Mustard microgreens are a delicious addition to any diet, and there are multiple ways to enjoy them. They can be a decorative aspect of a dish or can add a ton of flavor to different recipes.
Microgreens pack a punch of nutrition and vitamins within their tiny structure. They are fairly easy to find in most grocery stores and health food stores, and they can also be grown at home, even for novice gardeners.
What Exactly Are Microgreens?
Microgreens are kind of like miniature versions of your favorite vegetables, legumes, and other plant-based foods, but in sprout form. They are commonly used in cuisine for their pretty look, but also because they are very healthy.
Microgreens have grown in popularity recently for many reasons, mainly because of all of the health benefits they offer. While the superfood craze is mostly full of misinformation, microgreens are probably the closest to superfoods we will ever get.
What Are Mustard Microgreens?
Mustard microgreens are sprouts grown with mustard seeds. They come in different varieties, as there are different types of mustard seeds. Each type of mustard seed will grow into mustard microgreens with different flavors.
For example, yellow mustard microgreens tend to be less spicy than their counterparts. Brown mustard microgreens, on the other hand, tend to have the most spice for those who can handle the heat.
What Do Mustard Microgreens Taste Like?
Mustard microgreens have a strong flavor, but not too strong that it will overpower your dishes. Rather, it helps bring out the other flavors of your dish to balance everything out.
They have a slight spicy kick similar to horseradish. They are also very tender and easy to eat. Different colors of mustard microgreens may be more or less spicy. No matter which color you choose, you are going to get a lot of flavor.
Can I Grow Mustard Microgreens Easily?
If you enjoy microgreens of any variety, it’s worth taking the time to learn how to grow them at home. They tend to be less expensive to grow, and they don’t take a lot of time. The same is true with mustard microgreens.
What Do I Need To Start Growing Mustard Microgreens?
You will obviously need mustard seeds to start with. You will also want to get a couple of shallow trays to plant your seeds in, and one of them should have drainage holes. For soil, you’ll want to look for a seed starter mix so your seeds will get lots of nutrients.
If you are able to purchase a glow light as well, this will help you produce high quality microgreens. You’ll also want to have some good scissors and a spray bottle to water them.
You’ll fill the tray with drainage holes close to the top with soil, then spray it generously with water and tap the soil down. Next, you scatter your seeds throughout, and place your other tray on top. Keep the tray on top for about three days to let the seeds germinate.
Mustard microgreens take about 10 to 14 days to grow and become ready to be harvested. You want to ensure you keep them moist at all times.
How Can I Use Mustard Microgreens As Decoration?
Mustard microgreens grow with colorful leaves when they are ready to harvest, depending on which variety you decide to purchase or plant. The colors are very rich and saturated.
They add a pretty source of color to just about any dish. They are popularly used as a garnish to rich meats and egg dishes, as the flavors complement these foods well.
Consider what you typically put mustard on, and you can most likely swap that mustard with mustard microgreens for the same effect. For example, they work well with burgers and sausages. Not only do they look nice, but they taste great together too.
Can I Cook With Mustard Microgreens?
Mustard microgreens can be enjoyed in their raw form, or cooked into a variety of dishes. Their flavor still stays in tact regardless of how you treat them.
What Foods Do Mustard Microgreens Taste Good With?
Microgreens always work very well with salads, and mustard microgreens are no exception. A salad rich in vegetables and mild greens would instantly be elevated with some mustard microgreens mixed in.
Mustard microgreens can also work really nicely with sushi, in place of wasabi. You will still get that flavorful bite that you typically get with wasabi, but with a punch of nutrition as well.
Mustard microgreens also make a nice garnish to rich meats like pork, beef, and steak.
While they will look nice on your meat, they will also create an interesting flavor combination with your meat and sauce of choice.
How Can I Mix Microgreens In With My Recipes?
Packing a smoothie with some microgreens is also a super simple way to get them into your diet. Mustard microgreens would work best with vegetable-based smoothies, being that they are so strong in flavor.
The same can be said for soups. Blending some mustard microgreens in with a milder soup, such as a potato or vegetable-based soup such as pea or carrot, will help boost up the flavor profile nicely. They can also be used to simply decorate a beautiful bowl of soup.
Are There Any Health Benefits In Mustard Microgreens?
Mustard microgreens are packed with vitamins and nutritional benefits. Vitamins within mustard microgreens include vitamins C, K, A, and E.
They are also a decent source of essential nutrients we need in our diets, including iron, protein, calcium, and fiber. They also have nutrients that are a little bit harder to get in our diets, including zinc, magnesium, and folate.
There are also numerous health benefits cited for a diet rich in mustard micogreens, including:
- They are said to help boost hair growth
- They are one of the best sources of antioxidants
- They can help tackle sinus issues and congestion
- They contain phytonutrients which aid the body in fighting disease and illness
- They help foster a healthy, funtioning digestive system
- They can help diminish inflammation
There are many more health benefits that have been linked to mustard microgreens.
Hi, I’m John Stephens, chief editor and writer for Totalgardener.com. I’ve been gardening and raising animals for over 15 years starting with a small backyard plot in Northern Virginia where I grew corn, potatoes, squash, and using a high mulch technique called the Ruth Stout Method. I also raised ducks and small mammals for meat and eggs in a movable pen similar to the ones used by Joel Salatin. I later moved to Colorado where I experimented with growing greens using aquaponics inside. I eventually added a microgreens setup and home sprouting operation. I’m excited to share everything I’ve learned plus more from the other local gardening and animal raising experts I know.
