Chia microgreens are good additions to soups, salads, smoothies, and sandwiches. You can add chia to some beverages, put the microgreens in dips, or use them to garnish many kinds of meals. The sprouts have a tangy flavor that’s good for spicing up foods.
Chia is an easy plant to grow. It doesn’t take long, and you can have your own little garden of microgreens to eat from. In this article, we’re exploring the ways to use chia microgreens for their nutritional value. Read on to find recipes and more.
What’s the Best Way to Eat Chia Microgreens?
It’s best to eat chia microgreens raw. You’ll get the most of their nutritional value by eating them raw.
If you want to add them to a soup, you can. Save them until the end. This way, they don’t cook for long, as chia turns to gel when it’s allowed to soak up liquid.
What Are the Benefits of Eating Chia Microgreens?
Chia is a superfood. It’s packed with omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, calcium, iron, and potassium.
Microgreens also contain chlorophyll. It’s rich in vitamins A, E, C, and K.
Promotes Healthy Blood
The nutritional value of chia microgreens supports a healthy platelet count. The chlorophyll in the sprouts helps replenish red blood cells that are essential for delivering oxygen to all parts of the body.
Builds Strong Bones
High levels of calcium in chia microgreens help maintain strong bones and teeth. Vitamin K also promotes the strength of bones.
Supports the Immune System
Antioxidants give a boost to your immune system. They help your body fight off illness and protect you from getting infections. Chia microgreens are chocked full of helpful antioxidants.
Improves Cognitive Function
Chia microgreens are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s do a lot of good in the body, including providing support to your brain. They’ve been shown to increase cognitive ability and may even prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s.
What Foods Are Best with Chia Microgreens?
Now for the fun part. Let’s look at some recipes that are good for including chia microgreens.
Chia Chocolate Cake
Let’s start with dessert. This chocolate cake is delicious and sugar-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
Ingredients
- 1 c. ground almonds and chia seeds
- 1 c. soaked chickpeas
- 3/4 c. softened, stoneless dates
- 3/4 c. coconut
- 3/4 c. cacao
- 1/3 c. coconut oil
- 1/3 c. honey
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 2 tsp. cinnamon
In a food processor, mix chickpeas until they look like a paste. Add in the dates, eggs, honey, and coconut oil. Blend everything together.
Mix in the rest of the ingredients. Blend until smooth and well mixed. Should the mixture come out too dry, add in some extra liquid.
Pour the batter into a pan of your choice. Bake at 350º F for 30 to 40 minutes.
Breakfast Protein Green Smoothie
We all need a little boost in the morning. A green smoothie packed with protein is the perfect way to start the day.
Ingredients
- 1 c. unsweetened almond milk (or milk of your choice)
- 1 ripe banana (we like to use frozen)
- 1/2 c. frozen mango
- A handful of baby spinach
- 1/4 c. pumpkin seeds
- 2 Tbsp. chopped chia microgreens and seeds
- Note: You can also add in a partial scoop of your favorite protein powder.
Throw all ingredients into a blender and mix until smooth.
Superfood Pancakes
You can make superfood pancakes out of any recipe you already use for your family’s pancakes. You’ll use chia seeds in place of the eggs you normally put in.
Soak a handful of chia seeds in water for about 10 minutes. Water-soaked chia turns into a gel. Add the gel to the pancake batter of your choice for nutrient-rich superfood pancakes.
Salads
You can sprinkle chia seeds or chia microgreens over any salad. It adds a healthy dose of protein, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to salads. You also get a little extra flavor.
Chia Rice
Cook your rice with the normal method you use. When the rice is finished, throw in a couple tablespoons of chia and stir.
Allow the rice to stand once mixed for about 5 minutes. The chia seeds will grow and add flavor to your rice.
Other Ways to Use Chia Microgreens
Get creative with your chia microgreens. They’re easy to throw on top of foods or mix in with recipes you already use. Here are a few more creative ways to add microgreens to foods.
- Add to the top of pizza.
- Mix into pasta sauce.
- Throw into salsa.
- Blend into pesto recipe.
- Stir into ranch dip.
- Add to the end of a stir fry.
- Mix into or garnish your soup.
- Use to dress up a burger or sandwich.
How Can I Grow My Own Chia Microgreens?
Chia microgreens are easy to grow. They grow quickly, so you can have your own sprouts in less than a week.
One of the best ways to grow chia is through the sprinkle method. Get some little terra cotta trays. Sprinkle chia seeds in the bottom of the trays.
Place the trays in a glass dish or other container and put up to half an inch of water in the bottom. Mist a little bit of water on top of the seeds. Cover the container to keep the moisture in.
Within a week, you should have terra cotta trays full of chia microgreen sprouts. You can use them whenever you’re ready.
Tips for Growing Chia Microgreens
Once your sprouts have grown to the size you want, you can eat them just as they are. If you move them to a sunnier spot, the sprouts will green up more.
Don’t use the jar method. Many sprouts thrive in jars. Chia doesn’t do as well as other plants because of the moisture level in the jar. It needs proper draining.
Can I Eat My Chia Pet?
This seems like a strange question, but the answer to it is yes. Nutrition experts encourage growers to eat their chia pets because of this plant’s nutritional value.
