Article by Gil "hannaone"
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Image by hannaone: Lettuce in Garden 
Weight information obtained from USDA food database

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Historically, it is believed that lettuce originated in Egypt where it underwent selective breeding to yield larger edible leaves. From there, it likely made its way into other regions such as Greece, Italy, the Roman Empire, and eventually reached distant lands like China and the Americas. The Romans were responsible for introducing lettuce to Western Europe as they traveled westward. However, upon reaching Britain, there was a mistaken belief among women that consuming too much lettuce could lead to infertility.

During the fifth century, stem lettuce was first documented in China, where it was uniquely cultivated with a thick, crunchy stem ideal for cooking. This versatile vegetable is known by various names such as celtuce, Chinese lettuce, or asparagus lettuce. In Korean cuisine, leafy lettuce is typically used in Ssam style dining to create wraps for meats, seafood, fish, and other dishes, often accompanied by a dollop of ssamjang. While there are numerous types of lettuce available, the most popular varieties include Leaf, Head, and Cos (Romaine).

In 2015, a crew aboard the International Space Station had the opportunity to taste locally-grown lettuce for the first time. The lettuce, called Outredgeous, was a cultivar of bright-red romaine and could be enjoyed as either young or mature leaves. It was grown entirely on board the station in a collapsible growth chamber nicknamed Veggie, using "rooting pillows" and LED lights. Accompanied by an oil-and-vinegar dressing, the astronauts were delighted by their space salad.

Some Types:
Leaf Lettuce (Batavia lettuce, French crisp, summer crisp, leaf lettuce, looseleaf lettuce)
Romaine (Cos lettuce)
Butter Lettuce (Bibb lettuce, Boston lettuce, butterhead lettuce)
Little Gems (Bibb lettuce, Boston lettuce, butterhead lettuce)
Iceberg Lettuce (Crisphead lettuce)
Arugula (Rocket, rucola, rugula, roquette)

Check out these recipes:
Korean Meat Dishes - Bulgogi Sangchu Ssam
Korean Meat Dishes - Kalbi Songalag, a Kalbi Variation
Korean Meat Dishes - Air Fried Ssamgyeopsal