As it turns out, there’s a madness to the small portions on a huge plate when fine dining. Microscopic servings of food on large plates, it’s not for those who have an appetite. You’ve seen these little greens, formally known as microgreens. Stylishly topping your meal as garnishes or dressed in vinaigrette as a salad. But what exactly are microgreens, other than the obvious fact that they are very small in size?
Well, they’re not just small, they also pack a powerful punch. In fact, there are many benefits of microgreens. While they’re hugely popular now, seemingly available in every café and restaurant. Microgreens have actually been incorporated into the dishes of many chefs since the ‘80s.
Benefits Of Microgreens
Since their introduction to the Californian restaurant scene in the 1980s, microgreens have steadily gained popularity.
These aromatic greens, also known as micro herbs or vegetable confetti, are rich in flavor and add a welcome splash of color to a variety of dishes.
Despite their small size, they pack a nutritional punch, often containing higher nutrient levels than more mature vegetable greens. This makes them a good addition to any diet.
If you’re a foodie, or simply like good, healthy food, the benefits of microgreens trend is for you. But what are they exactly?
Simply put, microgreens are young seedlings of edible vegetables and herbs harvested less than 14 days after germination. The microgreens are about 1 – 3 inches long, depending on the vegetable or herb. And come in a lovely assortment of colors – making them popular garnishes.
Besides garnish, microgreens are used in salads or to top off soups. With the great flavor comes an extra benefit of microgreens. They are full of vitamins and sometimes 40 times more nutrients than standard greens.
Different microgreens pack different nutrient power. For example, red cabbage, garnet amaranth and green daikon radishes have a healthy dose of Vitamin C, K and E. Cilantro is full of lutein and beta carotene.
To reap the benefits of microgreens, they MUST be consumed as fresh as possible due to their short shelf life. So, be ready to cook with them once they are harvested. And it’s easy to add them to your home cooked dishes and dinner party menu. Your friends and family will be impressed.
As always, Jane’s Cafe is about finding the freshest and healthiest ingredients for our menu. With many microgreen growers using organic, non-GMO, pesticide-free hydroponic growing methods, they save water and land space. We hope you enjoy them as we do!
For more nutritional dishes visit our cafe in Mission Valley. Or order online for delivery.
You may also enjoy reading: 4 Quick and Easy Meal Ideas For Thanksgiving Week
Leave a Reply