Toward the end of the 17th century, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek created a microscope that revealed there were tiny creatures swimming in every drop of water. The world never looked the same again!
The microchip was invented in 1959 by Robert Noyce and Jack Kilby (working separately), and once again the world was transformed by thinking small. Now, microgreens are transforming how you eat your veggies.
Microgreens - tasty, nutrition-packed seedlings - are grown from the seeds of amaranth, arugula, beets, basil, red cabbage, celery, cilantro, chard, chervil, cress, fennel, kale, parsley, radish and other plants. They're turning up in salads and stews, on 100 percent whole-grain pizzas, sandwiches and bagels, and as a garnish with grilled salmon or tossed in cooked whole grains and quinoa.
One study found that most of these mighty minis have four to six times the nutritional content of their full-grown versions. Of the 25 varieties tested, red cabbage had the highest concentration of vitamin C; cilantro, the most carotenoids; amaranth, the most vitamin K; and green daikon radish was tops in vitamin E.
Interested? All you need is a plastic container filled with 1 1/2 to 2 inches of organic soil set on a draining tray and a sprinkling of seeds (mixed is good). Press them gently into the soil. Now you need a south-facing windowsill, a watering can and a couple of weeks (although some take four to six weeks). Snip the shoots at the soil line when they're 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches long and there's a set of partially developed microleaves.
Wash well and enjoy!
© 2014 Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
© King Features Syndicate