Pickled Lettuce

June 24, 2024September 29, 2024

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Pickled Lettuce is the zesty topping you didn’t know you needed on tacos, subs and more! It’s just the sour condiment for those of us who don’t want to mess with the hot brine of the traditional pickling method.

pickled lettuce in a white bowl with a blue napkin next to it

I had no idea pickled lettuce existed but I’ve been eating it my whole life. Well, most of my life. My dad made tacos with this as a topping and I just called it ‘the lettuce’. But it was iceberg lettuce and thinly sliced onion all soaked in vinegar, salt, pepper and garlic powder (and a few shakes of Frank’s Red Hot hot sauce if you want).

Somehow I grew up never knowing that my dad’s family called it soggy salad. Maybe that’s a thing somewhere? I decided to go with calling it pickled lettuce because I think that helps you instantly get an idea of what it’s like and what to use it for. Regardless of what we call it, it’s a humble, but crazy good, cheap, flavorful topping for taco bowls, burritos, fajitas and more. Let’s make it!

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase any of the items linked in this post, I should earn a small commission. This creates no additional cost to you and helps support the work that goes into running The Fig Jar. Thank you! -Becky

Pickled lettuce ingredients

Iceberg lettuce
White or yellow onion
Avocado oil or olive oil
Red wine vinegar
White distilled vinegar
Garlic powder
Salt and pepper
A little bit of Frank’s Red Hot hot sauce (Optional)

How to make pickled lettuce

Let’s make pickled lettuce! It’s super easy and quick.

Slice iceberg lettuce and onions as thin as you can. I just use half a head because that’s just what makes enough for us and will stay good long enough for us to eat it. You can easily double the recipe if you want to just use the whole head of lettuce.

How to cut lettuce

FFirst, slice the head of lettuce in half and separate the two halves. With the cut side facing your knife, cut at a diagonal angle to remove the core. Then cut the half-head in half again and thinly slice away until each half is finely shredded.

thinly sliced iceberg lettuce and onions on a wooden cutting board

Next, place the lettuce in a large bowl and add the vinegar and spices. Now’s the time to add a few shakes of hot sauce if you’d like!

thinly sliced lettuce and onions in a bowl with spices

pickled lettuce in a bowl marinating with spices and vinegar

Allow this to marinate at least 30 minutes before serving. We like to eat it cold or room temperature.

What to eat with pickled lettuce

Tacos – This works great with any type of taco! Vegetarian or meat tacos are my favorite.

Sandwiches – Think of a sub sandwich; you need more hearty bread to stand up to all the liquid.

This taco bowl recipe is the PERFECT companion for pickled lettuce!

Fajitas

How long does lettuce last in the fridge?

So this isn’t a traditional pickling recipe in the sense that the intention is to preserve it. I suppose you could, but I will not be delving into that (This quick-pickled lettuce recipe is a bit more of a traditional pickling recipe and lasts in the fridge for about 14 days if you’re looking for a long-lasting pickled product).

Generally, most lettuces can be washed and kept in the fridge for 7-10 days, but once shredded, lettuce should be consumed within 2-3 days but can last longer if it is kept in an airtight container.

Once this lettuce is prepared, it will, of course, get soggy quickly. So it’s up to you and your preference as to how soggy you like to go with your lettuce. I prefer to eat it immediately (after it’s quick-pickled) or by the next day but it is still enjoyable for about two days after it is prepared. I wouldn’t recommend eating it past 3 days in the refrigerator.

How to store pickled lettuce

To store this pickled lettuce, simply cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Alternatively, you could place it in a mason jar or any airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Substitutions and Additions

This recipe has quite a unique flavor compared to other quick-pickled lettuce recipes. If you’d like to add a bit more spice, simply add more hot sauce or try adding red pepper flakes to the lettuce in addition or instead of the hot sauce.