The main difference between lettuce and cabbage is that lettuce is a leafy green vegetable that belongs to the vegetable family of Asteraceae, while cabbage is an annually grown leafy cruciferous vegetable that is a member of the Brassica family.
Although cabbage and lettuce are both green vegetables with many layers of leaves, cabbage has a tougher texture and contains less water than lettuce. When it comes to their culinary use, we frequently consume cabbage boiled, steamed, or mixed in coleslaw, but lettuce, with its crunchy texture, is often consumed raw, mixed in green salads or as sandwich or burger toppings.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Lettuce
– Definition, Features, Nutrients
2. What is Cabbage
– Definition, Features, Nutrients
3. Similarities Between Lettuce and Cabbage
– Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Lettuce and Cabbage
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Cabbage, Lettuce
What is Lettuce
Lettuce is a leafy green vegetable. It belongs to the daisy family of Asteraceae. Lettuce is a vegetable rich in fat, dietary fibre, proteins, carbohydrates, and sugars. Furthermore, the mineral content available in lettuce includes calcium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, potassium, zinc and sodium, together with vitamins such as folate, riboflavin, thiamin, niacin, Vitamin C, A, E, K and B6. Adding lettuce to your daily diet allows you to absorb these nutrients essential in fighting cancer, lowering cholesterol levels, protecting neurons, preventing inflammation, and controlling anxiety and insomnia. In addition, there is a high percentage of antioxidants in lettuce as well.
There are different varieties of lettuce, and iceberg lettuce is one of them. Iceberg lettuce has a crispy texture and a mild taste to it. It has leaves with a greener shade on the outside and a whiter shade on the inside. Iceberg lettuce is a rich source of choline. Romaine lettuce is another type of lettuce, and it possesses long and green leaves. Similar to iceberg lettuce, Romaine lettuce also has a crispy texture to it. But in contrast to the mild taste of Iceberg lettuce, Romaine lettuce has a deeper and stronger taste. But Romaine lettuce is a good source of vitamin rich in vitamin C, A B1, A and B2. Butterhead lettuce, on the other hand, has loose and larger leaves, which give away a sweet taste and a soft texture.
What is Cabbage
Cabbage is an annually grown leafy vegetable available in green, red, or white shades. Cabbage, being a cruciferous vegetable, is a member of the Brassica family. Cabbages are usually round or oval in shape. Cabbage is made up of light green or whiter soft inner leaves covered with harder and darker green outer layers. Similar to broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts, cabbage is a cole crop.
Cabbage is a frequently used vegetable throughout the world as it can be prepared in many culinary styles. We often use raw or cooked cabbage leaves in many salads. Cabbage gives us a heavy dose of health benefits. They are a rich source of antioxidants, and boost human brain function, improve digestion, protect skin against disorders, and prevent heart diseases. Above all, cabbage is one of the best low-calorie food options. There are seven main varieties of cabbage: Choy sum, Bok choy, red cabbage, Napa cabbage, Cannonball cabbage, January king cabbage and Savoy cabbage.
Similarities Between Lettuce and Cabbage
- Lettuce and cabbage are green and leafy vegetables rich in a pack of nutrients.
- Both these vegetables have all essential amino acids in equal amounts
- Moreover, both lettuce and cabbage share similar fat content.
- They are used in preparing a variety of green and mixed salads.
Difference Between Lettuce and Cabbage
Definition
Lettuce is a leafy green vegetable that belongs to the daisy family of Asteraceae, while cabbage is an annually grown leafy cruciferous vegetable that is a member of the Brassica family.
Appearance
Appearance-wise, a cabbage usually has a short, green stem and a bulb head, whereas lettuce consists of a short stem and green leaves wrapped around each other.
Taste and Texture
Compared to cabbage, lettuce is crunchier and less tough in texture. In addition, lettuce is odourless and milder in taste than the strong odour and taste of cabbage.
Nutrient Profile
100 grams of cabbage includes 25 calories, while 100 grams of lettuce includes 14 calories. When it comes to their fibre content, the dietary fibre percentage of cabbage is twice the amount of dietary fibre content present in lettuce. Therefore, if you want to add more fibre to your diet, cabbage is a healthier option.
Conclusion
In brief, the main difference between lettuce and cabbage is that lettuce belongs to the Asteraceae family of vegetables while cabbage belongs to the Brassica plant family. Simply put, both lettuce and cabbage are green and leafy vegetables frequently less preferred by children in spite of their rich nutrient profile. These two vegetables vary from each other mainly when it comes to their appearance, taste, and nutrition.
Reference:
1. Kubala, Jillian. “9 Impressive Health Benefits of Cabbage.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 4 Nov. 2017.
2. “Lettuce Nutrition Facts: Nutrient Benefits of Leafy Greens.” LettuceInfo.org, 15 Sept. 2021.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Salad-head-of-lettuce-ice-lettuce” (CC0) via Pixabay
2. “Cabbage, green cabbage, vegetable, food and drink, healthy eating, freshness, green color, food, agriculture, leaf” (CC0) via Pxfuel
Leave a Reply