Recipes with lettuce leaves

Marinated Gulf shrimp and vegetable salad with olives, green pepper, celery, sweet pickles, and Italian dressing. Chilled overnight and served cold on a bed of lettuce.

Christmas vegetable salad mold: a savory gelatin holiday side built with chicken broth, yogurt, green peppers, radishes, dill, and scallions. Retro festive table presentation, diabetic-friendly.

Radishes in cream: a 10-minute peppery radish salad in a tangy sour cream, yogurt, and horseradish dressing. Served in crisp lettuce cups. A classic Eastern European spring side.

Orange onion shrimp salad with avocado, cucumber, and a bold chili dressing. A fresh, no-cook meal with sweet citrus, creamy avocado, and spicy heat in every forkful.

Breadless egg salad sandwiches using Monterey Jack cheese slices as the "bread." Low-carb, gluten-free, and stacked with tomato, lettuce, pickles, and olives.

Ensalada pico de gallo, a refreshing Mexican orange and jicama salad with crisp red onion, walnuts, and a honey-lime dressing spiced with cumin and chile. Bright, crunchy, and sweet-tangy in every bite.

Thai-style hot and sour vermicelli salad (yam wun sen) with mushrooms, garlic oil, lemon juice, and soy sauce. Vegetarian, light, and packed with texture.

Grilled fish sandwiches on focaccia with a honey Dijon spread, lemon pepper seasoning, and roasted red pepper. A light, smoky summer sandwich ready in 20 minutes.

Sweet potato salad with crushed pineapple, green peas, and fresh parsley tossed in creamy dressing. A no-cook vegetarian side dish ready in 15 minutes.

Idaho potato salad with julienned ham, Swiss cheese, toasted walnuts, and a Dijon-shallot vinaigrette. A hearty, warm potato salad that doubles as a main course on a bed of lettuce.

Tomato and herb salad layers sliced ripe tomatoes over crisp lettuce with a chopped-tomato oregano vinaigrette. Fat-free, low calorie, diabetic-friendly side ready in 20 minutes.

Tuna salad pita pockets bound with yogurt and mustard instead of mayo, brightened with fresh dill. A lighter lunch option ready in 10 minutes.

Salmon fillets marinated in lemon, white wine, and capers, wrapped in blanched lettuce leaves and grilled. Served with a tangy homemade mustard sauce cooked in a double boiler.

Three bean vinaigrette salad with rice, kidney beans, and marinated artichoke hearts. A no-cook vegetarian salad served chilled over lettuce leaves.

Tuna pita pockets stuffed with creamy yogurt-mustard tuna salad, fresh dill, crisp celery, lettuce, and tomato. A light, mayo-free lunch ready in 10 minutes.

Pepper Jack stuffed burgers hide molten jalapeno pepper cheese inside grilled beef patties. The juiciest backyard burger trick, ready in 25 minutes for cookouts and game day.