Bengalureans take a fancy to microgreens

Microgreens, or immature shoots of plants, are picking up in the city restaurants. Also known as

vegetable confetti

,

microgreens

shouldn’t be confused with sprouts which are germinated seeds eaten root, seed and shoot. Microgreens are harvested with scissors just after the leaves have developed, when the plants are up to two inches tall.

Chef Abhijit Saha says, “Apart from looking pretty, microgreens add flavours and a punch to the food. They are also loaded with

nutrition

, but because it is generally used in lesser quantity, it does not make a difference to the nutritional value of the food. Hence, to tap the potential, we have started a microgreen salad, which is big in

flavour

and nutrition.”

Though it might be picking up now, chef Manu Chandra claims to have brought the greens to the city almost six years ago. “Microgreens are primarily used as decorative ingredients in many of our dishes. It makes for a great garnish, as it looks cute and adds a dimension to the plate, which you wouldn’t be able to accomplish with full greens. Also the baby leaves had a subtle taste, which blends well with the dish.”

Nithin Sagi — a farmer, who grows microgreens of mustard, radish, sunflower, beetroot, red amaranthus, pea shoot, spinach, fennel and coriander in Bengaluru — says, “We supply these greens to approximately 60 restaurants in the city. Over the years, the awareness about these greens has increased.”

Apart from restaurants, you can even get these greens in malls. However, remember to have them fresh to get the full benefits. “You can even grow some varieties, like mustard and fennel, at home organically. Some of the varieties are even known to be more nutritious than their mature counterparts. They are a potent source of vitamins, minerals and amino acids,” says fitness expert Wannitaa Ashok.

Microgreens also take far less time to grow, and are generally harvested within five to 20 days, depending on the seed and the climate, while their mature counterparts take around eight to 10 weeks to grow.

However, not all microgreens have better nutrient profile than their mature counterparts. Nutritionist Sheela Krishnaswamy says, “Microgreens haven’t been studied in-depth for their nutritional content. They do have similar nutrient profile as their mature greens, but in smaller quanity. So the customer has to consume much more quantity to reach the nutrient profile.”