The other night I was relishing the buttery nuances on my taste buds.  I was so happy that my experiment of trying the lovely French mache (found at Trader Joes for $2.49/bag), proved to be delightful and nutritious.

In a world of bitter to peppery herbs found in pre-washed mesclun mixes a new face is on the horizon, mache aka lamb’s lettuce imported from France and now cultivated in Salina Valley, California.

Mache or lamb’s lettuce is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, folic acid and beta carotene to name a few nutrients, while softer and kinder on the palate then it’s sister herbs.

Mireille Guiliano, the author of French Women Don’t Get Fat, enjoys mache salad with cherry tomatoes, fresh goat cheese and Normandy apple for lunch.  Sounds intriguing…but you are not French, don’t really care for salads, and the likelihood of you going to Trader Joes or Whole Foods to buy mache feels like a bit of a stretch…

In that case, I invite you take a moment to hear some of Mireille Guiliano’s thoughts on balanced eating and lifestyle.

Mache may not be staple in your fridge, but it can be a great option to add to your house salad for variety or eat solo.  Mache works well as a side or as a final ingredient to enhance the flavor of soups and sauces alike.  Check out this mache salad with Walnut Oil Dressing or this watermelon, mache, and pecan salad.

As the French say – Manger équilibré

Loosely translate: “Eating a Balanced Diet is Important for Health”

What are your favorite ingredients for salad?