Nifty new ideas used to be called “the greatest thing since sliced bread.” If current trends are any indicator, we may soon be describing ingenious inventions as “the greatest things since lettuce cups.”

Bread is being pushed off the sandwich board, as diners opt for their favorite fillings to be snuggled inside—or rolled into—a sturdy lettuce holder. It’s a turn of events that would certainly surprise John Montagu, fourth Earl of Sandwich. (He’s the guy who invented the sandwich in 1762 as a way to get a quick meal while gambling.)

But for today’s low carb and gluten free diners, a slab of roast beef slapped between two pieces of white bread just won’t do. They want chicken patties presented between leaves of Little Gem lettuces, paleo hamburgers nestled between slices of sweet potato “bun,” or seafood salads served in iceberg lettuce cups.

Get started

If you’d like to try offering up a breadless sandwich or wrap option on your menu, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind. First, select large and flexible leaves of lettuce. After a thorough washing of the greens, be sure to dry them very well to keep them from diluting your filling mixture.

Popular varieties for wraps include Bibb, RomaCruch and Little Gem. If you need something sturdier for a low-carb burrito, consider using collard greens or other sturdy greens. If you’re seeking to create cups, iceberg, red lettuce or radicchio leaves are good options.

Anything you’re using as a dip or sandwich filling can work with breadless options, as well. Since this is a type of dish that will appeal to more health-conscious diners, you’ll want to keep those fillings on the lighter side. Be sure to include at least one option that’s plant-based.

Simply Dressed

The perfect complements for breadless sandwiches are T. Marzetti Simply Dressed® dressings. They’re all made with a minimal number of all-natural, simple ingredients, such as extra virgin olive oil, canola oil and sea salt, and they all pair well with crunchy toppers. Choose from Blue Cheese, Caesar, Cole Slaw, Cucumber Ranch, Lemon Vinaigrette, Pomegranate Vinaigrette, Ranch, Strawberry Poppyseed Vinaigrette. Or try Simply 60™ Apple Cider Vinaigrette, Balsamic Vinaigrette, Buttermilk Ranch, Creamy Caesar, Garlic Parmesan or Red Wine Italian Vinaigrette. Wondering which greens go best with which dressing? Use our pairing with greens guide for suggestions.

Read more

Lettuce Wraps by Food and Wine

Recipes

Crunchy Lettuce Wraps

Thai Lettuce Wraps

BBQ Lettuce Wraps

As diners continue to seek out the freshest, tastiest salad offerings they can find, they’re showing genuine appreciation for the tasty elements that balance out a perfect salad. Offering the highest-quality ingredients, the best-tasting dressings and the crunchiest, most delicious salad toppings. Marzetti has you covered in every aspect of creating a salad home run.

Make your own crunch with chana chor

One easy-to-make and inexpensive topper is crunchy garbanzo beans, which fulfills diners’ desire for a more plant-based proteins and their increasing interest in globally conscious dining, all in one simple dish. While the chickpea is popular in a number of different cuisines, including Indian, Turkish, Ethiopian, Middle Eastern, Greek, Italian and Spanish, the U.S. historically has been slow to get on the chickpea bandwagon.

That’s changed with the rapid adoption of a traditional Indian street food called chana chor, which are nothing more than chickpeas tossed in oil and seasonings, then baked until crispy. Packages of roasted chickpeas are easy to order in, but you also can make your own fresh version quite easily. Check out the recipe section below to get started.

Get nutty and feeling fruitastic

Nuts and seeds, both increasingly popular sources of protein are growing in popularity as salad toppers. Try ordering in a big bunch and toasting them lightly to bring out the flavors and aromatic oils. They also will keep quite a while in your freezer. Consider topping your next salad special with almonds, chia seeds, toasted quinoa, “popped” sorghum, hemp seeds, corn nuts, sunflower seeds or pepitas.

On the sweet side, shelf-stable options for crunchy toppers include dried fruit or banana chips. Check out this recent post on the popularity of fruit in salads.

Don’t forget leftovers

Did you precook too much bacon for brunch? Are you stuck with a few extra loaves of bread? Make your own bacon bits or croutons, and you’ll have a head start on crunchy toppings. If you’re overloaded with parmesan cheese, making small crisps as a “cracker” to top a salad can be a savory, umami-rich way to balance milder veggies with richer flavor notes.

Time for Simply Dressed

No matter what’s topping your salads, you’ll want to dress them right, and there’s no better way to do that than by choosing Marzetti Simply Dressed® dressings. They’re all made with a minimal number of all-natural, simple ingredients, such as extra virgin olive oil, canola oil and sea salt, and they all pair well with crunchy toppers.

Read more

In the Future, Everything Will Be Made of Chickpeas, from Atlantic

5 Ways to Add More Crunch to Your Salad

Recipes

Alton Brown’s roasted chickpea recipe

Arugula, Pancetta & Goat Cheese Brunch Salad

Brussels Sprouts Salad