Magic of microgreens
Tiny versions of their adult counterparts, these greens pack a punch of good health and crunch
Bindu Gopal Rao
They are making the salads crunchier. They are tasty and they are healthy. Microgreens are in. These young vegetable greens are smaller than baby greens and are harvested later than sprouts. They are typically used for garnishing, but can also be eaten as salads due to their crunchy, tasty flavours that can range from sweet to spicy!
Myriad uses
Chef Anahita N. Dhondy says there is a common misconception that they can only be used as garnishes.
“I have made an Asian salad with sunflower crisp, which is basically sunflower leaves. They have a beautiful texture — velvety and nutty. One can make full-fledged salads and dishes with pesto or even make sautéed greens with it,” she says.
The health angle
Microgreens have higher levels of nutrients than mature vegetables and undergo more photosynthesis than sprouts, thus developing more nutrients, up to 40 times more than their fully-grown counterparts.
The growing popularity has ensured there are a variety of microgreens at our disposal today. These include Swiss chard, arugula, alfalfa, nasturtium, purple kohlrabi, sango radish, sunflower, pink radish and kale. “Arugula microgreens are one of the best for boosting immunity and maintaining cholesterol levels. They are also an excellent source of Vitamin C and other nutrients such as sulforaphane, which has multiple health benefits,” says Keya Salot, founder of Farm2Fam.
Chef Prateek Sadhu says what’s best is that they are easy to grow and can be harvested much sooner than their elderly counterparts.
Avocado Toast
Method
- Spread avocado paste on toast.
- In a piping bag, put feta cheese and put on the toast.
- Sprinkle black pepper.
- Add the lemon zest.
- Garnish with red radish, pomegranate and microgreens.
Courtesy: Chef Tarun Sibal | Cofounder, One Fine Meal
DIY
Microgreens can be conveniently grown at home. All you need is soil or cotton, a container, sunlight (ideally for 6-8 hours a day) and a few good quality seeds. “I use moist cotton as a base instead of mud and ensure that the cotton stays moist all the time by spraying it with water. The seeds sprout in a week and have to be kept in a cool and dry place. Avoid excessive watering the soil as this will not allow them to grow well,” says Chef Jerson Fernandes. Chef Aanal Kotak adds, “Microgreens are very easy to grow on a small scale and can also be grown indoors where less of sunlight is available. It usually takes two to three weeks to harvest the microgreens. While growing this, you have to take care to keep the soil moist as much as possible which will give good results.” Seems worth a try, doesn’t it?
Greek Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 2-3 medium cucumbers, removed the seeds
- 3 tomatoes
- ¾ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ½ cup green olives
- 1tsp olive oil
- A bunch of microgreens
- ½ oregano
- ½ tsp salt and pepper
- 6-7 walnuts
Method
- Toss the tomatoes, feta cheese, cucumbers and olives together in a deep medium bowl.
- Also add olive oil, oregano, salt and pepper and toss well.
- Now add your crumbled feta cheese and toss very gently.
- Cover this bowl with a plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 2 hours.
- Before serving add some fresh and healthy microgreens into the salad.
- And at the end, add some walnuts for a crunchy bite.
Courtesy: Shaurvya Veer Kapoor | Corporate Chef, Café Hawker’s
