Beyond Garnish: Harnessing Microgreens' Potential at Home
With Click throughs to a video and a free PDF recipe!
Ever been to a fancy restaurant and there was a sprinkle of green on top of your dish that looked vaguely like alfalfa sprouts, but really packed a flavour punch? Those tiny flavour-strings are known as Microgreens and they’re not a secret just for fancy chefs plating your meals at restaurants anymore because they’re springing up at every local farmers’ market and gourmet section of your favourite grocery store. Ever wonder why? Well, now that the technology to grow them has advanced and become much more cost effective, you can get the best out of their wonderful taste and nutrition benefits at home! Okay, so there’s a tiny learning curve with Microgreens, but we here at The Food Explorer podcast have got you covered!
I was writing and the thought occurred to me, “when was the first time I really ever ate microgreens?” I probably just came upon a dish I enjoyed at a restaurant at some point; I know I never went out and actually bought them to cook with, that’s for sure. I asked Jason this question and he mostly recalls “microgreens” as eating alfalfa sprouts or bean sprouts as a kid and then later overseas. OH, by the way, I definitely do not enjoy mung bean sprouts as they freak me out and I put them in that “nasty looking food” category because it weirds me out that they sit there, all stuffed into a bag and they look like bug legs! (Editor's note: mung bean sprouts are AWESOME - Chinese and Thai food wouldn’t be the same without them! Yummy.)
But, bugs’ legs are a tangent we should move away from, so let's talk more about these little adornments called microgreens! If you're like me, you've definitely experienced them adorning fancy dishes in restaurants or maybe even on your Instagram feed. They look all fancy and healthy, but what exactly are they? Well, simply put, they are the carefully sprouted seeds of all kinds of greens – like peas, spinach, kale, broccoli, different radishes, different kinds of mustards and even buckwheat - personally the radish blend of microgreens we get from Thistle Hill Farms is my current favourite obsession! They're harvested super early in their growth stage, which makes them packed with flavour and nutrients. Plus, they add a pop of color, crunch, and spice to just about any dish. But especially because I am always interested in making tastings an “experience”, these wonders really speak to my taste buds. They’re usually on top of a dish and that’s for a reason: they’ve got a delicate yet poignant ability to convey the best part of their namesake’s (like radish or buckwheat or broccoli) taste to whatever dish you’re having without overwhelming the signature flavour. Nobody thinks “broccoli pizza” but if you broil broccoli microgreens on top of a cheesy background of pizza you get a new and precious taste sensation! You have to try it to believe it, but so often that first unique “POP!” of flavour from the microgreens pinches your palate, innervates your nose, and readies your taste buds to really APPRECIATE the flavours of the main parts of the meal. Back to the Thistle Hill Farm’s Radish blend of microgreens; it’s so versatile and fun to add to so many things - it just brings up the taste sensations of salads, soups, sandwiches, and even a quick stir fry. WOW! You should try them for sure :)
Now, here's the thing about microgreens – they're not just for garnishing your plates. Nope, these tiny greens are versatile and can also be used as ingredients in all sorts of delicious recipes. But before we get into that, let's talk about how to keep these babies fresh and crisp in your fridge. In my latest YouTube video - I show this super easy process, so if you haven’t watched it, check it out here and then of course keep reading!
So if you’ve gotten home from buying a batch of microgreens but now you’re staring at them, and you’re getting paranoid that they’re wilting before your eyes, and suddenly you’re thinking, "What the heck am I supposed to do with these?" Never fear, friends, we have some solutions to keep those microgreens stored safely in your fridge for a longer shelf life, and some fun recipes and ideas to use to take your meals to another level :)
First off, when you bring your microgreens home from the store or market, resist the urge to wash them! Don’t do it! Yep, you heard me right – washing can actually make them spoil faster if you leave with too much extra moisture. Instead, just store them in the original packaging or transfer them to a clean container and line the container/packaging with paper towels that can absorb any excess moisture but at the same time help keep them from drying out. Then, pop them in the fridge where the chill will also help them stay fresh for up to two weeks. I always prefer to get them right into the paper towel lined container, because even though I can eat a lot of microgreens in one sitting, I don’t want to risk them spoiling or getting a little slimy before I get to them. So, another pro-tip: if you left them at the back of the fridge and they are starting to go a little bad, this is the perfect time to chuck them under the broiler on top of leftover pizza, garlic bread, or even a cheesy pasta dish that you are browning up. The browning will caramelize them and provide you with a wonderful new taste altogether!! Give it a try (you don’t have to wait).
Now, onto the fun part – recipes! Sure, you can throw fresh microgreens on top of a soup, salad or sandwich and call it a day, but why stop there? Let's get creative in the kitchen, shall we?
How about whipping up a batch of microgreen pea shoot pesto? I did exactly that in our video, and I created a free download with the recipe plus tips if you want it to be nut free or vegan. We ate pea-shoot pesto on top of vegetables and bread for a few days. And, because I made a small batch, nothing went to waste and we didn’t get tired of eating it - although is that really a thing for things with such a unique taste!!?
Or how about a microgreen smoothie? Blend together some spinach, banana, oat or coconut milk, and a handful of microgreens for a nutritious and refreshing pick-me-up. Trust me, you won't just taste the greens – they'll add a vibrant colour and extra nutrients to your morning smoothie; they’ll also give it a special gourmet “pinch” to the flavour profile depending on which Micros you’ve chosen. Or if you want a totally vegan micros smoothie, go with your greens of choice, then add cucumber, avocado, lemon juice, ice cubes to make it frosty and if you want a splash of maple syrup to sweeten it up. A perfect pick me up at any point in the day.
Feeling fancy? Try making some microgreen sushi rolls! Just roll up your favourite fillings like avocado, cucumber, and smoked salmon in a sheet of nori, and sprinkle some microgreens and sesame seeds on top before rolling. It's like sushi, but healthier and if you’re like me, make a dipping sauce with wasabi, soy sauce, and chili/garlic paste (equal parts of each ingredient). And, yes you are reading that correctly, you don’t need to have the rice in there; it’s great even if you are not indulging in the devil’s most delicious food - A.K.A: coconut rice! When Jason makes a batch of coconut rice we’re helpless to resist! (Ask him how you too can buy 40lbs of Jasmine rice!)
And if you're feeling really adventurous, why not try growing your own microgreens at home? All you need are some seeds, a shallow container, and a sunny windowsill. In just a few days, you'll have your own homegrown supply of fresh microgreens to enjoy. I’ve saved a pin on my Pinterest page on how to do this.
So there you have it, friends – everything you need to know to make the most of those tiny little greens and elevate your home cooking to the realm of Top Chefs everywhere. Whether you're broiling them; tossing them in a salad; blending them into a smoothie; or rolling them up in sushi - microgreens have become a new affordable, delicious and nutritious addition to any meal. So go ahead and hit your local farmer’s market or grab some from the gourmet part of the produce section and give them a try! Be sure to let us know what creative way you enjoyed them by leaving a comment!!