Dean Edwards

There are more than 60 varieties of lettuce and salad leaves grown in the UK and we are growing and consuming more salad than ever before.

However in Britain we eat less salad per head per head than the rest of Europe and the USA, which is why TV chef and salad lover Dean Edwards is on a mission to help the nation to make more of salad.

“Lettuce and salad leaves are the ultimate fast food - in minutes you can create delicious, healthy meals with minimum fuss. There is a wide range of leaves available in the UK, each offering a unique flavour, colour and texture to a dish. So get experimenting and try something new, let your salad take centre stage and celebrate this fantastic ingredient!”

There are 12 core types of leafy salad available in major supermarkets and here’s my guide to making the most them. You can buy leafy salads prepared in bags and as individual wholeheads. Why not try out two of my favourite salad recipes, my Chicken Panzanella Salad and Oriental Crispy Ribbon Salad.