettuce and separate the leaves, but keep each head of lettuce together; discard any tough outer leaves. Because each head of lettuce will be reassembled, the easiest way to work is with one head at a time. First, place the leaves in a bowl of cold water to refresh them and remove any dirt, then lift out and spin-dry in a salad spinner.
Step 2
Place the leaves from a single head of lettuce in a bowl. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt, a few grinds of pepper, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the shallots and chives, and 1 tablespoon each of the parsley, tarragon, and chervil. Then toss gently with 2 tablespoons of the vinaigrette and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Repeat with the remaining heads.
Step 3
For each serving, arrange the outer lettuce leaves as a base on the plate and rebuild each head of lettuce, ending with the smallest, most tender leaves.
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Reviews (11)
Back to TopSimple, light & easy......everyone loved this salad....just be sure not to overdress it! Definately will be one of my "go to" salads from now on!
Squawmom
San Diego
12/26/2013
This was a wonderful salad perfect if your are serving a heavy entree and a good go to salad that is flavorful and elegant.
jilljurchuk
Folsom California
6/28/2012
Excellent. I was a little skeptical thinking it wasn't enough after reconstructing. Drizzled the dressing over, didn't toss. It was a light salad to a heavy entree and turned out perfect. 3 grocery stores didn't have bibb lettuce. I used butter lettuce. Perhaps they are the same?
Anonymous
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
11/6/2011
Delicious salad. I used baby bibb lettuces because that was what was available, and it was great. Also makes a fantastic salad if you toss it with any good young greens from the farmer's market.
Anonymous
san francisco, ca
10/15/2011
I am learning that sometimes less actually is more. This was so simple and lovely with the house vinaigrette.
Anonymous
Colorado
7/31/2011
the bill lettuce and associated salad dressing are good. the reconstruction of the bill lettuce head is just way too much work especially if you are cooking for more than two people. I could see doing the reconstructed lettuce head for a special romantic meal for two but for a family or a gathering, forget it! Just tear the lettuce into bite size pieces and toss!
Anonymous
michigan
1/1/2011
I make this constantly. Lots of chefs copy this recipe as well as the beautiful presentation, and once you make it, you'll know why. It is perfect. You can replace the parsley with more chervil, but not vice versa.
Anonymous
Los Angeles, CA
4/11/2010
It doesn't get more elegant than this, a perfect salad if you have a heavier entree to serve.
Anonymous
Grand Rapids, MI
2/23/2008
Simple and superb with the house vinaigrette from this site.
Anonymous
Sonoma County, CA
4/24/2006
I make this twice a week at least. It is simple and wonderful.
Anonymous
New York, NY
7/15/2005
This is the classic recipe I was looking for. I used little gems lettuce instead of bibb because they looked better at the Farmers' Market. I also tried the dressing (with the herbs, shallots, and lemon) on roasted beets and blanched green beans, and it was delicious.
Anonymous
San Francisco, CA
6/13/2005
