idun Posted April 26, 2019 Share Posted April 26, 2019 How do you dry your lettuce, I bought my first salad spinner just after I moved to France and have had spinners since.I have been to french friend's homes and they have a rounded mesh basket, looks a bit like an egg basket... with big handle and they go outside and shake it there, big circular movements.Would I use a tea towel......... or kitchen roll??????? I just wouldn't as I wouldn't think of it. The only thing I do dry in fresh tea towels is bonduelle's tinned macedoine veg, if I want to make up a quick macedoine.Also, I was also told never to cut lettuce, but tear. Not sure if that is right or not, I do know that since I bought a non metal lettuce knife, it doesn't brown at the edges......and I wrap the rest of the lettuce in aluminium foil before fridging it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kong Posted April 26, 2019 Share Posted April 26, 2019 I prefer mesh basket, but I haven't got one now. So it has to be spinner or shaking individual leaves by hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted April 26, 2019 Share Posted April 26, 2019 Spinner or tea towel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted April 26, 2019 Share Posted April 26, 2019 I use both; spinner for large amounts and basket for small amounts. And I tear all lettuce leaves but I like them to be bite-sized pieces because I HATE it when the leaves are too large to eat tidily!I use kitchen towels to dab dry bulgar wheat for tabouleh; don't like couscous, the texture is yuck IMHO! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogs Posted April 26, 2019 Share Posted April 26, 2019 I use a spinner which I find Good, but OH (who is a chef) tells me it bruises the leaves so when he's around I use kitchen paper or a tea towel that is only used for drying lettuce.I tear the leaves, only use a knife to shred finely the leaves as we're about to eat.Now another question, do you find that lettuce browns even if it hasn't been cut? I can't seem to keep any lettuce, other than iceberg which is not my favourite. I prefer the batvia and red leaves but they turn so quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted April 26, 2019 Author Share Posted April 26, 2019 Well I was told that lettuce should be kept in foil and keeps better and I have found that to be so.I never spin so long that the leaves are bruised, don't want them bone dry after all[:D]........ I never used to like iceberg at all, but as others in the family do, would buy it and actually I quite like it now. I do like a little in a mixed salad, as it gives and extra crunch.I have never had bulgar wheat taboule. I make taboule with semoule grains..... think that what is you called cous cous mint. We love it, our son even snacks on it. Maybe it is the way I make it???? I have never used a recipe, just one of those things that french folk taught me, au pif. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted April 26, 2019 Share Posted April 26, 2019 Beware that you do not fall foul of the Slug Protection Society. Their message is to get the slugs off the lettuce and into the garden before washing lettuce otherwise they might drown which is cruel. Otherwise JC will not have dinner with you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted April 26, 2019 Author Share Posted April 26, 2019 ROFL, I remember going to someone's house in France, not french people either and there was a slug in the lettuce on my plate.........beurk.......... couldn't eat any of the salad after that[+o(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritinBretagne Posted April 27, 2019 Share Posted April 27, 2019 https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/but-not-simpler/i-hate-to-break-it-to-you-but-you-already-eat-bugs/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted April 27, 2019 Author Share Posted April 27, 2019 I know that [:D][:D][:D]!We all do and we have bestioles living on us too, but a don't count a wriggling inch long limace as something I feel like eating with my salade compose! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickP Posted April 27, 2019 Share Posted April 27, 2019 Idun, Now that you're back in the UK, what do you think of Lettuce you get there. Personally, I find the French Lettuce has more taste than the UK ones, what's your take on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted April 27, 2019 Author Share Posted April 27, 2019 My take is that I never just eat lettuce on it's own, at all, and so as they are not the tastiest of things..... I would say that the texture is the important thing for me, and biensur a good vinaigrette. I do put it in sandwiches which always have sauces in them too. So, I have not noticed any difference. And the frisee, which is bitter is just as bitter here too, and I always mix it in with other leaves, as I don't like it on it's own.When we can, we buy endives here and they are just the same, poached or in salads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hereford Posted April 27, 2019 Share Posted April 27, 2019 What I would like to know is: why can I not buy "cresson" - watercress - in Normandie, or not our bit! All the French cookery progs show it being used and it makes me cross... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogs Posted April 27, 2019 Share Posted April 27, 2019 I have found watercress in Grand Fraise. They also do quite a few things that I haven't found in other shops.Our nearest one is a good hour away so when we go I usually over buy ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted April 27, 2019 Author Share Posted April 27, 2019 Thanks, you have just reminded me about cress, the little leaved stuff you can grow easily yourself. I just love egg and cress sandwiches and haven't had any for a while.... funny how your forget old favourites sometimes, at least I do.Fancy cooking...... lovely...... but some simple things are firm favourites with me.[:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loiseau Posted April 27, 2019 Share Posted April 27, 2019 I find the choice of different lettuce-y things much more varied in France than the UK. In the latter, it's cos/romaine, iceberg, and normal floppy, whereas in France you have these plus chicorée frisée, oakleaf (green and red), and then "endives" both white and red (which both cost the earth in the UK). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted April 27, 2019 Author Share Posted April 27, 2019 The lettuce we bought or had given to us most in France was Batavia Grenoblois, with the red edges on the leaves...... and from the Alpes...... no wonder everyone grew it or ate it most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YCCMB Posted April 27, 2019 Share Posted April 27, 2019 You lot obviously shop in different places from me. I can buy endive easily and inexpensively locally, and our daily salad is usually a mix of whatever lettuce I've bought which can be rocket, frisée, romaine, little gem, lollo rosso....And I don't throw much away, which is seldom my experience in France, where I can buy a head of lettuce one day and find it rotting in the fridge by day 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted April 27, 2019 Author Share Posted April 27, 2019 We bought some endives last week, and they were fine, but we both agreed, that it was the wrong time of year......... they were something that we ate in autumn in France.I agree, lettuces didn't keep in France, the heat in summer meant that much fruit and veg and salad stuff, never kept long. That was the reason for our family I would buy one batavia at a time and unless I had lots of folks round, would not buy a selection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted April 28, 2019 Share Posted April 28, 2019 Endives round here are excellent all the year round. I eat them cooked or raw, chopped or whole either as part of a meal or as a snack, whole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judith-aka-Judith Posted May 4, 2019 Share Posted May 4, 2019 Only buy lettuce in the summer, and from the market if I can. They go off or have no taste otherwise. Winter I like to use jeunes pousses d'epinard .... the advantage being that if they go a bit soggy you can use them as a veg. I use a spinner when I do wash lettuce, as I always put a vinaigrette on it so bruised leaves don't matter to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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