Little Gem Lettuce

Little gem lettuce is a small, tight-headed romaine-type lettuce with crisp, spoon-shaped leaves. The ribs crunch cleanly while the tips stay tender, tasting sweet with a faint, pleasant bitterness; it holds up to dressing and heat better than many lettuces. Commonly sold as whole mini heads, it works well halved for grilling or searing, or left raw for sturdy cups and composed salads.\n\nDeveloped in Europe as a compact romaine cultivar, it spread through French and British markets before gaining popularity in North America. Growers harvest the heads young in cool seasons, and specialty producers now offer steady supply across regions.