Nüssli Salat

In Switzerland, most restaurant meals come with an optional "Market Salad" sometimes called a "Field Salad". These salads contain various seasonal greens, both wild and domestic. Among the usual suspects like Arugula, is a small bright green cluster of round leaves about 1 inch in diameter, called Nüssli Salat. As can be deduced from the name, the green has a "nutty" flavor. The consistency is soft and almost buttery. Back when I made frequent business trips to Zurich, I fell in love with the stuff.

I was always disappointed when, the ever well-meaning Swiss, who themselves are not the most adventurous eaters, would think as an American, I would be more comfortable if they plopped a wedge of iceburg lettuce (usually a little brown at the edges) glopped with thousand island dressing, in front of me.

At any rate, has anybody seen this green at any local farmer's markets? I would think that with the large number of ex-pat Swiss in south-central Wisconsin, somebody must be growing "nutty lettuce". I understand, though, that it grows naturally in the sandy crevices in rocks, but it can be raised domestically. Here are links to some pics of the stuff:

http://honest-food.net/2009/02/27/garden-gifts/
http://foodideasphotos.blogspot.com/200 ... -with.html

I know what you mean. While working in Zurich I also fell in love w/lambs lettuce aka mache. I believe that's what you're talking about.

Hi- I am not sure, but Henry Brockman who sells at the Evanston Farmer's market on Saturdays might sell mache. He is across from Nichols, and if he does not sell it, he might be persuaded to grow it. He is all organic, and I buy a lot of stuff from him. He has the best mesclun salad blend there every week for $3 a bag. He has figured out how to keep it fresher than anyone else. He also carries a lot of Asian vegetables, including the best Japanese turnips. His wife is from Japan. The Evanston former's market is on Maple, down the street from Century theaters. You can park for free the first hour, in the parking garage across the street from the theater. They are still open on October 29 and November 5, and then Immanuel Lutheran Church on Sherman and Lake in Evanston, always has an indoor farmers on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and Henry always sells at that one. Hope this helps, Nancy

I've seen it @ Whole Foods off of North Ave.

Also at Trader Joe's (it's one of their washed/bagged greens).

Cool, I was not sure if Mache was the same , as in some pictures the leaves looks more oblong than round. It makes a really tasty salad. I will check out Henry at the Farmer's Market first. It must be relatively new on the scene here. I tried looking for it years ago with no luck, but that was before I found pictures of it on the internet. It is funny how the Swiss would automatically bring me an "American Salad" which was iceberg lettuce with thousand island dressing, which are actually two of my least favorite things. Some friends of mine there would pick it in the wild. I wonder if it grows wild here?