Celtuce

Celtuce
Celtuce stems and heads
SpeciesLactuca sativa var. augustana
Cultivar'Celtuce'
OriginMediterranean region
Celtuce, raw
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy75 kJ (18 kcal)
3.65 g
Dietary fiber1.7 g
0.3 g
0.85 g
Vitamins and minerals
VitaminsQuantity
%DV
Vitamin A equiv.
19%
175 μg
Thiamine (B1)
5%
0.055 mg
Riboflavin (B2)
5%
0.07 mg
Niacin (B3)
3%
0.55 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)
4%
0.183 mg
Vitamin B6
3%
0.05 mg
Folate (B9)
12%
46 μg
Vitamin C
22%
19.5 mg
MineralsQuantity
%DV
Calcium
3%
39 mg
Iron
3%
0.55 mg
Magnesium
7%
28 mg
Manganese
30%
0.688 mg
Phosphorus
3%
39 mg
Potassium
11%
330 mg
Sodium
0%
11 mg
Zinc
2%
0.27 mg

Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults,[1] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies.[2]

Celtuce (/ˈsɛlt.əs/) (Lactuca sativa var. augustana,[3][4][5] angustata, or asparagina), also called stem lettuce,[6] celery lettuce, asparagus lettuce,[7] or Chinese lettuce, is a cultivar of lettuce grown primarily for its thick stem or its leaves. It is used as a vegetable. In China, the family is informally called woju (traditional Chinese: 萵苣; simplified Chinese: 莴苣; pinyin: wōjù), which is also the name of a cultivar.[citation needed] It is especially popular in both China and Taiwan, where the stem is interchangeably called wosun (traditional Chinese: 萵筍; simplified Chinese: 莴笋; pinyin: wōsǔn) or qingsun(青筍; 青笋; qīngsǔn).

History

[edit]

Popular sources identify it as originating in the Mediterranean region and then being brought to China during the Tang dynasty,[8] about A.D. 600–900.[9]

Cultivation

[edit]

It can be grown from seed and is sown from April through May in the Northern Hemisphere. The seeds can be planted in a set bed or a temporary nursery bed and then transplanted to the growing site. They should be spread 30 cm apart each way. The young (edible) leaves are ready about 4–5 weeks after planting and the edible stems are ready when about 30 cm tall. They are usually harvested between July and September.[6]

The plant can suffer from aphid attacks.[9]

Uses

[edit]

Culinary

[edit]

The pale green leaves,[7] which are tender,[4] and white stems[6] can be eaten raw (in salads) or cooked. It can be pickled, grilled, roasted, or stir-fried.[6][7] It is mild but nutty, with a slight smoky aftertaste.[7][8] It is high in vitamins.[6]

The stem is usually harvested at a length of around 15–20 cm and a diameter of around 3–4 cm. It is crisp, moist, and mildly flavored, and typically prepared by slicing and then stir frying with more strongly flavored ingredients.

It is primarily available as pickled stems. In China the pickled stem is often eaten as a side dish.[10]

In the US, celtuce is being used as a gluten-free pasta substitute.[11]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ United States Food and Drug Administration (2024). "Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels". FDA. Archived from the original on 2024-03-27. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  2. ^ National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Food and Nutrition Board; Committee to Review the Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium (2019). Oria, Maria; Harrison, Meghan; Stallings, Virginia A. (eds.). Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium. The National Academies Collection: Reports funded by National Institutes of Health. Washington, DC: National Academies Press (US). ISBN 978-0-309-48834-1. PMID 30844154. Archived from the original on 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  3. ^ Stanley J. Kays iCultivated Vegetables of the World: A Multilingual Onomasticon, p. 658, at Google Books
  4. ^ a b Masatoshi Yamaguchi World Vegetables: Principles, Production and Nutritive Values, p. 208, at Google Books
  5. ^ Caroline Foley How to Plant Your Allotment, p. 51, at Google Books
  6. ^ a b c d e "Celtuce or Stem Lettuce". kingsseeds.com. Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  7. ^ a b c d Nosowitz, Dan (29 April 2016). "Meet The Vegetable: Celtuce, a Mutant and Delicious Lettuce ..on". modernfarmer.com. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Celtuce ribbon salad". soyricefire.com. 21 April 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  9. ^ a b "Celtuce, 'Wo Sun'". seedaholic.com. Archived from the original on 2017-08-14. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  10. ^ Hutton, Wendy (2004). A Cook's Guide to Asian Vegetables. Singapore: Periplus Editions. pp. 52–53. ISBN 0794600786.
  11. ^ "Celtuce". GardenSmart.