What Are Micro Greens?

This morning, I was reading a salad recipe that called for “micro arugula” as an ingredient. While most of us are familiar with the bitter leafy green that is arugula (sometimes called “rocket” overseas), what is micro arugula? And are micro greens any healthier?

First things first, “micro” is really just a fancy way for saying baby. Micro arugula is arugula that has been picked shortly after germination while still tiny, tender and tasty! Unlike sprouts, which germinate in water, micro greens are grown in a thin layer of actual soil. Beyond arugula, other popular micro greens include kale, beets, radish, spinach, red cabbage and many others. Micro greens are becoming increasingly popular and can be found in any health food store and some mainstream grocery chains.

Micro greens are small but mighty for a number of reasons.

For one, they’re easy to grow and transport. If you have a sunny spot in your home or kitchen, you don’t need a lot of expertise, space or time to grow some basic baby greens. Moreover, because they’re harvested early, you’ll be eating your micros in weeks rather than months. And, because they’re so transportable, many restaurants receive the greens while still in their growing trays. The greens can go from tray to plate to mouth in a matter of minutes; it doesn’t get fresher than that!

What really makes micro greens so special is their nutritional content. A recent (and first of its kind) study published by the University of Maryland found that nearly all of the 25 commercially available micro greens that they examined had nutrient levels 4 - 6x higher than the full-grown plant. For micro green enthusiasts, that’s huge news.

The bottom line: Beyond providing fresh and vivid colors, flavors and textures, micro greens pack a huge nutritional punch. If you haven’t jumped on the micro green bandwagon, I’d definitely recommend giving it a try.

Are you a micro green fan? Which is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!

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Comments

  1. Just goes to show that bigger is not always better. Go small or go home!
    Baby kale is my fave right now.

  2. christopher says:

    a few years ago i found an interesting recipe using kale.its a Dutch/Northern Germany Recipe.fresh chopped kale sprinkled with mashed potatoes cooked with olive oil-instead of butter.its healthy-and a comfort food to boot.

  3. Great article. I’ve been sprouting a lot because the seeds are easy to come buy. Pick them up at the local grocery store - lentil beans, mung beans, even broccoli I found at fruitful yield. Id LOVE to try microgreens… When you grow yours, where do you get the seeds? You would need to get them in bulk correct?

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Trackbacks

  1. […] other day, I was searching a local farmer’s market for some fresh microgreens when I came across a booth piled high with what looked like beautifully crafted cutting boards. But […]

  2. […] Microgreens are baby greens that are picked shortly after germination. Popular microgreens include spinach, […]

  3. […] it with microgreens. I’m a huge fan of microgreens. They’re fresh, packed with flavor and several times […]

  4. […] Micro greens - which are loaded with an average of 4x the nutrients of full-grown greens. […]

  5. […] With 4 - 6x the nutrients of their full grown counterparts, microgreens are baby greens picked shortly after germination. They’re flavorful, tender and tasty. I […]