Health Benefits of Microgreens
We all know we need to eat more vegetables, but eating fresh in Scotland over winter can be… uninspiring. Roast vegetables and soup are great, but it’s important to have something fresh and crispy. Something green that’s not supermarket salad. Try microgreens.
Microgreens are sprouted seeds that have grown into tiny plants - they pack a punch when it comes to nutrition. Despite their small size, these miniature versions of leafy greens are jam-packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making them a powerhouse of health benefits.
Microgreens are incredibly nutrient-dense. Studies have shown that these miniature greens can contain up to 40 times more nutrients than their mature counterparts. This means that even a small serving of microgreens can provide a significant portion of your daily nutrient requirements, including vitamins A, C, and K, as well as essential minerals like iron, potassium, and magnesium. Good news over winter.
In addition to their nutritional benefits, microgreens are also bursting with flavor. Despite their small size, they have a robust taste that can elevate any dish. I love to sprinkle them on sandwiches, baked potatoes, curries, in fact nearly any dish can be garnished with microgreens. So where can you get them?
I have experimented with growing them at home, but they’re slow to grow over the darker months. Enter Edinburgh’s first dedicated hydroponic urban farm, Leafy. We recently visited Leafy’s dedicated indoor growing space in north Edinburgh, a plant lovers delight!
The basement farm uses recyclable hemp mats, peat-free compost, minimal water and renewable energy. No chemical fertilisers, and as seeds are a powerhouse of nutrients ready to grow into small plants, they don’t need pesticides or herbicides.
Sunflower seed microgreens are especially exciting in cooking, as they are robust enough to be stir-fried and have a gorgeously nutty taste. Owner Susie is experimenting with new crops and we were delighted to see tiny nasturtium leaves at Leafy, see above photo. Pea shoots (serge) growing in pots is also in the production pipeline, so check out their website for up-to-date offerings.
A version of this article was first published in Bite Magazine, November 2024.
