Simple Salad with Tomatoes

Lettuce is a leaf vegetable first cultivated by ancient Egyptians. There are several types of lettuce. The leaf, head and romaine are common. Iceberg lettuce is popular lettuce in the US. Butterhead, too.

Most lettuce is used in salads either alone or with other greens, vegetables, meats and cheeses. Romaine lettuce is often used for Caesar salads, with a dressing that includes anchovies and eggs. Lettuce leaves can also be found in soups, sandwiches and wraps, while the stems are eaten both raw and cooked.

The Romans likewise claimed that it increased sexual potency. Lettuce has mild narcotic properties; it was called "sleepwort" by the Anglo-Saxons. Spain is the world's largest exporter of lettuce with the US ranking second.

Lettuce extracts are sometimes used in skin creams and lotions for treating sunburn and rough skin. Folk medicine makes claims that lettuce is a treatment for pain, rheumatism, tension and nervousness, coughs and mental instability.

Depending on the variety, lettuce is a good source of vitamin A, vitamin K and potassium, with higher concentrations of vitamin A found in darker green lettuces.

Simple Salad with Tomatoes
Serves 4

Lettuce leaves
Cherry tomatoes
Olive oil and vinegar (or bottled Italian dressing)
Salt and pepper to taste

How To Make Simple Salad With Tomatoes And Lettuce Leaves: First, mix together olive oil and vinegar (at the ratio of 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar).

If you are using cherry tomatoes, cut them in halves. If you are using big tomatoes, cut them into quarters, then each quarter into slices. Sprinkle tomatoes with salt and pepper to taste.

Put the lettuce leaves in a bowl, add the dressing and toss so the lettuce is coated with dressing. Place lettuce leaves on individual plates, then put the tomatoes on top. Serve this simple salad immediately.