Lollo Rosso is a classic violet-burgundy crowned Italian lettuce, well known for its jazzy loose-leaf looks and its bold, slightly bitter, nutty flavour.  The frilly and curled, fan-shaped leaves are light green in the center and transition to a deep red-maroon around the edges. Connected at a central base, the leaves do not form a head and are made up of single branches.

Health Benefits

With texture, flavour and colour Lollo Rosso is no wallflower and you don’t have to worry about calories because Lollo Rosso is 92% water! Its remaining 8% is full of goodness, providing vitamins A and C, potassium and iron. In addition, the raucous red leaves contain a good amount of anthocyanins, which are believed to have wide-ranging health benefits, protecting cellular function and the blood vessels, and acting as natural anti-inflammatories. 

Usage

Looking for something decorative to brighten up your cold buffet or a tasty, textured addition to your salad bowl, then look no further: the eye-catching Lollo Rosso packs plenty of personality all round. Crisp and semi-succulent, it’s perfect in combination with other types of salad leaf, and its crimped leaves cope well with heavier dressings – so, lavish on the dressing if your salad allows.  Lollo Rosso lettuce is best suited for raw applications as its bright color, curly texture, and mild taste is showcased when fresh.  The leaves can also be used as a garnish, layered in sandwiches, torn and sprinkled over soups, or served as a bed for cooked meat. Lollo Rosso lettuce pairs well with radish, carrots, cherry tomatoes, watercress, frisee lettuce, parsley, pears, pomegranate seeds, garlic, onions, fennel, shallots, poultry, sunflower seeds, gorgonzola cheese, olive oil, balsamic, and champagne vinegar.

Storage

The leaves will keep up to four days when stored in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.