With microgreens being the tender leaves of the plant, it's no surprise that they're so popular for healthy salads. A container of microgreens can be used to make a delicious, quick, and easy salad, and, if done with the right ingredients, remarkably flavorful.
Microgreens come in a variety of flavors, ranging from sweet to spicy, nutty, and earthy. There are some microgreens that are crunchier, while others are softer. With all the varieties, there is sure to be one to meet your tastes and preferences.
We also offer a collection of all of the microgreens featured!
What are the benefits of using microgreens for a salad?
Microgreens are healthy
What stands out the most is that microgreens have notable nutritional value, with one study finding that microgreens can have 4-40 times the nutritional concentration of mature plants. Microgreens contain polyphenols, vitamins, and nutrients in the leaves and stems that are used as the plant is preparing to grow, but when harvested at this stage, all of the nutrients remain concentrated in the young plant.
Microgreens are easy-to-use leaves and stems
With microgreens being leaves, they have the benefit of being used as a salad base or as a replacement for the mature plant in a salad. Broccoli microgreens are a good example because their microgreens are only the leaves and stems, which can be more unified in a salad when compared to the florets and thicker stems of mature broccoli. Other examples of microgreens that can be used as leaves include radish, turnip, and carrot, which are leaves rather than roots.
Microgreens are easy to buy or grow locally
Microgreens can be easily grown in urban farms, such as Jaks Family Farms. This makes microgreens a good option for local produce. We also offer bulk microgreen trays for local delivery, which are perfect for frequent salads with fresh ingredients.
What amount of microgreens should be used for a salad?
One potential downside to microgreens is that they're small. Microgreens are harvested as the first true leaf emerges, giving small, immature leaves and thin stems. Because of this, larger amounts of microgreens are best for salads, with more being added to obtain a stronger flavor of the microgreens.
2oz should be enough for a good salad, and it is the most common amount that microgreens are sold in. More or less can be added as preferred.
What are the best microgreens for salads?
Jaks Family Farms offers two microgreen salad mixes: a Superfood Salad Mix and a Spicy Salad Mix. These are both good options for those who would like a quick and easy variety of microgreens, depending on preference.
Some microgreens stand out individually as options for salads, based on their size, flavor, or versatility.
Broccoli Microgreens
Broccoli microgreens are always a good choice. Similar to mature broccoli, broccoli microgreens are nutritious and packed with sulforaphane. Their leaves have a mild broccoli flavor that is slightly sweet and nutty. They can pair with other salad ingredients to maintain flavor, and taste best with cheese or nutty salads.
Lettuce Microgreens
Lettuce microgreens are lighter than mature lettuce with a soft, tender crunch that can be grabbed by the handful and added to a salad. Their appearance stands out with small, gentle green leaves. Lettuce microgreens may pair with a lemon or lime vinaigrette, or mix with other light ingredients such as avocado or feta cheese.
Cabbage Microgreens
Cabbage microgreens are milder, slightly sweeter, and more earthy than mature cabbage, but still just as crunchy and great in salads. They're perfect with a balsamic vinaigrette and pair well with other crunchy ingredients, like chives or bell peppers. They can also be paired with other microgreens.
Fava Bean Microgreens
Fava Beans, on their own, are nutty and tasty, and the microgreens have a similar flavor with big enough leaves for their own salad base! Fava bean microgreens are a stand-out with fruit salads as a leafy green, or they may be paired with Fava beans themselves or added to a salad mixed with cheese and nuts to complement their flavor.
Turnip Microgreens
Turnip microgreens are pungent with a flavor similar to spinach or radish while still being nice and crunchy. They can be used as a substitute for spinach in certain salads, and they taste good in salads mixed with radish or other thinly sliced vegetables. With mature turnips being a chunkier root, turnip microgreens are a good alternative for flavor or nutrition!
Radish Microgreens
Radish microgreens are a must for a spicy salad and come with a few options! The purple Rambo radish microgreens have a milder spice and a beautiful purple presentation, while Daikon radish is spicier. Radish microgreens can be paired with a spicy vinaigrette or to give extra flavor to a pasta salad.
What are the best ingredients to pair with a microgreen salad?
With the smaller leaves of microgreens, microgreen salads do best with ingredients that have been chopped small and thinly so as not to overpower the tiny leaves. This includes grated cheese or carrots, finely chopped chives or onions, nuts, or sunflower seeds. Fruit, including berries, chopped apples, or mashed avocado, is another option.
Some microgreens can also be paired with the sprout stage or the mature plant, such as Fava beans or broccoli sprouts with their respective microgreens, or radish microgreens and mature radishes.
Another option for microgreens is to use them with pasta salads. They can provide a lot of flavor to a light pasta salad. Pea shoots are a popular pick for pasta salads, although broccoli and radish microgreens are also quite tasty with pasta.
