If you enjoy a fine dining experience, you’ve probably noticed a growing trend in which micro greens are commonly used to add flavor, color, and finesse to gourmet dishes. Micro greens have been used in cooking for 20 or 30 years but have really gain momentum in foodie world in the last 5 years. Micro greens are salad vegetables, such as arugula, mustard, and chard grown in specific circumstances and harvested when the first set of true leaves develop on the stems.
If you consider yourself a home chef, incorporating micro greens into your meals is a great way to elevate any dish you create. However, using fresh micro greens in your culinary creations isn’t the same as fresh herbs that you can grow on your window sill; growing microgreens is not as simple. Growing microgreens yourself entails specific conditions, timing and a high level of care to produce quality results. You can grow them yourself, but you may find it easier and more cost effective to purchase them from a reputable business who specializes in growing microgreens.
Although microgreens are a great way to add color, they also hold a more concentrated flavor than their fully-matured counterpart. If you are new to the microgreen scene, here are a few uses for microgreens in recipes that you will impress everyone at your table with.
- Topping a hamburger with microgreens. Make your burgers with the seasoning and heating method of your choice and top them with radish and spring onion microgreens. The zesty flavor of the microgreens contribute a wonderful twist to the classic burger.
- Adding microgreens to salads. It goes without saying that any kind of microgreen can seamlessly be added to almost any type of salad. But our favorite way to diversify the color and flavor profile of a salad is to add a handful of chard microgreens because of their magenta stems, bright green leaves, and sweet and spicy flavor.
- Complimenting roast beef sandwiches For a quick, classy appetizer for any occasion, choose your favorite slider rolls, add Dijon mustard and sliced roast beef. Top with arugula microgreens, which contributes a peppery flavor and crisp texture.
- Make your pizza a little fancier. Either make your own crust or start with a store bought crust, add marinara sauce and top with mozzarella, ricotta and Parmesan cheese. Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes or until the cheese is crispy. Top with the microgreens of you choice.
- In a power-packed omelet. There are not many combinations more nutritious and delicious than that of eggs, cheese, avocado, and microgreens. Our favorite offering of this power-packed combination of these high protein, Omega3-rich ingredients is in an omelet. Simply pour a thin layer of whisked eggs onto a greased skillet and cook over medium heat. When the eggs are cooked thoroughly, add diced avocado, goat cheese and your favorite microgreens and fold over. Try not to devour too quickly.
