Corn Salad

Corn salad has nothing to do with corn. It’s a small, delicate salad green also known as lamb’s lettuce or mâche, with soft, rounded leaves that grow in little rosettes. The name comes from its historical habit of growing as a weed in European cornfields — ‘corn’ in the old sense meaning grain crops generally.

The flavour is mild and slightly nutty, with none of the bitterness found in rocket or endive. It works beautifully in simple salads dressed with a light vinaigrette, and its tender texture makes it a good pairing with soft cheeses, beetroot, and walnuts. It’s popular in French cuisine, where it’s a classic winter salad green.

In Australia, corn salad is less common than other salad leaves but can be found at farmers’ markets and specialty greengrocers, particularly in cooler months. It’s also easy to grow at home in a shaded garden bed.