Romaine lettuce
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remove comment completely irrelevant to Romaine lettuce
[[Image:Romaine.jpg|thumb|Romaine lettuce]]
'''Romaine''' or '''cos lettuce''' (''Lactuca sativa'' L. var. ''longifolia'') is a variety of [[lettuce]] which grows in a long head of sturdy leaves with a firm rib down the center. Unlike most lettuces, it is tolerant of heat.
==Origin and etymology==
Most dictionaries trace the word ''cos'' to the name of the Greek island of [[Kos|Cos]], from which the lettuce was presumably introduced. Other authorities (Davidson) trace it to the [[Arabic language|Arabic]] word for ''lettuce'', خس ({{IPA2|xus}})
It apparently reached the West via [[Rome]], as in [[Italian language|Italian]] it is called ''lattuga romana'' and in [[French language|French]] ''laitue romaine'', hence the name 'romaine', the common term in [[American English]]. (Davidson)
==Cuisine==
The thick ribs, especially on the older outer leaves, should have a milky fluid which gives the romaine the typically fine-bitter herb taste. Romaine is the standard lettuce used in [[Caesar salad]].
Romaine lettuce is often used in the [[Passover Seder]] as a type of [[maror|bitter herb]], to symbolise the bitterness inflicted by the Egyptians whilst the Israelites were slaves in Egypt.
==Nutrition==
The [http://www.aicr.org/site/PageServer?pagename=dc_foods_greens American Institute for Cancer Research] includes Romaine Lettuce in its list of foods that fight Cancer.
{{nutritionalvalue|name=Romaine lettuce|kJ=72|water=95 g|protein=1.2 g|fat=0.3 g|carbs=3.3 g|fibre=2.1 g|vitA_ug=290|vitC_mg=24|potassium_mg=247|phoshorus_mg=30|calcium_mg=33|iron_mg=0.97|folate_ug=136|source_usda=1|right=1}}
==References==
* [[Alan Davidson (food writer)|Alan Davidson]], ''The Oxford Companion to Food'', ''s.v.'' lettuce. Oxford University Press [[1999]]. ISBN 0-19-211579-0.
* [[John D. Kirschmann]] & [[Lavon J. Dunne]], ''Nutrition Almanac'', ''s.v.'' ISBN 0-07-034906-1.
==References==
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{{wiktionary|romaine}}
{{vegetable-stub}}
[[de:Römersalat]]
[[es:Lechuga romana]]
[[eo:Roma laktuko]]
[[fr:Laitue romaine]]
[[nl:Bindsla]]
[[sv:Romansallad]]