When you eat grilled meat, you can’t start without lettuce.
Even if the meat is heavily seasoned, if you wrap it in lettuce, you can eat as much as you want.
However, there are times when you forgot to buy lettuce, or the supermarket doesn’t have it. It can happen.
Oh no! I don’t have any lettuce. What should I do?
In such a case, what kind of vegetables do you recommend to wrap grilled meat instead of lettuce?
In this article, I’ll introduce you to “substitutes for lettuce” that can be useful in times of trouble, so please refer to them!
What kind of vegetable is lettuce?
Lettuce is the Korean name for lettuce, and in Japan, it is called “chishana”.
It is a member of the lettuce family and is a leafy vegetable that is relatively easy to find in supermarkets throughout Japan.
It is generally used to wrap and eat grilled meat, but it can also be added to salads, soups, and stir-fries, not just grilled meat.
It is in season from summer to autumn, and the fresh leaves are fluffy and have no peculiar flavor or aroma, so it will not interfere with the taste of grilled meat.
The nutritional benefits of lettuce are also not to be underestimated.
Chinese lettuce is a green vegetable that is rich in carotene.
Carotene is an excellent nutrient that has strong antioxidant properties and can be converted into vitamin A, which helps maintain healthy mucous membranes and relieves eye fatigue.
Carotene and oil go well together, and when taken with oil, carotene can be absorbed more efficiently.
Wrapping grilled meat in lettuce is not only delicious but also increases the absorption of carotene, so you can kill two birds with one stone.
In addition to carotene, it also contains iron, which is essential for preventing anemia, and vitamin C, which is expected to improve the skin’s beauty and immunity, making lettuce a useful vegetable for both health and beauty.
6 substitutes for lettuce
Substitute for lettuce 1: Sunny lettuce
Sunny lettuce, with its brownish-red leaves that spread fluffily, can also be used as a substitute for lettuce.
Sunny lettuce is more nutritious than regular lettuce and is quite rich in carotene and vitamin C. It is a delicious substitute and a great source of nutrition.
When substituting sunny lettuce, you can use it in the same way as lettuce.
The leaves are more tender than lettuce, so you don’t have to worry so much about them tearing.
Substitute for lettuce 2: Salad greens
Salad greens, which have no peculiar flavors or aromas and are very easy to eat, are also a good substitute for lettuce.
As its name suggests, it is often used in salads, but since it is rich in carotene, eating it with meat is expected to increase the absorption of carotene.
Also, salad greens do not fluctuate much in price, so you can always buy them at an affordable price.
When substituting salad greens, you can use them the same way you would use lettuce.
The leaves are soft and fluffy, so it’s easy to roll the meat around them.
Substitute for lettuce 3: Green leaves
Green leaves, which have a slight bitterness and can be considered a salad vegetable for adults, are also a good substitute for lettuce.
It is similar to sunny lettuce in shape, but green leaves are characterized by their green color and are rich in carotene and potassium.
When substituting green leaves, you can use them in the same way as lettuce.
The bittersweet taste goes well with the strong flavor, making it a tasty substitute!
Substitute for lettuce 4: Baby leaves
Baby leaves are a mixture of young leaves of various vegetables that are packed together.
These baby leaves can also be used as a substitute for lettuce, depending on how you use them.
Since they are young leaves, they are very soft and have no peculiar flavor, so they do not interfere with the taste of grilled meat.
Baby leaves are also rich in carotene and vitamin C, making them a great substitute for both health and beauty.
Baby leaves can be difficult to roll in meat because each leaf is small and uneven, but if you stack several leaves on top of each other before using them, you can substitute lettuce with no problem!
Substitute for lettuce 5: Romaine lettuce
Romaine lettuce has a more vertical shape than regular lettuce and is characterized by its bright green leaves.
It can also be used as a substitute for lettuce.
Also, romaine lettuce contains plenty of folic acid, so it is a good substitute for pregnant women and people with anemia.
When substituting romaine lettuce, you can use it in the same way as lettuce.
Unlike the outer leaves, which have a slightly bitter taste, the inner leaves have a slight sweetness. The taste of the same romaine lettuce differs a little depending on the part you eat, so it is a good idea to wrap the meat around it and compare the taste.
Substitute for lettuce 6: Cabbage
Cabbage, which can be used both raw and cooked, is also a good substitute for lettuce.
Cabbage has a crunchy texture and sweetness that gives it an atmosphere that other substitutes do not have, but it goes perfectly with the meat.
There are quite a few people who say, “I’m more of a cabbage person than a lettuce person when it comes to grilled meat! There are quite a few people who say, “I prefer cabbage to lettuce for grilled meat!
Cabbage also contains something called cabegin (vitamin U), which is expected to protect and repair the mucous membrane of the stomach.
It will work perfectly when you eat fatty meats.
When substituting cabbage, you can use it in the same way as lettuce, but as with lettuce, if you roll it too tightly, there is a risk of tearing the leaves.
Many layers of cabbage will fill you up, so it is recommended to substitute the meat between two sheets!
Summary
- Lettuce is the Chinese cabbage in Japan, the leaves are soft and have no peculiar flavors or aromas, making it the perfect vegetable to wrap grilled meat.
- Lettuce is rich in nutrients, including carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, and iron.
- The following seven substitutes for lettuce are recommended. [Lettuce, sunny lettuce, salad greens, green leaves, baby leaves, romaine lettuce, cabbage].