Even when the frost is glistening outside the windows and the garden is sleeping, your cultivation does not have to be over. You can start growing micro-greens – for example on the windowsill at home outside the window.
Microgreens are full of flavor and vitamins. Within a few days, you can use them to decorate Christmas fish soup, potato salad, sandwiches or canapés.
What are microgreens?
These are young plants that are harvested when they have cotyledons and often the first true leaves. Unlike sprouts, they are grown in a thin layer of substrate or on cotton wool and harvested with scissors just above the surface. They contain several times more nutrients than adult plants and have an intense taste, ideal for the winter season, when the body begins to lack vitamins.
Which species to choose for Christmas
Microgreens can also be paired with traditional Christmas dishes in such a way that they complement and enliven the taste:
1. Peas
It has a mild, slightly sweet taste and looks beautiful. It goes well on sandwiches with egg or ham and in potato salad.
2. Radish
A sharp, slightly pungent taste that kicks up even a classic fish soup. Goes well with smoked salmon, spreads or cheeses.
3. Sunflower
Juicy and tender shoots with a nutty tone. They add depth and nutrition to food. They stand out on sandwiches with pate or hummus.
4. Purple radish or red cabbage
Thanks to the deep purple petals, they add color to the plates that matches the Christmas decorations. Also suitable as a decoration for soup.
5. Coriander
A typical aroma of the Orient, ideal for fish or lentil soup. Just a few tickets and the meal turns into an experience.
6. Mustard
A spicy taste that goes well with cold meats, eggs or cheese. Let traditional canapés shine on the Christmas table.
7. Basil
Those who like Mediterranean tones will appreciate basil even in winter. It goes well with canapés with tomato or mozzarella, but also with baked potatoes.
How to grow microgreens
- The basis is a shallow bowl with holes, ideally made of a material that holds moisture well.
- The substrate can be coconut shreds or the substrate you use for sowing seeds. It is sown densely. Spread the seeds evenly over
- surface and just press lightly.
- Before sowing, soak the seeds in water and let them soak. Seeds prepared in this way germinate better and more evenly.
- Next, water the seeds with a gentle mist. Beware of overwetting.
- You will harvest in about 7 to 14 days, depending on the species.
Tip: Before Christmas, sow microgreens no later than around 10-12 December to have a fresh harvest on Christmas Day.
How to use microgreens
For soup: Sprinkle them over fish, pea or lentil soup just before serving.
For sandwiches and canapés: Combine to taste – peas with egg, radish with cottage cheese spread, sunflower with smoked meat.
For salads: Replace some of the classic vegetables with them, they add freshness and color.
Microgreens will bring a new dimension to the Christmas table – combining tradition with freshness. And the best thing is that, even in December, we will be reminded that life in the garden never ends. All you need is a little light, a few seeds and a bowl of greenery on the window, which will give us energy and joy.
About the author
The road from the city led Tomáš Trejbal to the natural garden. He builds his, beautiful and sustainable, with great passion.
You could find this article in the magazine Recipe No. 12/25.
