Red lettuce also known as red leaf lettuce is a functional vegetable of botanic name Lactuca sativa and a member of the Asteraceae family. The name red lettuce represents a collection of a variety of red to dark red loose leaf lettuces with frill looking broad curly leaves. Red lettuce is easy to grow and is used in salad mixes and mostly consumed raw.
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Why is Red Lettuce red?
Red lettuce is red in color on account anthocyanins, a colored water-soluble pigment that exists in a wide variety of deep colored produce. According to the journal Food and Nutrition Research, anthocyanins produce the colors red, purple, and blue in fruits and vegetables in varying intensity. Examples of everyday fruits and vegetables with this compound are purple carrots, red tomatoes, purple tomatoes, purple potatoes and berries.
The intensity of the color produced by anthocyanins in the vegetables is subject to certain variable factors such as pH and temperature. Furthermore, the molecular structure of the anthocyanin compound itself also plays a role in the vigor of the color.
This means in acidic conditions, anthocyanins look red and turn blue as pH increases (becomes alkaline). Some red leaf lettuce varieties have red pigmentation that is not even nor of similar intensity across the entire leaf. The earlier mentioned factors play a role in this outcome.
The take home on why red lettuce is read is that the naturally occurring anthocyanin pigment is the reason behind red in red leaf lettuces.
Red Vs Green Lettuce
Red Lettuce 
Green Lettuce
The first and obvious difference between red lettuce and green lettuce are the colors. There is an important underlying biological interpretation of this contrast.
Green lettuce has chlorophyll, a green pigmentation which is also an antioxidant. Chlorophyll gives the green lettuce its green color. On the other hand, red lettuce contains anthocyanins, also an antioxidant which is responsible for red, purple, and blue colors in fruits and vegetables.
Antioxidants provide long-term protection from cell damage brought about by free radicals generated in the human body by metabolic processes as well as external pollutants such as cigarette smoke and ultraviolet radiation from sunlight.
Antioxidants found in both red lettuce and green lettuce have led to the classification of red and green lettuce as functional foods. According to the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion at Mississippi State University, ” functional foods are foods that have a potentially positive effect on health beyond basic nutrition.”
Of the two, red lettuce has a higher level of antioxidants. A 2010 article published in the journal Food Chemistry, reporting on results of an in vitro study, concluded that the lack of anthocyanins in green lettuce compared to red lettuce may “account for the higher biological activity obtained with the red variety…”. Biological activity in this case refers to the beneficial effects of anthocyanins as found in red lettuce.
Furthermore, in 2015 the University of the Basque Country in Spain found that “the color of lettuce determines the speed of its antioxidant effect”. The researchers also added that this does not make green lettuce less useful nor desirable. In fact, both lettuces essentially bring to the table their contrasting differences in a beneficial manner.
This is to say, the slower release of antioxidants in green lettuce implies that the antioxidants continue to work in the body for an extended period of time. This, in fact, presents a strong case for the continued consumption of a mix of different lettuce types red and green included.
The following table makes a comparison of nutritional Daily Values (DV) based on 100 grams or 3.5 ounces of red and green lettuces. According to the CDC, percentage DV “shows how much a nutrient in a serving of a food contributes to a total daily diet”.
| Item | Red Leaf lettuce | Green Leaf lettuce |
| Calories | 13 | 15 |
| Protein | 1.5 grams | 2 grams |
| Fiber | 1 gram | 1 gram |
| Folate | 9% of the DV | 10% of the DV |
| Iron | 7% of the DV | 5% of the DV |
| Manganese | 9% of the DV | 11% of the DV |
| Potassium | 4% of the DV | 4% of the DV |
| Vitamin A | 42% of the DV | 41% of the DV |
| Vitamin C | 4% of the DV | 10% of the DV |
| Vitamin K | 117% of the DV | 105% of the DV |
Red Lettuce Varieties
There are a handful of red leaf lettuce varieties available to grow from seeds and as produce in farmers markets and grocery stores. Here are some of them.
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| Lollo Rosso Leaf Lettuce Try Amazon for Seeds The Lollo Rosso lettuce variety above is a rosette looking heirloom lettuce cultivar. It has a deep maroon color on the edges of the leaves. The leaves are frilly and curly, consistent with loose leaf lettuce where they belong. The variety may also have some lighter parts within the compact looking bunch of leaves. At maturity, Lollo Rosso is small to medium sized. It is thought to have roots in wild species of the lettuce found in Asia, Europe and northern parts of Africa. |
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| Ruby Red Leaf Lettuce Try Amazon for Seeds This is an heirloom open-pollinated loose leaf red lettuce cultivar characterized by bright green to ruby red colored frilled leaves whence it gets its name from. It is a heat tolerant lettuce which is also slow to bolt. Ruby Red Leaf lettuce is also used for microgreens. |
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| Red Salad Bowl Lettuce Try Amazon for Seeds This is a 66 year old red lettuce variety introduced in 1955. It is also available as green lettuce. Red Salad Bowl is so named because one plant is enough to fill a single salad bowl. It is a rosette lettuce characterized by long, burgundy-red, deep cut leaves. Germinates in 14 days, ready for mature harvest in 50-58 days |
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| Merlot Red Leaf Lettuce Try West Coast Seeds Merlot Red Leaf lettuce above has Deep and shiny purple-red curled and wrinkled leaves which stand upright and have wavy looking edges. At 35 days, baby lettuce can be harvested from this variety. Merlot Red is slow to bolt and its seeds open-pollinated. The mature version of this loose leaf lettuce is ready for harvest in 55 days. |
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| Red Romaine Lettuce Seeds Try Seeds on Amazon This, above, is an heirloom variety of romaine type. The variety starts off green then develops into a deep red-bronze pigmentation on the upper section of the leaves when mature. If allowed, Red Romaine will form heads that can be grilled. It matures in 50 to 60 days and can be grown all year round. |
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| Red Deer Tongue Lettuce Try West Coast Seeds This is the same red leaf lettuce variety sometimes called Amish Red. It is an heirloom variety characterized by long, pointed, triangular looking leaves which are deep red. This is a truly loose leaf lettuce whose leaves can be picked in singles easily. It is ready for mature harvest in 75 days and is slow to bolt. |
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| Red Sails Lettuce Try West Coast Seeds This red lettuce variety is ready for mature harvest in 66 days. It has dark red tinted leaves with patches of green. The leaves are large and crinkled. This is one lettuce variety that does not become bitter after maturity and is also slow to bolt. Read our Red Sails full feature here |
Red Lettuce Health Benefits
Nutritional value of red lettuce include Vitamins A, C and K, folate, iron, manganese and potassium. As earlier mentioned, red leaf lettuce is not only a vegetable rich in nutrition, it is also a recognized functional food.
Functional health benefits derived from red leaf lettuce emanate from anthocyanins. As antioxidants, anthocyanins counter the chain reaction of free radical processes in the human body. This reduces the harm caused to cells which is the main cause of various diseases.
Antioxidants in red leaf lettuce and any other good source of anthocyanins, create a balance against free radicals which results in proper physiological function according to a 2010 report which appeared in the journal Pharmacognosy Reviews.
The following are some health benefits associated with anthocyanins as found in red leaf lettuce.
- Antidiabetic
- Anticancer
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antimicrobial
- Anti-obesity
- Cardiovascular disease prevention
- Anti-tumor
- Decreased stroke risk
- Improve visual and neurological health
- Prevent metabolic disorders
- Blood clots prevention
- Blood sugar reduction
- Promotes brain function
- Improves digestion
Red Leaf Lettuce Recipes
Red leaf lettuce is primarily cultivated for human dietary needs. It is mostly consumed raw and applied in a variety of recipe preparations. Below is our compilation of some interesting recipes which use red leaf lettuce.
| Red Lettuce Salad Recipe – this scrumptious recipe serves 6 and is by Martha Stewart. It calls for mixed lettuces which can be all red leaf lettuces with some green ones. Other ingredients include ricotta salata cheese and navel oranges. The lettuces are first tone into bite-size pieces before use. View Recipe. |
Red Leaf and Mandarin Salad Recipe – this red leaf salad takes 25 minutes to make and makes 10 servings. It requires 8 cups of torn red leaf lettuce. Other ingredients include red and yellow peppers, honey, cider vinegar and Dijon mustard. View Recipe. |
| Roasted Carrots and Red Leaf Lettuce Salad Recipe – this recipe is made with Buttermilk Herb Dressing and requires red lettuce which has been torn to pieces. It has a bunch of a variety of other ingredients which include extra-virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar, carrots, honey, sea salt and minced chives. View Recipe. |
| Arugula and Red-Leaf Lettuce Salad Recipe – finally, this New York Times tasty recipe takes only 10 minutes to make and produces 6 servings. It calls for half a pound of red lettuce which will be accompanied by arugula, red-wine vinegar, ground cumin and vegetable oil. Everything is consumed raw no ingredients are cooked. View Recipe. |
Red Leaf Lettuce and Strawberry Salad (Video)
This video offers an easy to follow demonstration on how to make a simple red leaf lettuce salad which includes strawberries. This healthy salad combines anthocyanin-rich red lettuce and equally antioxidant-rich strawberries.
Useful Lettuce Kitchen Items
It is needful to thoroughly was harvested lettuce first and then dry it before use. Improperly washed lettuce increases the risk of contamination which can result in serious health problems as reported here.
For best results, lettuce must not only be washed properly but also properly dried to allow adherence of salad dressing to the leaves. Below are some good lettuce kitchen items we suggest. This simple equipment helps with the proper washing, drying and storage of lettuce.
Spinners
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| Oxo Stainless Steel Salad Spinner See on Amazon This spinner uses one push knob to clean and dry lettuce, raw spinach, broad-leafed herbs, and a range of leafy greens. It has a instant brake button to stop the spinning. |
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| Brieftons Salad Spinner and Chopper See on Amazon This salad spinner goes a step further to not not only clean and dry your lettuce and other vegetables but also chops and stores them. It has a 6.34 quart or 6 liter salad spinner bowl and a 0.95-quart or 900 ml capacity bowl for chopping. |
Keepers
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| Tafura Lettuce Keeper for Fridge See on Amazon This is a lettuce storage container with a lid designed to keep the vegetables fresh and crisp for as long as possible. The storage bowl has spikes upon which the vegetables sit and allow excess water to drain. When used in combination with the spinner above, there will be little water to drain. |
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| Lettuce Keeper Vegetable and Fruit Crisper See on Amazon This is an alternative lettuce keeper suitable to maintain freshness for as long as possible of lettuce, broccoli and cauliflower. It can also be used with fruits and prevents premature wilting of its contents. |
Conclusion
Red lettuce represents a number of mostly loose leaf lettuces of botanic name Lactuca sativa with a red to deep red pigmentation. Red lettuce is a functional vegetable which offers a variety of health benefits by virtue of present antioxidants. Red leaf lettuce is cultivated primarily for use in culinary applications. It is a popular component of salad mixes which are mostly consumed raw.
Recommended Reading:
- Baby Lettuce Explained
- Little Gem Lettuce
- Green Leaf Lettuce
- Causes of Bitter Lettuce
- Lettuce Microgreens
- Red Sails Lettuce
- Lamb’s Lettuce
