Microgreens Salad
I always sow my beets, radishes, dill, cilantro, basil, lettuce, and other greens really thickly. This technique has several advantages. First, I don’t have to be bothered with trying to space small seeds at an exact distance. Second, by sowing extra seed, I have an opportunity to dig up clumps of seedlings and transplant them to other areas of the garden or fill in rows with spotty germination. Best of all, after the seeds sprout and get their first set of true leaves, I go through and thin out the seedlings to about two inches apart. These super tender microgreens are delicious and one of the best benefits of gardening at home!
Yesterday before lunch, I popped out into the garden and thinned out rows of radishes, ‘Ruby Streaks’ mustard, and ‘Green Fortune’ baby pak choi. With the exception of radishes and beets, I like to snip seedlings off at the soil line with a pair of needle nosed scissors rather than pulling them out. This prevents disturbing the plants I want to stay in place and keeps the greens from getting super gritty.
Spring Microgreens Salad
Serves 2
Delicate microgreens are appreciated best when used as a garnish or as the centerpiece of a salad dressed with a light vinaigrette. If you don’t have a ready supply of seedlings waiting to be thinned in your garden, check your local farmers market. Microgreens are becoming increasingly popular, as are sprouts—seedlings that have only their first leaves.
You’ll need:
2 cups of thinnings or microgreens
4 small potatoes, well-scrubbed
1 carrot, thinly slivered
2 scallions, white and light greens parts thinly sliced
Crumbled feta
Lemon thyme vinaigrette
Directions:
Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil, put in the potatoes, and let them cook until tender (about 10 minutes). Meanwhile, load the greens into a salad spinner and wash and spin them dry two or three times to make sure they are fully clean and free of grit.
Pile a cup of greens onto each plate, fluffing them up like a pillow. When the potatoes are done, drain and cut them into small chunks when they are cool enough to handle. Arrange the potatoes, carrots, scallions, and a bit of feta cheese over the greens. Drizzle on a bit of vinaigrette moments before serving.
too funny. I just responded on about.com’s gardening bit on radishes suggesting radish greens and sprouts in salads. Like minds, right? Your salad looks fantastic! Thanks for sharing & I’ve got to try your dressing
April 30th, 2009 at 8:02 amYummy! I love growing my own greens. Its so fun to know that you grew them while you are enjoying them.
April 30th, 2009 at 5:46 pmooh…what a great tip! I spent so much time this weekend trying to space my radishes *just so*. Never again!
May 1st, 2009 at 6:21 amI sow mine the same way, and I picked a salad two days ago. The other day I ate the seedlings at the counter just after washing. That vinaigrette sounds delicious. I sent my seeds and recipe for the exchange.
~~Dee
May 3rd, 2009 at 9:23 amI’m growing beets for the first time this year. I used to think I didn’t like beets until I realized I that it’s just that I don’t like canned beets.
May 3rd, 2009 at 4:50 pmSounds yummy…and I have loads of just-picked tiny potatoes (not exactly on purpose but oh well). This will definitely be on tonights menu
I also sow my lettuce seeds with abandon….I just love the thinnings!
May 4th, 2009 at 9:35 amHi WIlli,
I just discovered your blog b/c of the article in Sunset. I am thrilled to find a local gardening blog — I live in the Seattle area. Looking forward to learning more. I am growing spring veggies this year because we visited a CSA in Fall City — Jubilee Farm — last summer and it got my kids hooked on bok choi and lots of good veggies. They chose seeds at the store and bok choi was the first seed packet they chose. There is nothing like watching your seeds sprout, then eventually eating them. I am looking forward to learning from you.
May 4th, 2009 at 2:17 pmJoJ–Welcome to DigginFod! Your kids are going to love growing bok choi. It grows so fast and it’s fun to harvest!
Maureen–I’m curious why you have early potatoes. I’m jealous…I haven’t even gotten around to planting mine yet!
Sandy–I used to have the same problems with beets until I had this fantastic beet salad with anise seed vinaigrette at a picnic. I am not a beet fanatic!
Dee–Thanks for being apart of the exchange. I hope you get a fun recipe and seeds in return.
Erica–glad that I can save you some time in the future. In the meantime, enjoy your perfectly spaced radishes.
Michelle–I agree, eating greens is more fun when you watched them grow in your own garden.
Robin–Can’t wait to come to your plant sale in May and pick up some of your greens.
May 4th, 2009 at 4:46 pmHi Willi
Potatoes were an experiment for us this year. We have unbearably hot summers (ave. temps of 110) and they just don’t grow in this heat (or so I’ve been told). Anyway, we planted some in Nov. and a few in Feb. They all pretty much produced at the same time, the earlier ones went dormant thru most of the winter and both got a bit of frost damage but recovered quickly.
Unfortunately, after looking strong and healthy for so long, they have developed some sort of disease AND bugs are eating them. We’ve had to pull up quite a few before the spuds have fully developed (hence the rather small tots – tho some plants actually had full sized potatoes as well).
We are going to be doing a bit more research on how to better handle the issues that came up (we’re completely organic so we didn’t spray and we did get lots of lady bugs).
One of the good things about planting in the parkway was that I met some resources for the future. Several people would be walking by and say, “Oh my mom used to grow potatoes.” Hopefully, they will not mind my pesky questions.
When do your pototes go in the ground? Do you plant in dirt or use straw? Any diseases I should be aware of? (this is where the pesky questions come into play)
thanks!
May 5th, 2009 at 8:54 amThank you *so* much for this post….it came at the perfect time for me! My mini greenhouse was caught in a gale today and it blew down with all my 3 week old seedlings inside! I was ready for cracking up when I discovered this (moments after it happened), but thankfully I remembered this post, and when I became fed-up of trying to replant as many as I could, I started cleaning the rest off for a micogreens salad! I have rocket, basil, lettuce, beetroot and some onions (it was probably quite silly of me to grow those roots as seedlings anyways!)
Oh well, at least all is not lost!
May 5th, 2009 at 12:09 pmI have been reading through this entire site since Sunset published your feature last month. There is so much content her, I am so excited to have found you! I live in Tacoma, actually we just moved to Anderson Island, and I am trying to plan our landscaping. Inspired by your gardening lifestyle, I am planning to grow a kitchen garden and have some chickens too. Problem is where to begin…..What is the best spot in the yard for my garden? We have a spot that faces south and also gets great afternoon sun, does it matter? What grows the best? Thanks for all this info, it is so motivating for me!
May 7th, 2009 at 7:57 amMaureen–It’s great you’re gardening in the front yard. I think the very best way to become a better gardener is to learn from other gardeners. I’m sorry your potatoes had so many problems, at least you still got a harvest of mini potatoes. I’ve never grown potatoes in a climate like yours, but I have grown them here in Seattle many times. I like to plant them in the ground and then you leaf mulch or straw to hill up around them. We can plant ours from March through June. I’d suggest you look up the Master Gardeners in your county and give them a ring, because they’ll be able to give you local information. Good luck!!
Connie–We’ve been having crazy wind here, too! All my cloches blew off my gardens and I found them in a pile. I”m so glad that you were able to rescue some plants and eat the others!
Jaimie–Welcome to DigginFood! I’m so happy to hear that you find my site helpful and kudos for starting a garden and getting chickens. It sounds like you have the perfect spot for a veggie garden. All veggies need at least 6 hours of bright, direct sun each day. Since you live in the NW I highly recommend you buy the booklet Maritime Northwest Garden Guide. It has info on what to plant month-by-month and suggest varieties that are good for our climate. But cherry tomatoes, beets, chard, and greens are always a sure thing up here. Have fun!
May 7th, 2009 at 8:32 amChard…..do you have any recipes for this? I am clueless when it comes to cooking and eating Chard and Kale. I tried raw Kale once in a salad, but it was so coarse! I did see your roasted kale recipe, I will have to try it. Any other suggestions?
May 7th, 2009 at 2:32 pmThanks!
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May 17th, 2010 at 9:03 amI’m definitely a fan of the way that microgreens dress a salad and dishes for that matter. I’m going to have to give this one a shot- probably add some chicken and feta to it-
July 14th, 2010 at 2:52 pm