• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Healthy World Cuisine logo
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Health and Diet
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Health and Diet
  • Contact
  • About
  • SUBSCRIBE
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Sides » Vegetables » Stir Fried Romaine Lettuce

    Stir Fried Romaine Lettuce

    Published: Mar 6, 2015 · Modified: Feb 5, 2021 by HWC Magazine · 62 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Stir Fried Romaine Lettuce / https://www.hwcmagazine.com

    Stir Fried Crispy Romaine Lettuce has a light essence of ginger, garlic, sesame oil and chili flakes, if you like a little kick, and is the perfect way to eat your salad in the cooler months.Stir Fried Romaine Lettuce in a beautiful blue designed Foshan, China plates and cups.

    Stir Frying Lettuce?

    I know what you thinking...

    What??? Cooked romaine lettuce??? Are you insane??? Lettuce is supposed to be served cold!!!

    When most people think of eating lettuce, they think of a nice cold tossed salad to accompany a meal. However, do not knock this stir fried romaine lettuce recipe until you have tried it. It is crispy, light, flavorful and ready in less than 5 minutes from start to finish.

    Close up shot of Romaine lettuce showing the red pepper flakes, garlic and also the ribs of the lettuce. Super clear- a macro shot!

    Light and Lovely Stir Fried Romaine Lettuce

    Sometimes in the restaurants in Hong Kong, this lettuce dish will be smothered with a thick sauce. I prefer a lighter version of this dish. My family likes a combination of roughly chopped romaine, garlic, ginger, shoaxing wine, dash of salt and white pepper, drizzle of sesame oil and a sprinkle of dried chili flakes. Stir fried romaine lettuce is light, healthy, gluten-free, vegan, diabetic friendly and cardiac friendly.

    Stir Fried Romaine Lettuce / Healthy World Cuisine/ https://www.hwcmagazine.com

    Stir fried romaine lettuce, is a great alternative to a tossed salad in the cooler months. It is a completely balanced food with the yin properties of the lettuce and the yang properties of the garlic and dried hot chili flakes. However if you do not believe in any of these theories, no worries just try the dish anyways just because it tastes great.  In less than 5 minutes you can have a crisp, spicy vegetable dish will knock your socks off.

    Generally speaking, Chinese culture does not usually include eating too many raw foods. Everything is either stir fried, steamed, fried, placed in a soup or placed in a hot-pot, including their lettuce. Cold foods are not good for your digestion health. To learn more about this preventative therapy, be sure to read Feed Your Spleen: Nourish Your Body. 

    Head od romaine lettuce and garlic on a bamboo cutting board.

    Food is Medicine

    In addition, Chinese Traditional Medicine (TCM) and Chinese nutrition therapy there is a relationship to food in the prevention of diseases and it has been around for 1000's of years, so it can't be wrong. One of the central ideas in this belief system is that certain foods have a "hot" or heat inducing quality (yang) while others have a "cold" or chilling effect (Yin) on one's body, organs or "energy" levels. The idea being that upset to one's natural balance of "heat" and "cold" in a body can cause disease or be more conducive towards sickness. Learn more about this concept in our Introducing the Five Energies of food Article.

    Stir Fried Romaine Lettuce / Healthy World Cuisine/ https://www.hwcmagazine.com

    Yin and Yang

    Yang foods are believed to increase the body's heat, while Yin foods are believed to decrease the body's heat or decrease the metabolism. Just to confuse you a little further some fruits and vegetables can be yin, some yang and some neutral (such as sweet potato and carrots).  According to TCM, lettuce is a cooling (yin) vegetable. Ginger and chili are heating (yang) vegetables/herbs. Therefore the mix of both the yin and yang attributes gives Stir Fried Romaine Lettuce a nice balance.

    Changing Seasons need Warming Nourishing Meals

    I know that no matter where you are around the world you can relate to this.  Some of you are still shoveling the snow off your roofs (that is a new kind of hell), some of you are ending summer such as in Australia (too cold to surf ) and some of you are in the super humidity of the tropics (REALLY bad hair days) like me. The key word here is change. We are in changing seasons and when the body experiences the change from hot to cold or cold to hot in the weather more illnesses such as the common cold and flu decide to come around. Please be good to yourself and increase your immunity by eating healthy balanced (ying/yang) foods and getting plenty of rest.

    Top down shot of the stir fried lettuce in a blue and white plate with chopsticks.

    Difference between Yin and Yang Foods

    Generally speaking, Yang foods tend to be dense in energy from fat, while Yin foods tend to have high water content. My Chinese friends ideally try to eat both types of food to keep the body in balance. Maybe even without thinking about it, even if you do not have a Chinese heritage, you normally crave lighter dishes such as salads and such in the summer months and in the winter we crave soups, stews and carbohydrates. It is just a natural thing.

    Best Types of Lettuces for Stir Frying

    Romaine lettuce is used instead of other lettuces such as loose leaf, rocket, mesclun and butter head as it is firm and can hold up to the stir fry process. Iceberg lettuce also works too. However, endive and radicchio can also be used but they have stronger flavors and I like the delicate taste of the romaine.

    Stir Fried Romaine Lettuce / Healthy World Cuisine/ https://www.hwcmagazine.com

    Foshan, China's Beautiful China Plates

    Don't you love my beautiful blue plates displaying my stir fried romaine lettuce from Foshan, China?!! If you ever head my way you have to for sure check out Foshan as this town is just about 2 hours and 55 minutes hours bus ride from the Hong Kong border and they have shops and shops filled with gorgeous Chinese little dishes, vases and plates.

    If you are foodie or a food blogger, you know how we all have this love/obsession for small little plates and dishes. Check out these lovely vases below... I need a bigger kitchen and more cupboard space.

    Foshan China with hundreds of beautiful blue and white plates, cups and vases.

    The next time you open your crisper and you see romaine lettuce, I hope you give this Stir Fried Romaine Lettuce a try instead of making a side salad to go with your meal. Have a super day!

    More Delicious Chinese Recipes

    Garlic Chili Stir Fried Lotus Root

    Beef Noodles with Spicy XO Sauce

    Spiced Yam and Vegetable Stir Fry

    Clean Eating Shrimp Stir Fry

    Wood Ear Mushroom Vegan Stir Fry

    Looking for more delicious recipes? Subscribe to our Newsletter and follow along on Facebook, You Tube, Instagram, and Pinterest for all the latest updates.

    Stir Fried Romaine Lettuce

    Stir fried crispy Romaine lettuce has a light essence of ginger, garlic, sesame oil and chili flakes if you like a little kick and is the perfect way to eat your salad in the cooler months.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Sides
    Cuisine: Chinese
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 103kcal
    Author: HWC Magazine

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon oil
    • 1 inch ginger knob fresh , peeled and grated.
    • 3 cloves garlic
      peeled and minced
    • 2 heads romaine lettuce
      medium sized, washed, dried and cut into about 2 inch segments.
    • salt and white pepper
      to taste
    • 1 tablespoon rice wine (shao xing) or cooking sherry
    • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
    • ½ teaspoon dried chili flakes - ½ teaspoon or to taste (optional) or to taste - optional
    US Customary - Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • In a wok or frying pan add your canola oil, ginger and garlic and fry about 1 minute until aromatic.
    • Add the cut and dried romaine lettuce, salt and white pepper (I prefer the light flavours of just a light dusting of salt and white pepper but you can also use one tablespoon of soya sauce (tamari) or even ½ teaspoon of gluten free vegetable powder, if you wish), sugar (optional), shoaxing wine and toss quickly. Immediately Remove from heat: It is very important that you remove the roam in lettuce from heat while the romaine is just starting to wilt as the heat from the pan will continue to cook the romaine lettuce even after you remove it from the heat.  Drizzle over sesame oil and dried chili flakes if desired and toss.
    • Enjoy as a delicious healthy vegetable side dish.

    Notes

    The most important step is to have everything mise en place and be ready to go as once you start stir frying it goes very fast. 
    Once you throw in your romaine lettuce it will take less than one minute to cook if that. Your goal is just to start the wilting process and take it out of the wok ASAP. The heat of the pan will continue to cook your lettuce. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 26mg | Potassium: 782mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 27262IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 107mg | Iron: 3mg
    Did you make this recipe?Tag us @HWCMagazine or hastag us #HWCMagazine!

    More Vegetables

    • 4 ingredient keto okra on skewers grilling on a gas grill.
      Keto Grilled Okra with Tajín
    • One rosemary spiced air fryer butternut squash steak roasted and on a turquoise plate and fork.
      Rosemary Air Fryer Butternut Squash Steaks
    • The ultimate baked potato bar is set up with toppings and 6 loaded potatoes on a wooden board.
      Baked Potato Bar
    • Spicy Lotus Root Stir Fry on a black plate garnished with chili and green onions.
      Spicy Lotus Root Stir Fry

    About HWC Magazine

    Join our Healthy World Cuisine medical editors (trained in both Western and Eastern Medicine) and learn how to EAT your way around the WORLD from the comfort of your own kitchen. Grab free health tips, recipe ideas, meal plans and gain a better understand how eating choices can affect your health. Be the healthier and happier YOU!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says

      March 09, 2015 at 7:03 pm

      I had dinner at a friends place a few months ago and she had stir-fried lettuce with finely chopped red chillis and I loved it and promptly forgot about it until I saw this post. I love your photos!

      Reply
    2. Amy (Savory Moments) says

      March 09, 2015 at 6:40 pm

      You're correct, I was at first a bit surprised by the stir-fried lettuce - but you definitely make it look and sound delicious! I would give it a try for sure 🙂

      Reply
    3. hotlyspiced says

      March 09, 2015 at 4:16 am

      Beautiful images, Bam and I love the idea of a stir-fried lettuce. Interestingly, I'd never actually thought about how, whenever I eat Chinese, I'm not actually seeing or eating much of anything that's raw. The yin and yang way of eating is an interesting concept xx

      Reply
      • Healthy World Cuisine says

        March 09, 2015 at 8:13 am

        Thank you Charlie! You never usually eat anything raw in Chinese cuisine. Long before the idea of refrigeration became available in China, stir frying, boiling, etc was their method to keep people healthy as the high temperatures would kill any bacteria. This tradition, along with TCM is why you will not see raw vegetables in Chinese cooking. Very interesting concept don't you think? I was studying TCM as a part of my studies here. Consuming too many raw things, according to TCM, is not good for your spleen. (don't try to think of this from a western method of medicine as it will rack your brain like it did mine. TCM requires a whole giving up of everything you learned about western medicine...difficult for me...)

        Reply
    4. Raymund says

      March 09, 2015 at 2:44 am

      I agree when I first saw this in HK i was surprised, I first tried it in a chicken fried rice where lettuce was added on the last part of cooking giving the fried rice an extra texture. Got to try this one out, reminds me of the French petit pois, where they cook peas with lettuce as well.

      Reply
      • Healthy World Cuisine says

        March 09, 2015 at 8:17 am

        Hi there Raymond! Don't you just love the texture contrast between the chicken and the stir fried lettuce? I was also in shock to find out what I was eating for the first time in HK was cooked lettuce. I was racking my brain to determine what this new Chinese vegetable might be... This recipe is so simple and delicious and gives you a new way of using up those sad looking veggies in the crisper. Wishing you a super day!!

        Reply
    5. gourmetgetaway says

      March 08, 2015 at 10:48 pm

      Stir-fried lettuce is fine by us, especially if it's spicy! Looks yum!!

      Julie & Alesah
      Gourmet Getaways xx

      Reply
      • Healthy World Cuisine says

        March 09, 2015 at 8:19 am

        Thanks Julie and Alesah! My boys like it spicy too. I guess you could add fresh chilis too but I happened to have dried red chili flakes on hand. Have a super week!

        Reply
    6. Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide says

      March 08, 2015 at 9:47 pm

      That looks wonderful. And it's easier to find on sale than bok choy.

      Reply
      • Healthy World Cuisine says

        March 09, 2015 at 8:20 am

        Thank you and that is a really good point! Romaine lettuce is much more accessible in the US or Western countries than bok choy or other Asian veggies.

        Reply
    7. Tandy | Lavender and Lime says

      March 07, 2015 at 1:23 pm

      I love the idea of stir frying lettuce, especially when I've got some that needs using up 🙂

      Reply
    8. nancyc says

      March 07, 2015 at 9:59 am

      This is such a great idea–so healthy and delicious-looking! I'm pinning this to my healthy food board!

      Reply
    9. Dawn says

      March 07, 2015 at 9:00 am

      I love how healthy and colorful this looks!

      Reply
    10. Eha says

      March 07, 2015 at 7:49 am

      What a good lesson! I do not buy romaine often but have used many forms of lettuce in stirfries: to be honest oft when they are becoming somewhat wilted in the crisper and methinks I have then cooked the leaves too long as they do not look as 'perky' as yours do. It is a lovely and healthy side dish and a change from the pak and bok chois. Hope you have a lovely weekend . . . weather must be getting warmer with no May rains in sight as yet 🙂 !

      Reply
      • Healthy World Cuisine says

        March 07, 2015 at 7:06 pm

        Hello Eha, I hope the change of seasons is treating you well. I am glad you like this simple recipe. That is exactly what I do when my lettuce is looking a little on the sad side, it hits the wok. The most important part of cooking romaine lettuce or any types of lettuces is taking it off just as it starts to wilt as the heat of the pan continues to cook it even if it is off the heat, so you need to get it out of the hot pan too. The weather in HK has been dismal. I have not seen the sun in over 3 weeks. It is damp and dreary but no snow, so we have that going for us. Sending warm thoughts and a hug across the big pond!

        Reply
    11. Norma Chang says

      March 07, 2015 at 7:38 am

      Have not made stir-fried romaine lettuce in a long time, thanks for the reminder.

      Reply
    12. Robyn says

      March 07, 2015 at 6:40 am

      This is new to me, Bobbi, but I do put it on the grill in the summer and it's fantastic. I can't tell you how many times I've tossed it on the grill and everyone is horrified until they taste it, lol. Your pictures and blue/white plates are simply beautiful! I like that you've added heat to this - perfection! Sharing all over. Have a great weekend 🙂

      Reply
    13. Kumar's Kitchen says

      March 06, 2015 at 8:29 pm

      those pots look so pretty...made us remember blue and white embroidery,thanks 🙂

      Reply
    14. Kumar's Kitchen says

      March 06, 2015 at 8:27 pm

      stir fried romaine lettuce will get a big hands up in our family...loved the hints of spice,freshness from ginger and the crunch of lettuce in this stir fry...a dish when we want to have a green salad warm and crisp,thanks so much for inspiring...Have A Beautiful Day! 🙂

      Reply
    15. Jasline @ Foodie Baker says

      March 07, 2015 at 4:04 am

      Yum! My mom stir-fry romaine all the time, too used to eating this cooked than raw to be honest!

      Reply
    « Older Comments
    Newer Comments »

    Primary Sidebar

    Stir Fried Romaine Lettuce / https://www.hwcmagazine.com

    WELCOME

    Hi There!
    Are you ready to explore new culinary frontiers, eat healthier, and save time – Then, you have come to the right place. Join Healthy World Cuisine (HWC) Magazine and learn how to EAT your way around the WORLD from the comfort of your own kitchen. Grab free health tips, recipe ideas, meal plans and gain a better understand how eating choices can affect your health. Be the healthier and happier YOU!

    Discover more about HWC Magazine →

    FOURTH OF JULY RECIPES

    3 no bake boozy cherry cheesecake jars topped with bourbon cherry compote on a white plate.

    No Bake Boozy Cherry Cheesecake Jars

    Tea smoked chicken legs on a plate garnished with oranges.

    Tea Smoked Chicken Legs

    Healthy summer salads with fruits displaying 5 different recipes.

    Healthy Summer Salads with Fruit

    Plate of deliciously grilled watermelon and cucumbers tossed in a Thai dressing on a white plate with a red and white polka dot napkin.

    Grilled Watermelon Salad (Thai Style + Video)

    SUMMER TIME FAVORITES

    4 ingredient keto okra on skewers grilling on a gas grill.

    Keto Grilled Okra with Tajín

    Black sesame nice cream in a scoop and in clear dish.

    Black Sesame Nice Cream

    Orange glazed air fryer salmon bites piled high on a black plate served with rice.

    Orange Glazed Air Fryer Salmon Bites

    3 no bake boozy cherry cheesecake jars topped with bourbon cherry compote on a white plate.

    No Bake Boozy Cherry Cheesecake Jars

    Footer

    Stir Fried Romaine Lettuce / https://www.hwcmagazine.com

    ↑ BACK TO TOP

    • About
    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    • Contact/Work with Us

    Copyright © 2011-2025 HEALTHY WORLD CUISINE Privacy Policy

    EXCLUSIVE MEMBER OF MEDIAVINE FOOD

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.