Leafy Butter Lettuce Salad with Pistachios

Butter lettuce is a variety of butterhead lettuce, known for its smooth, loosely bunched, tender leaves with has a slightly sweet, buttery flavor. It is fat free, cholesterol and sodium free, and an outstanding source of Vitamin A, C and folate.

Wonderfully delicious pistachio nuts have been revered as the symbol of wellness and robust health since ancient times. The nuts are enriched with many health-benefiting nutrients that are essential for optimum health.

Pistachio nuts are dry fruits originating in the mountain ranges of West-Asian region. They're a member of the cashew family. Nuts grow on a small tree believed to be originally from Central Asia and the Middle East. The trees are planted in orchards and take approximately seven to ten years to reach peak.

The kernels are often eaten whole, either fresh or roasted and salted, and are also used in pistachio ice cream, kulfi, spumoni, historically in Neapolitan ice cream, pistachio butter and confections such as baklava, pistachio chocolate, pistachio halva, pistachio biscotti.

Leafy Butter Lettuce Salad with Pistachios
Serves 4

2 small heads butter lettuce, cored; leaves torn into large pieces
1/2 cup shelled pistachios, lightly toasted and roughly chopped
1 navel oranges, peel and pith removed and flesh segmented, juice reserved
1/2 cup crème fraîche
3 tbsp. finely chopped chives
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Combine lettuce, pistachios and orange segments in bowl. Whisk reserved orange juice with crème fraîche, chives, salt and pepper. Drizzle salad and gently toss.