Spring's First Lettuce - Salad Ideas

At the producer's market, I happened across some particularly gorgeous lettuce and learned from the lady who grew how they differentiate themselves from the other producers - they don't use greenhouses. This must mean Spring is really on the way.

She said that although you see lettuces coming from various producers throughout even a harsh winter, hers have grown naturally in the air... They are really Spring's first lettuces. Walking into the greenhouse at the farm I visited in Switzerland warmed my bones enough to make me want to work on the farm, just to get warm. It was still very cold in Switzerland. The lettuce in that lovely greenhouse was fat and happy, that's for sure. Mr. Delessert pulled the tarp that was over the door aside and my first impression of being invited into a Hammam. I imagined reclining on a lettuce bed and getting a massage and a scrubdown. Really, I don't think a greenhouse would affect the taste of the lettuce, though. It really all depends on the plant that's grown and the soil. But the lady had a nice sales pitch!

I brought this Spring's first lettuce home and we enjoyed a lovely salad, not a hint of bitter in this lacy salad. What salad to prepare with your season's first lettuce?

Why not get inspired to try these salads as the seasons unfold? Ideas abound:
A Home Made Salade Lyonnaise - make it like you like it. (pictured at the bottom of the post)
A Southwestern Salad: Salade Landaise
Get Inspired by French Café Salads
Fondue de Saint Marcellin Parmentière et Salade
Spicy Poultry Stuffed Pattypan Squash in Salad
The Rabbit Saddle Salad at Pignol Bellecour
Salade de Chèvre Chaud avec sa Vinaigrette au Poivre Vert