Hot or Cold Creamy Lettuce Soup Recipe (2024)

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Lettuce isn't just good for salads; it makes shockingly delicious soup, too.

By

Daniel Gritzer

Hot or Cold Creamy Lettuce Soup Recipe (1)

Daniel Gritzer

Senior Culinary Director

Daniel joined the Serious Eats culinary team in 2014 and writes recipes, equipment reviews, articles on cooking techniques. Prior to that he was a food editor at Food & Wine magazine, and the staff writer for Time Out New York's restaurant and bars section.

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Updated February 24, 2024

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Hot or Cold Creamy Lettuce Soup Recipe (2)

Why It Works

  • Despite its mild flavor, lettuce makes a delicious and fresh-tasting soup.
  • A small amount of parsley punches up the green color.

I'm in the middle of the bustling Union Square farmers market, surveying the piles of outrageously beautiful produce. There are taut bunches of purple-tinged asparagus standing in shallow pans of water, sweet sugar snap peas mounded into small hills, and pints of bright red and inky black berries. And then I see the lettuce. It's gorgeous lettuce, full of vigor and showing no signs of fatiguing under the day's heat. And yet it doesn't excite me in quite the same way. I love good salads made from lettuce, but I tire of them, too. And what if I don't eat it soon enough? Within a few days, it might be shriveled and limp.

But wait—let's stop right there. It's easy to always think "salad" when we see lettuce, but we don't have to. There are some other things lettuce is good for, and one of them is making soup.

This may be a hard sell—after all, lettuce isn't exactly bursting with character. To most of us, its most remarkable role is as a delivery mechanism for vinaigrette to reach our mouths. Somehow, though, lettuce can be transformed into an incredibly good bowl of soup, with a fresh, clean vegetal flavor. Sweetness comes through with more intensity, while pepperiness is tamed. And not only is the soup far better than it should be given the meekness of its star ingredient, it's just as good cold as hot. It's flat-out perfect served chilled on a sweltering summer day.

Even better is that just about any lettuce makes good soup. Maybe not iceberg, since the only thing it's good for—crunch—disappears into the pot, but almost everything else. From romaine to arugula, Boston to Bibb, oak leaf to cress, set them to simmer and they'll be great.

It's also perfect for lettuce that's past its prime, since you're going to wilt it anyway. That means there's no reason to throw out a head of lettuce: Once it's too flaccid for the salad bowl, it's ready for the soup tureen.

Hot or Cold Creamy Lettuce Soup Recipe (3)

And, last, it couldn't be easier to make. Here's how simple it is: Sweat some combination of diced aromatics, like onion, leek, garlic, and shallots, in a little butter. Then add stock—could be chicken, could be vegetable, whichever you want. Boil it until the aromatics are very tender (not more than 10 minutes or so), then toss in the lettuce leaves. A little parsley or another fresh green herb doesn't hurt, either.

As soon as the lettuce is fully softened, which, given its propensity toward collapsing at the first sign of trouble, won't take more than a minute, transfer it all to a blender and give it a good long whirl until the soup is silky-smooth. A little salt, maybe a splash of lemon juice, and it's ready to be eaten hot, or chilled for later.

That lettuce stand looks way sexier now.

Hot or Cold Creamy Lettuce Soup Recipe (4)

July 2016

Recipe Details

Hot or Cold Creamy Lettuce Soup

Prep10 mins

Cook15 mins

Active25 mins

Total25 mins

Serves4 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons (30g) unsalted butter

  • 1 medium onion (about 8 ounces; 225g), diced (see notes)

  • 4 medium cloves garlic, sliced

  • 2 cups (475ml) homemade chicken or vegetable stock, or store-bought low-sodium chicken broth, plus more if needed

  • 8 ounces (225g) lettuce, core and root ends trimmed, leaves torn if large (see notes)

  • 1/4 cup (1 small handful) loosely packed parsley leaves

  • Kosher salt

  • Fresh lemon juice, to taste

  • Thinly sliced radish and pea shoots, tossed in extra-virgin olive oil, for garnish (see notes)

Directions

  1. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat until foamy. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add stock, bring to a simmer, and cook until vegetables are very tender, about 8 minutes. Add lettuce and parsley and cook until wilted and softened, 1 to 2 minutes.

    Hot or Cold Creamy Lettuce Soup Recipe (5)

  2. Working in batches if necessary, transfer broth and vegetables to a blender and blend, starting at the lowest speed and increasing to high, until very smooth, about 3 minutes. If soup is too thick, thin as needed with additional stock. Season with salt and just a touch of lemon juice to brighten flavor (add it very sparingly to prevent soup from becoming tart). Garnish with radish and pea shoots (or other garnish) and serve warm or chilled.

Special Equipment

Blender

Notes

This recipe works with many varieties of lettuce, including romaine, Bibb, oak leaf, arugula, and cress. I'd advise against iceberg because of its extreme lack of flavor.

You can use shallots or leeks in place of or in combination with the onion.

Feel free to change the garnish depending on what's available; diced crispy bacon and cherry tomatoes would be fun.

Read More

  • How to Make Creamy Vegetable Soups Without a Recipe
  • 16 Chilled Soups to Make the Most of Summer Produce
  • How to Clean and Store Fresh Produce
  • Soups
  • Greens
  • Summer Mains
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
114Calories
7g Fat
10g Carbs
4g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories114
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g9%
Saturated Fat 4g20%
Cholesterol 16mg5%
Sodium 203mg9%
Total Carbohydrate 10g4%
Dietary Fiber 2g8%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 12mg59%
Calcium 49mg4%
Iron 1mg7%
Potassium 374mg8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Hot or Cold Creamy Lettuce Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can you add milk to soup to make it creamy? ›

Whole milk or half-and-half also thicken up the soup. I've even made it with half the amount (1/2 cup or 120ml) heavy cream in a pinch. (Add more chicken broth if you use heavy cream; see recipe Note.) Nice and thick, without being too heavy.

Can lettuce be cooked? ›

Cooked lettuce is one of my favorite ways to quickly infuse flavor (and luck) into weeknight meals, paired with a simple protein or simply spooned atop rice. Lettuce transforms dramatically under heat, which breaks down the stems and leaves to create a silky, tender-crisp texture.

Which soup is served chilled? ›

Cold soups
NameOrigin country
GazpachoSpain
NaengmyeonKorea
NaenggukKorea
OkroshkaRussia
9 more rows

How do I make my soup more creamy? ›

The best options for thickening soup are cream or half and half. Plain yogurt or even freshly grated cheese works well and adds an extra layer of tangy, salty flavor. Add the dairy at the end and avoid bringing the soup to a boil since this can cause yogurt, cheese, or cream to split.

When should I add cream to soup? ›

Cream is used to add richness to soup, as the extra fat makes it delicious. Be sure not to bring it to a boil, but rather, add it in at the last minute before serving. The best item to thicken a soup is some sort of starch, whether from flour, cornstarch, arrowroot, or even a lot of potatoes.

Is lettuce good heated up? ›

it is safe to eat cooked lettuce leaves, as cooking can help reduce the risk of foodborne illness. However, it is important to ensure that the lettuce is thoroughly washed and properly cooked to minimize the risk of contamination.

What does boiling lettuce do? ›

“The theory behind this trend is that drinking hot lettuce water before bedtime will help you fall asleep faster because of the sedative properties found in lettuce,” explains Korina Burkhard, sleep expert and board advisor at Dozy Sleep.

Can lettuce to served warm? ›

But lettuce can be cooked, too, and deliciously so. As the days head into mid-winter and cool salads no longer hit the spot, try serving your lettuce hot.

What type of soup can be either hot or cold? ›

Expert-Verified Answer

Fruit soup is a kind of soup that can be served either hot or cold.

Why not put hot soup in fridge? ›

Dangerous bacterial growth occurs between 41 and 135 degrees F (5 and 57 degrees C). This spectrum is known as the danger zone for foods. Potentially harmful bacteria grow most rapidly at these temperatures. Placing large batches of hot foods in the fridge can push the temperature of the fridge into this danger zone.

What is a cold soup called? ›

Gazpacho (Spanish: [ɡaθˈpatʃo]) or gaspacho ( Portuguese: [ɡɐʃˈpaʃu]), also called Andalusian gazpacho, is a cold soup and drink made of raw, blended vegetables. It originated in the southern regions of the Iberian peninsula and spread into other areas.

At what temperature does lettuce go bad? ›

In general, it's recommended to store lettuce in the refrigerator at temperatures between 32°F (0°C) and 41°F (5°C). If left unrefrigerated, lettuce can start to wilt and lose its crispness within a few hours, especially in warmer temperatures.

Can dogs eat lettuce? ›

The general consensus is that dogs can eat lettuce such as romaine, arugula and iceberg. Lettuce of these variety do not contain anything that may be inherently harmful towards your dog. Lettuce is considered a low-calorie snack and a great training treat for overweight dogs, or those on a low-calorie diet.

How long until lettuce goes bad? ›

Its high water content helps preserve its crispness, but external moisture can make leaves wilt. Hold off on washing the lettuce until you're ready to use it. Regular iceberg heads, wrapped tightly in plastic, keep for 10 to 12 days in the refrigerator.

How to add milk to soup without curdling? ›

Here's some tips to prevent curdling:
  1. Prepare a warm milk/flour mixture to add to hot soup.
  2. Stir some hot soup liquid into cold dairy product to temper it, then add to the soup.
  3. Do not boil the soup after adding any dairy product, especially cheese.
  4. Add acid to the milk instead of milk into the acid.
Dec 15, 2016

Does adding milk to soup help? ›

To balance flavors: Milk can help to tone down the acidity in soups, making them more palatable. To enrich the broth: Adding milk to soups can increase their nutrient content, particularly if you use whole milk. To thicken the soup: Milk can also help to thicken soups, making them more filling.

Can you add milk to soup to make it thicker? ›

Thicken with Dairy

If you're not a fan of slurries or roux, dairy is your next best method. Dairy adds a velvety texture that results in rich and creamy soups. Dairy can curdle your soup, so make sure to stick to higher-fat content products (coconut milk, heavy cream, sour cream) instead of milks.

When should I add milk to my soup? ›

Add dairy ingredients when the soup is simmering on low to reduce the chance of curdling. You can also mix a small amount of soup into your dairy first to temper it, and then add it back to the pot.

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