the enzymes and causes their products to react
with other molecules, so the fresh green note
fades and other aromas become more
prominent.
The Lettuce Family: Lettuces,
Chicories, Dandelion Greens
The lettuce family, or the Compositae, is the
second largest family of flowering plants, and
yet it contributes only a few food plants. The
most prominent are lettuce and its relatives,
the primary components of our raw salads.
Preparing Salads
Even though salads of raw greens don’t
require cooking, they do require care in the
preparation. Start with good ingredients:
fresh young leaves are the least fibrous and
have the most delicate flavor, while old
overgrown lettuces can taste almost
rubbery. If the leaves need to be divided