Looking for Some Specific Recipes? Here are 8 Gorgeous Microgreen Dishes They're Delicate, Nutritious and Utterly Delicious (2021)

Microgreens are not new to us but there are many unknown or less known facts about it. It is a small thing that comes with larger benefits for our health.

The little green seedlings which are edible vegetables are formally known as microgreens to everyone. It is quite popular nowadays seemingly available in every cafe and restaurants incorporating so many dishes adding colours and flavours. They are much smaller than regular greens and have gained enormous popularity, especially in the fine-dining circles. Microgreens are delicious with its intense, unique flavours.

The term 'microgreen' is not specific to any one plant. Microgreens have a good nutrition value, although people do not eat large amounts yet are high in vitamins and minerals. They have a much higher content of nutrients than fully grown plants. The fully grown plants are needed to fulfil the need for fibre in your body, but microgreens fill all the other gaps in your daily dietary needs. They are ready to harvest and can be quickly grown at home. If you buy from the store, you can get a few more varieties, but they might cost you more than regular vegetables. For various beneficial purposes, you should always keep the microgreens at your fingertips to use regularly.

There are several kinds of microgreens available, and they are categorized according to their usefulness, taste and smell. They vary a lot, especially in terms of taste as some are sweet, some flavours sour, some are mild and bland, and few are spicy or even bitter. We can categorize microgreens in terms of the family they belong to. In most cases, they taste like a concentrated version of the full-grown plants. Some of the commonly known microgreens family are - Amaranthaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Lamiaceae, and Poaceae family. Amaranth, beet, quinoa, garlic, beans, chickpeas, lentils, fennel etc. are a few among many microgreens we use in our daily courses. There are various flavours in microgreens, but some have a unique taste or smell. For example, radish has a spicy flavour, and they are crisp, used for garnish to add a splash of heat or colour to the salad.

Though there isn't much research theory available, it is hard to say that microgreens can cure any disease or produce any particular health benefit. But microgreens from plants are high in healthy phytochemicals. Microgreens from Brassica species like red mustard, purple mustard, red cabbage etc. have more complex and more varieties of polyphenols than some mature plants. In a study of 25 different microgreens, it is found that red cabbage has the most Vitamin C, radish microgreens have the most Vitamin D, the two carotenoids called lutein and zeaxanthin are available in the highest concentration in the cilantro microgreens. The tiny microgreens have more iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, and manganese than the fully grown plants.

You have planted your microgreen seeds, and now when it is entirely harvested, you cannot wait to use it in different recipes. It is always exciting to feed yourself with something you have grown yourself. Microgreens can be a perfect addition to have a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals.

Indian bread has a wide variety of flatbread, and it is an integral part of Indian cuisine. It reflects the diversity of Indian heritage and culture. Fenugreek flatbread is also called methi thepla, a popular flatbread from Gujrat, India, and it is quite similar to the paratha. It is made with two types of flour - whole wheat and chickpea, different vegetables and some spices. Fenugreek has a bitter, spicy flavour and fenugreek microgreens have less painful and intense taste than the seeds, yet it has the smell of fenugreek.

Yummy poori or puri is a patent recipe of India which is prevalent in almost all the states. It is a household recipe and it's made in different ways at different places.

Wheatgrass is one of the most popular among several microgreens which is used in various recipes today. You can add wheatgrass in soups, dips and even salads. A soup with wheatgrass is delicious and unique for the immune system.

Pesto is simple to make and great to taste, and you can store it for up to a month nicely capped by olive oil in the refrigerator. It is an excellent source of antioxidants and Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and folate. Spicy mustard green pesto can be paired beautifully with roasted potato, tomato salads and sourdough bread.

Asian microgreen salad is a vegetarian healthy and delicious salad bowl, a favourite among the salad lovers. This wholesome sprout based recipe has an authentic Asian flavour from sesame, ginger and spice mix.

Dal is a widespread and regularly used recipe in Indian homes no matter which state you visit. It goes well with rice and chapati, two of the many patent food items that are cooked in India. If the dal is made from delicious and fresh microgreens, it becomes a daily protein intake powerhouse. Microgreen dal is a healthy recipe for any age group as it contains all the essential ingredients needed for a healthy body.

Pizza is not an Indian dish, but most Indian kids and grown-ups love to have it all the time. Though the ready-made pizzas question healthy ingredients, you can easily make a delicious healthy pizza at home with microgreens.

Omelette is not only a favourite dish for children, but it is also a speedy recipe to boost your protein intake. When you add microgreens to the omelette, it becomes more healthy and tasty too.

You can produce microgreens year-round, and it is readily available for its versatility. It can be a therapeutic experience to grow microgreens which can enhance your health and well-being.

There are specific points you need to take care of while growing microgreens. First of all, the selection is essential. You can start with some straightforward variety best for your region to produce or buy professionally mixed packs. You have to know the method of planting and the appropriate density of sowing. More densely sown seeds can result in lack of air circulation, leading to a risk of disease. Ambient temperature, humidity and circulation are also some of the vital things to grow perfect microgreens.

Microgreens can be expensive and difficult to find in everyday life. But if you have less space, then it is the most convenient way to add some green to your house and get the best of rich vitamins and plant protein sources. You can grow microgreens indoor by using suitable trays, moisturized soil or potting mix and maximum needed light. You can get your seedlings in between seven to fourteen days for most of the varieties of microgreens.

Microgreens are delicious and functional herbs. But as they are grown mostly under the soil in poor ventilation and low light conditions or a damp environment, they might have fungus and bacteria growth issues. So it would help if you were a little careful about the air circulation and cleanliness before eating your microgreens.