Corn salad

Corn salad (Valerianella locusta), also known as lamb's lettuce or mache, is a small dicot annual plant of the family Caprifoliaceae. It is native to Europe and Western Asia. It is grown for its leaves, which are used as a salad green in many countries.

Description

Corn salad grows in a rosette of low spoon-shaped leaves up to 15.2 cm long. The plant blooms in late spring, producing small light purple flowers. The seeds are small, brown, and shiny.

Cultivation

Corn salad prefers cool, moist conditions and is often grown as a winter salad green. It is direct-seeded in the garden in early spring or late summer. The plants are harvested when the leaves are large enough to eat, usually in about 45 to 60 days.

Culinary uses

Corn salad leaves have a mild, slightly sweet flavor and a soft, buttery texture. They are often used in salads, either alone or mixed with other greens. They can also be lightly cooked and used as a side dish.

Nutritional value

Corn salad is rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, and iron. It also contains significant amounts of potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

History

Corn salad has been cultivated in Europe since the 17th century. It was often grown as a forage crop for livestock, hence its common name "lamb's lettuce".

See also

• List of leaf vegetables
• Salad