Name: Salty-and-Sour Lettuce
Total time: 5 minutes
Yield: 2 Servings
Ingredients: 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice; 4 tsp. soy sauce; 2 tsp. fish sauce; 2 tsp. sugar; 1 large head of romaine lettuce, leaves separated; Kosher salt; Store-bought fried shallots and/or store-bought fried garlic and sesame seeds (for serving)

Platter of SaltyandSour Lettuce topped with crispy shallots isolated on white as seen from overhead.

Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser

Lettuce is capable of more than just salad duty. Cooking it—yes, you heard right—creates crunchy-tender, delicately flavored leaves that are ready to soak up any sauce. This recipe is inspired by a classic Chinese cooking technique in which blanched iceberg or romaine lettuce is served with oyster sauce and garlic. The result is supple yet crunchy leaves with a mild grassy freshness. Here we’ve topped it with a punchy dressing of lime juice, soy sauce, fish sauce, and sugar. It’s sweet, salty, and tangy, with a slight umami kick. The longer the dressing sits on the lettuce, the more it will absorb it. This dish can be served hot, cold, or room temperature. Top with fried shallots or fried garlic for extra crunch.

What you’ll need

Medium Pot with Lid
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Slotted Spoon
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Whisk
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Recipe notes

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