The Mighty Microgreen

Written By The Neighborhood Harvest

Grown from seeds and harvested after a few days, the mighty broccoli microgreen boasts nearly 100 times the nutrition of the mature broccoli plant. And unlike grocery stores, The Neighborhood Harvest delivers these fresh shoots, 24-48 hours after harvesting!

Along with its cruciferous cousins - kale, cabbage, and cauliflower - these broccoli micros possess many health benefits due to a plethora of plant or “phyto” chemicals. One of the most abundant and well-researched compounds is sulforaphane, the detox powerhouse that has been shown to combat carcinogens and inflammation to help prevent cancer, heart disease, and even depression.

Researchers are even experimenting with potent doses of broccoli microgreens extract to treat a multitude of cancers - coining the name “green chemoprevention” which may be a complement or alternative to chemotherapy. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7802872/

How much should I eat? Although there are no dietary recommendations for microgreens, even a half cup of the tender shoots will boost the nutrition of any meal. And broccoli microgreens are not the only superfood! All microgreens are packed with good nutrition, especially vitamins A, C, folate, and fiber. The Neighborhood Harvest offers a great selection of sprouts, from the mild crunch like pea shoots to our spicy rainbow microgreens that will rock your taste buds!

I am guilty of snacking on microgreens right out of the container (what I call a garden in a box), but you can add TNH broccoli micros or any of our tender shoots to a variety of meals.

  •  Blend with your morning or afternoon smoothie. I love adding a ½ cup of broccoli microgreens to TNH Cocoa Bliss to get a boost of sulforaphane.

  •  Sprinkle on salads, soups, sandwiches, or wraps. Fun Fact: Add broccoli microgreens with arugula, mustard seed, radishes, and even radish microgreens (our own TNH China Rose microgreens) to increase absorption of sulforaphane.

  •  Garnish! I love to place fish or chicken on a bed of TNH Spring Mix microgreens or enhance an omelet with a burst of TNH Rainbow sprouts.

  •  Freeze them if you know you will not eat in 3-4 days or mix with water and add to ice trays- an easy way to use later. Broccoli micros will lose 80% of their potency after 10 days.

  •  Sautee or stir-fry with other veggies and proteins, but careful not to overheat! These tender shoots should not be cooked for more than 1 minute or will lose their nutrients.

  •  Combine them with noodles for a cold or hot dish. This is a great way to sneak in good nutrition, especially with kids.

My Favorite Easy “Detox” Mediterranean Chopped Salad

Except for the chickpeas, all ingredients are on the TNH website. 2 servings

  •  1 avocado, cubed

  •  2 small cucumbers, sliced

  •  1 cup broccoli microgreens

  •  2-3 radishes

  •  ½ cup chickpeas

  •  ½ cup cherry tomatoes

  •  2 cup arugula

  •  ¼ cup chopped parsley

  •  2 Tbsp pumpkin seeds

  • TNH Vinaigrette

  •  Salt and pepper

Directions: Chop and mix together with TNH Harvest Vinaigrette and salt and pepper to taste.

In your next TNH order, make sure you try one of our healthy mighty microgreens, especially our newest star - broccoli microgreens - to add a nutritious punch to any meal!

Have questions or comments? I’d love to hear from you! Click here to send Sandra an email.

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