The Best Butter Lettuce Salad

There are certain dishes you try while travelling that end up sticking with you long after the trip is over, and this salad was one of them for me. I had the Cœur de Laitue et Avocat en Salade from La Renommée in Paris and genuinely could not stop thinking about it once I got home. It was incredibly simple, but somehow perfect: crisp butter lettuce, creamy avocado, and the brightest vinaigrette all coming together in a way that felt so elegant.

This version is my recreation of that salad, and it’s the kind of recipe that proves you really don’t need much to make something memorable. The leaves of butter lettuce get gently spread apart so every leaf catches the vinaigrette, the avocado adds just enough richness, and the chives bring a fresh herby finish. It feels super chic and impressive, but is honestly so easy to throw together.

I’ve been trying to perfect my version ever since trying the original in Paris, and I finally got the vinaigrette to the right spot—tangy, savoury, fresh, and perfectly balanced. I love it alongside simple dinners or as a lunch with some crusty bread. Sometimes the simplest salads really are the ones you keep craving most, and I’ve officially deemed this one THE Best Butter Lettuce Salad.

The salad that inspired this recipe from La Renommée in Paris.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe:

• French café vibes at home: This salad feels straight out of a little Parisian bistro.
• Quietly impressive: It looks elegant and elevated despite being made with just a few simple ingredients.
• Quick + easy: No cooking required and ready in just a few minutes.
• The vinaigrette: Tangy, savoury, fresh, and perfectly balanced—it completely makes the salad.
• Versatile: Works beautifully next to simple dinners, grilled proteins, or with some warm french bread for lunch.

Prep for The Best Butter Lettuce Salad:

• Trim off the root of the butter lettuce then rinse and pat dry.
• Peel the shallot and garlic and trim off the root ends—no need to mince unless you want to because they’ll be getting blended.
• Peel and cube/slice the avocado.
• Rinse and finely chop the fresh chives.

How to Make The Best Butter Lettuce Salad:

Step One:

Rinse and pat dry the butter lettuce. Trim off the root and arrange the head of lettuce in a serving dish or bowl, gently spreading out the leaves. Tip: you can save the trimmed root and replant it for more lettuce!

Step Two:

Blend together all the vinaigrette ingredients using a food processor or an immersion blender until smooth.

Step Three:

Add chopped or sliced avocado over the butter lettuce, then pour your desired amount of vinaigrette all over the leaves, and finish with the chives. Option to add some shaved parmesan if you’d like!

This salad proves that sometimes the simplest recipes really are the most memorable. If you try this Paris-inspired butter lettuce salad, Tag me on social, @britacooks! xx

@britacooks

Salads | Side Dish | Starters

The Best Butter Lettuce Salad

A Paris-inspired salad with the dreamiest vinaigrette.

Prep Time :10 minutes mins

Serves: 2

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

SHARE:

Ingredients

• 1 head of butter lettuce
• 1 avocado cubed/sliced
• Handful of fresh chives chopped (~2 tbsp)

Shallot Vinaigrette

• 1 shallot
• 1 large garlic clove
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• Juice from 1 lemon
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Rinse and pat dry the butter lettuce. Trim off the root and arrange the head of lettuce in a serving dish or bowl, gently spreading out the leaves. Tip: you can save the trimmed root and replant it for more lettuce!
2. Blend together all the vinaigrette ingredients using a food processor or an immersion blender until smooth.
3. Add chopped or sliced avocado over the butter lettuce, then pour your desired amount of vinaigrette all over the leaves, and finish with the chives. Option to add some shaved parmesan if you’d like!

Did you make this recipe?

Please tag me on socials!

@britacooks

I’d love to see your recreations!