Whether, I am picking lettuce from my garden or getting it from the store, I have an easy way to clean it. It takes less than ten minutes and you'll be left with clean and crisp lettuce for the week. This was how my Dad cleaned lettuce from his garden, so I always think of him when I'm doing such a mundane task. The trick to cleaning your lettuce and to get all the grit off, is to add in salt. The salt pulls off dirt, grime and anything else you don't want on those precious lettuce leaves.
Since we are talking lettuce, I'm also sharing my go-to salad dressing. It has literally two ingredients, plus salt and pepper. In no time, with some simple add ins, you can be eating a tasty salad for lunch or dinner.
Cleaning Lettuce 101:
Start with a clean kitchen sink and plug the drain.
Place the lettuce in the sink and fill the sink with water, so all of the lettuce is covered.
Add in a few tablespoons of salt and swirl around with your hands. Let the lettuce soak for a minute or two.
Remove the lettuce from the sink and add to a salad spinner. Spin it a few times, drain and repeat one or two more times. If you don't have a salad spinner, you can place the lettuce on a kitchen towel, roll it up and pat it dry.
Place the clean lettuce on a kitchen towel or paper towel, fold and place in a container or large zip lock bag in the fridge until ready to use. This keeps the moisture out and keeps your lettuce fresher longer.
Two Step Salad Dressing:
In a large serving bowl add a few tablespoons of olive oil, followed by two tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice (or my favorite, Santa Cruz Organic Lemon Juice) a few sprinkles of sea salt and cracked black pepper. Whisk all together until emulsified. Add in your salad greens and toss.
