Butter Lettuce Salad

Quick Summary

Butter Lettuce Salad- this simple salad is made with soft and tender butter lettuce leaves, cucumber, radish slices, creamy avocado, salty Parmesan, and a light lemon vinaigrette. Serve along side any meal!

butter lettuce salad with avocado, cucumber, radish slices, chives, Parmesan cheese, and lemon dressing In large white bowl with baguette on the side.

I try to serve a salad with every meal. I love adding in more greens. I few of my favorites include my Simple Kale Salad, Arugula Salad, and Easy Green Salad. I also really love this Butter Lettuce Salad. It’s easy to make but is pretty to serve and delicious to eat.

If you haven’t made a salad with butter lettuce, you are in for a real treat. The lettuce is rich, smooth, silky-soft, and basically melts in your mouth. It is the perfect base for this simple salad recipe.

I top the lettuce with cucumber, radish slices, avocado, fresh chives, and salty Parmesan cheese. Dress the salad with a refreshing lemon vinaigrette. Sometimes I even add homemade croutons for a satisfying crunch. The salad is beautiful and the flavors are exquisite.

This salad can be served along side any meal or you can enjoy it for a light lunch. It is especially delicious during the spring and summer months. It’s SO fresh!

What is Butter Lettuce?

Butter lettuce (butterhead lettuce) includes Bibb lettuce and Boston lettuce. It’s bright green in color and is usually sold in small, loosely formed heads with delicate leaves. The roots are usually still attached to preserve freshness. You can find butter at most grocery stores in the produce section.

Butter lettuce is a lot softer in texture than iceberg lettuce. The leaves are tender and slightly sweet and are great for making salads, sandwiches, and wraps.

Salad Ingredients

Butter lettuce– wash and dry the lettuce before using. You can plate the large lettuce leaves or give them a rough chop.
Radishes– thinly sliced.
Cucumbers– I like Persian cucumbers for this salad, but English or regular cucumbers will work too.
Avocado– Avocado slices are pretty, but you can chop the avocado into pieces.
Parmesan cheese– buy a nice wedge of Parmesan cheese and freshly grate it over the salad.
Chives– finely chopped.

Lemon Dressing Ingredients

Olive oil– avocado oil also works well.
Lemon juice– always use fresh lemons!
Vinegar– golden balsamic vinegar or champagne vinegar are my favorite. If you can’t find them, apple cider or red wine vinegar will work.
Honey– to balance out the vinegar and lemon juice. Pure maple syrup will also work.
Garlic– I love adding garlic to dressings.
Dijon mustard– the mustard acts as an emulsifying agent and helps the oil and vinegar stay together.

How to Make Butter Lettuce Salad

lemon dressing being whisked in bowl for butter lettuce salad.

In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, honey, garlic, and Dijon. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

butter lettuce salad in large white bowl.

In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, radishes, cucumbers, avocado, Parmesan cheese, and chives. Drizzle dressing over the salad and toss.

Serving Suggestions

Storing Tips

If the salad is already dressed and tossed, I recommend eating it the same day for best results.

Butter lettuce is highly perishable so make sure you use it as soon as possible after purchasing it from the grocery store.

You can keep the dressing in a jar or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

butter lettuce salad with avocado, cucumber, radish slices, chives, Parmesan cheese, and lemon dressing In large white bowl with wood salad servers.

More Salad Recipes

Salads

This simple salad is made with soft and tender butter lettuce leaves, cucumber, radish slices, creamy avocado, salty Parmesan, and a light lemon vinaigrette. Serve along side any meal!

For the dressing:

1/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons golden balsamic vinegar or champagne vinegar
1 to 2 teaspoons honey
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

For the salad:

2 heads butter lettuce, roughly chopped
6 radishes, thinly sliced
2 Persian cucumbers, sliced
1 large avocado, sliced
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, honey, garlic, and Dijon. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, radishes, cucumbers, avocado, Parmesan cheese, and chives. Drizzle dressing over the salad and toss. Serve immediately.

Calories: 204kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 5mg, Sodium: 115mg, Potassium: 357mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 1961IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 80mg, Iron: 1mg