Jing’s Lettuce Salad recipe calls for Chinese Lettuce, commonly called Celtuce. The name comes from “Celery” and “Lettuce,” hence “Celtuce.” This is also known as Asparagus Lettuce, as the stem of the plant, which is used in cooking, resembles the outward texture of asparagus. In Chinese, the plant is called woju (莴苣; pinyin: wōjù) or wosun (莴笋; pinyin: wōsǔn), or qingsun (青笋; qīngsǔn). Prepared separately, the leaves are called youmaicai (油麥菜; 油麦菜; yóumàicài). Celtuce is a nutritious vegetable with a mild, nutty flavor.
Both the leaves and the stem of Chinese Lettuce (Celtuce) are edible, raw or cooked.
Nutritional value of Celtuce
According to the US Department of Agriculture, Celtuce is a source of fiber, potassium, vitamin A, calcium, folate, and other nutrients. A 100 gram (3.5 oz) sample of celtuce contains:
| Nutrient | Amount | Recommended Daily Allowance | % RDA |
|---|---|---|---|
| calcium | 39 mg | 1300 mg | 3% |
| folate (B9) | 48 µg | 400 µg | 12% |
| iron | .55 mg | 18 mg | 3% |
| magnesium | 28 mg | 420 mg | 7% |
| manganese | .688 mg | 2.3 mg | 30% |
| niacin (B3) | .55 mg | 16 mg | 3% |
| pantothenic acid (B5) | .183 mg | 5 mg | 4% |
| phosphorus | 39 mg | 1,250 mg | 3% |
| potassium | 330 mg | 4,700 mg | 7% |
| riboflavin (B2) | .07 mg | 1.3 mg | 5% |
| thiamine (B1) | .055 mg | 1.2 mg | 5% |
| vitamin A | 175 µg | 900 µg | 19% |
| vitamin B6 | .05 mg | 1.7 mg | 3% |
| vitamin C | 19.5 mg | 90 mg | 22% |
| zinc | .27 mg | 11 mg | 2% |
| fiber | 1.7 g | – | – |
Preparing Chinese lettuce (celtuce)
Jing has prepared a video showing how to peel and shred the celtuce stem for use in a salad.
Where to find stem lettuce (Chinese lettuce)
I have not found celtuce in a grocery store. Unless there is an Asian market near you, and you can ask them for 莴笋 (wōsǔn), your best bet is to grow your own. The plant is fairly hardy, and does well in most North American climate zones (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9). Celtuce is easy to grow, and the following of seed providers carry celtuce seeds:
- Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds: offers a 50-day heirloom variety that should be planted in fall, during ideal temperature range of 60 to 80 degrees F (15 to 26 C). Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds is located in the state of Missouri.
- Johnny’s Selected Seeds: offers the Spring Tower variety that germinates in soil above 40 but below 75 degrees (4 to 24 C). For a continuous supply, you can plant in flats every two weeks, and transplant, or plant directly in early spring when the soil is above 40 degrees. Their seeds are open-pollinated, heirloom and non-GMO. Johnny’s Selected Seeds is located in the state of Maine.
- Kitazawa Seed Company: offers a variety of Asian vegetable seeds, including three varieties of celtuce. Their Summer 38 is an heirloom, non-GMO variety which can tolerate 100 degree days (38 C). Their Spring Tower is an heirloom, non-GMO variety which can be planted in early spring or late summer to early fall. Kitazawa Seed Company is located in the state of Utah.
Ryhom.com offers a lot of detail about celtuce varieties and planting.
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