Butterhead (also called “bibb”) lettuce's tender leaves are a lovely, vibrant spring green. Buy round, not-too-big heads. If exterior leaves are tough or brown edged, trim or discard. Inner leaves, also sweet, may be pale yellow. Handle and wash gently.

Toss a salad of torn butter lettuce with chopped avocado, grapefruit sections, and poppy-seed dressing. Or mix with baby spinach, diced pear, and mild goat cheese; drizzle with a subtly sweet rice-vinegar dressing.

This succulent lettuce adds a nice touch to juiced drinks. In your juicer, process half a small head of butter lettuce, a few carrots or parsnips, and an orange or apple. Or make your juice even greener with a combination of lettuce, spinach, celery, and parsley.

Cutting down on carbs? Use pliable butter-lettuce leaves to wrap burgers or to stuff with grilled fish, guacamole, and salsa.

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