Wild Lettuce and Sow Thistle Recipes

Wild lettuce (Lactuca sp) and sow thistle (Sonchus sp) are two different plants that both make a great substitute for dandelions. There's many varieties of both plants to find, but identifying them can be confusing for beginners.

A bunch of freshly harvested Canadian lettuce leaf shoots at a perfect stage of harvesting on a black walnut board background.

Elegant leaf shoots of Canadian lettuce (Lactuca canadensis)

There's no poisonous wild lettuce or sow thistle look alikes, but some plants that are very common like prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola) just aren't that great to eat.

A close up picture of a mature sow thistle plant (Sonchus oleraceous) growing in the summer.

Common sow thistle (Sonchus oleraceous).

Quick Tips

If you're new to cooking with these plants you should take a look at my guide to identifying wild lettuce first.
Blanching or boiling the greens in salted water will give the best texture and help calm bitterness.
Harvest young, tender greens before the plants make flowers. Plants growing in the shade are often milder tasting that plants in full sun.
The plants can be cooked in any recipe that calls for dandelions or bitter leafy greens.

Favorite Recipes