Explore A Whole New World of Microgreens.
Microgreens are mini versions of herbs, vegetables and grains which are consumed for their unique flavour, texture and colour profile. Some recipes call for microgreens as a major ingredient but mostly people use them to garnish soups, salads, and sandwiches just to add an extra charm to the dish. Charm or not, various studies have shown that microgreens have a higher nutritional value than their mature counterparts.
A brief history:
Microgreens date back to the 1980s when chefs in Californian restaurants started to introduce it to their customers. They add a unique and fancy appearance to the dish while giving a sweet or spicy punch depending on the microgreens used.
Over the years, people have enjoyed microgreens of different veggies. Some of the popular ones are arugula, beetroot, broccoli, mustard, fenugreek, sunflower, kale, bok choy (or pak choi) and the list goes on. But beware – not all plants can be eaten in their “mini” form. For example, microgreens of Solanaceous crops like tomatoes, eggplants, capsicum, and peppers can be toxic to humans.
Rainbow mix – as the name suggests – is a colourful mix of all the different microgreens adding a colourful palette to your plate. It can include a range of microgreens like red amaranth, purple cabbage, broccoli, kale, mustard, pea shoots, sunflower, and so on.
Microgreens VS sprouts: What is the difference?
While both sprouts and microgreens are young plant forms, they differ significantly in their cultivation and usage. Sprouts are common in our Indian household and they have their own nutritional profile. Sprouts are typically wrapped in a moist towel and hung over the counter or kept in a strainer till they develop “roots” over the period of 2-7 days.
Microgreens, on the other hand, need to be grown in a nutrient medium/substrate like cocopeat, soil, or vermiculite for over a period of 7-21 days and then consumed without its “roots”. They basically develop cotyledon leaves, and even first set of small true leaves in this period and have a stem which is typically around 1 to 2.5 inches. They are cut above the substrate level for consumption.
Health Benefits:
Nutritionally speaking, these mini greens have presence of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Beta Carotene, Potassium, Zinc, Magnesium, Copper, Calcium and some other nutrients in minor quantities.
To maintain the nutritional content of those miniature plants, they are recommended to be eaten raw. Even vegan or vegetarian people don’t need to sweat on it because they are easy to include in vegan and vegetarian recipes, making them a great addition to your diet.
Summary:
Microgreens are a delightful blend of nutrition, flavour, and visual appeal. These tiny greens offer more nutrients than their mature counterparts while being versatile enough to enhance a variety of dishes. Whether you’re a health enthusiast or a foodie looking to add a unique touch to your meals, microgreens are an excellent choice.
So why wait? Embrace the microgreens trend and start including these nutrient-packed wonders in your meals today with our microgreens box delivered to your doorstep!
Microgreens
2 Comments
That’s a good way to aware the people with this category of produce. As microgreens contains lots of minerals and different pigments like anthocyanins, etc. this enhances the overall health. A very good attempt to get explore about microgreens.
Thank you! As you rightly mentioned, microgreens contain a lot of nutritional value, which provides great health benefits.