If you haven't been cooking your lettuce, you should.

Lettuce is a versatile vegetable that can be used as a base for quick salads, as a colorful topping for burgers, or even as a garnish for dishes. Lettuce has a naturally crisp texture, especially when fresh. But if you're looking for a way to add even more texture to these leafy greens, try grilling it.

Before cooking lettuce, you should know that not all leafy greens are considered lettuce. Smaller, more delicate leaves, like spinach and arugula, won't do; they'll wilt. But true lettuce, with a sturdy stem, like iceberg or romaine, is ideal for cooking. When grilling, make sure the lettuce stays together in the center. This allows it to brown evenly on one or both sides, preventing the center leaves from burning and creating different textures. Don't forget to heat the grill thoroughly.

Ultimately, the end result is a completely new dish. It has a smoky, grilled flavor. And, with just a few seasonings and aromatics, it becomes a side dish on its own, without needing any dressing.

How to roast lettuce

Before grilling the lettuce, cut it lengthwise so all the leaves stay attached to the stem. Then, preheat your grill to medium-high heat. The lettuce will brown quickly, so make sure the grill is hot. Drizzle olive oil generously over the outer leaves of the lettuce; this will enhance its flavor and help it brown nicely. Before grilling, season the lettuce with a little salt. Then, it only needs two to three minutes per side on the grill to get a nice golden-brown exterior.

Once the lettuce is off the grill, you can enhance its flavor with a few extra ingredients like a squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkle of black pepper. The idea is to let the smoky flavor shine through, so there's no need to add dressing. However, if you prefer, you can turn it into a grilled salad by drizzling it with vinaigrette. The lettuce should be eaten soon after grilling, as its texture doesn't keep well in the refrigerator.