Are you familiar with microgreens? I had never heard of them until my culinary school days and they were my staple when it came to garnish for salads, appetizers, and other savory delights. Here’s a picture:
Microgreens are available in a whole bunch of different varieties – microgreen basil, fennel, sorrel, arugula, beets, etc, etc, etc. They are grown in soil or soil substitutes and use the same seeds for their full size counterparts. They have a wonderful, delicate flavor and add color and texture.
I love the texture that sprouts add to sandwiches, however I don’t eat them because of the foodborne illness risks associated with sprouts. They are grown in dark, wet, crowded conditions that make them susceptible to developing salmonella and EColi. Because of the risk, the growing of sprouts is heavily regulated by the FDA and there are warnings as to the risk on their packaging. So, enter microgreens. Every place I would use sprouts, I now use microgreens.
So, where to get them? Well, that’s been one of the problems. While they’ve been easy for restaurants to get, us normal folks haven’t had access to them for home use. You’d have to go to a specialty wholesale produce vendor to find them and you would pay a premium. Well, that’s changed thanks to Trader Joe’s. They now offer an organic microgreen mix that is fantastic. The best part is that it won’t break the bank. $2.99 for a enough to get you through a week of cooking.
So, get some and use them in that tuna sandwich, veggie wrap, or as a garnish for a crab cake.
Meridith
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