Curly Purple lettuce is most often used raw in salads, but you can also use it in other kinds of food, such as soups, sandwiches, and wraps. Wash curly lettuce thoroughly, especially before eating it raw. Leaves are large and you want to tear them up into bite-sized pieces before putting them in your salads. Curly lettuce fits perfectly with your hamburgers. The more dark the lettuce, the more healthier it is.