Aptly enough for its emerald-evoking name, Trader Joe’s Little Gem Lettuce may just be the new crown jewel of our Produce section. The result of cross-breeding between romaine and butter varietals, Little Gem has all the crisp, satisfying bite of romaine, with the tenderness and mild, sweet flavor of butter lettuce. This best-of- both-worlds combo makes it a real rarity among leafy greens—a hidden Gem, if you will—and opens it up to a remarkably wide range of uses within the kitchen. As it turns out, a Little Gem goes a long way!

As a salad green, its toothsome texture and delicate flavor interact wonderfully with all kinds of dressings: try it with a creamy blue cheese, a light and nimble vinaigrette, or our herby and aromatic Green Goddess. In fact, Little Gem leaves are so fit for holding onto various dressings and sauces, that we also recommend using them as a vehicle for appetizer dips, hummus, or tapenades. They’re hearty enough to act as lettuce cups and wraps for various proteins, and durable enough to be halved and grilled on the barbecue (a little char brings out their sweetness even more). Each bag comes with three heads of Lettuce—in other words, these Little Gems are one great big value.