BABY LETTUCE SALAD WITH ROASTED GARLIC

This lettuce recipe salad is prepared with the baby lettuce. In my opinion, this type of lettuce is crunchier than the standard lettuce.
This recipe originally called Cogollos con Ajos Fritos; I had eaten in a few Spanish restaurants, here in Andalusia. I fall in love with the crunchiness. The combination of the lettuce with garlic and the drizzling balsamic vinegar will make you doubt if it is really the lettuce.
There are many ways how you can make the recipe. But I have tested this version and is super easy to prepare and is truly delicious. For this lettuce recipe, you only need a few ingredients: baby lettuce, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, and balsamic vinegar. No cooking required and takes less than 10 min.
Thus, let’s explore the history of this recipe that goes centuries back. Here is an article La historia de la lechuga frita y su tradición de comerla en Córdoba about the recipe and the story behind it.
What strikes me as a very interesting fact is that already in the Roman tradition lettuce was very present in the daily diet. The whitest leaves of the lettuce were consumed, and the green leaves were discarded. Today we know that the green leaves are high in chlorophyll content and should be eaten and the whitest part is a castoff. At least, now I know that science is very important and how people were clueless in the past.
The part of the history Why the garlic is roasted? When did it start? is still a mystery…
In one of the restaurants in Cordoba called Rafalete Bar, they served the Lettuce with Garlic for more than 50 years. But it is somewhat secret how it all started.
Enough of history; let’s enjoy this simple recipe…

Baby Lettuce Salad with Roasted Garlic
Ingredients
- 2 baby lettuce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 cloves sliced garlic
- ½ tbs Natural Sea Salt
- ½ tbs fresh pepper
Instructions
Cut the Lettice on 4 exact pieces as shown in the above pictureSliced garlic roast on the pan with olive oil for 4 minutes. Make sure you don’t burn the garlic because it will taste bitter. Then pour over the Lettuce, sprinkle with sea salt and balsamic vinegar.
Done. Serve.
Enjoy!