Best Microgreens For Smoothies

<a href='https://typesofmicrogreens.com/author/admin/'>Jon Smith</a>Jon Smith
August 1, 2021

Microgreens may be one of the best-kept culinary secrets of the 21st century. Smoothies, on the other hand, aren't exactly a secret. They have become a popular tool for improving the diets of people around the world.

Studies have shown that kids who are offered smoothies consume more fruits and vegetables than kids who are offered whole fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, most adults would agree that a smoothie is more appealing than a handful of lettuce, making it a lot easier to incorporate healthy foods into one's diet.

Adding a small amount of microgreens to a smoothie can provide you with several of the vitamins and minerals found in some expensive supplements. Microgreens are safe, natural, and can easily be grown at home.
 
The key to a healthy and tasty smoothie is choosing the correct ingredients. Relying too heavily on items like ice cream and fruit juice can decrease the overall nutrient content of the smoothie. When whole foods are not used, you do not reap the numerous health benefits that smoothies offer. Conversely, adding a small amount of microgreens to your smoothie can turn a simple drink into a filling and healthy meal replacement.

What Are Microgreens?

Microgreens are essentially immature plants that are harvested around the second week of growth. Because microgreens are harvested so early, they are tender and packed with nutrients.

Microgreens became popular during the 1980s in cafes and upscale restaurants. In those days, the variety available was limited to only a few key plants like arugula and kale. Today, there are more than 80 types of microgreens available, and the list is continuously growing.
 
The original appeal of the microgreen was its size and style. A chef could easily use them to garnish their favorite dish without crowding the plate. Restaurants loved charging large pricetags for tiny plates of food, and the microgreen was perfect for this. But it's not just their size that makes them a great addition to smoothies, it is what lies beneath the surface.

Another reason microgreens are so popular is that they are easy to grow at home.

Why Should You Add Microgreens to Your Smoothie?

The nutrients found in microgreens make them the perfect addition to your favorite smoothie recipe. Microgreens are often packed with vitamins A and C, antioxidants, beta-carotene, and polyphenols.

Despite their reduced size, microgreens contain significantly more vitamins and minerals than their mature counterparts. They can have between 5 and 40 times the amount of nutrients of mature leafy greens.
 
The type of nutrients found in adult plants will be found in microgreens. For example, red cabbage is consistently high in vitamin C and vitamin E. Cilantro has a very high concentration of beta carotene. Sunflower microgreens are loaded with iron, potassium, and calcium. With this in mind, you can balance your smoothie with a combination of different microgreens to ensure you are consuming enough quality nutrients each day.

Best Microgreen Combinations for Smoothies

There are two essential things to consider when choosing microgreen combinations for your smoothies. The first is taste and the second is nutrient balance. Many microgreens have powerful flavors that can include sweet, bitter, or spicy elements. Ideally, you'll want to blend some of these different flavor profiles to create a well-rounded smoothie.

Sweet & Spicy Combinations

Sweet microgreens are plentiful and make an excellent base for your combinations. A beet microgreen will add a mild, sweet flavor and a hint of earthiness to your drink along with a slight red tint. Beets blend well with other mild, spicy microgreens like mustard, broccoli, and red cabbage.

Sweet & Sour Combinations

Several microgreens have a sour or tangy flavor to them. If you're a fan of citrus profiles, then these combinations will suit you perfectly. Pea shoots make an excellent sweet base because they're sweet and lack any form of bitterness. You can balance it with a sour microgreen like clover, cilantro, or sorrel.

Bitter & Peppery Combinations

What if you want to avoid the sweet profile altogether? You can make your smoothie taste more like a meal and less like a dessert by adding some mild, bitter microgreens along with nutty or peppery greens. Cress and kale are both popular microgreens with a slightly bitter taste and an impressive nutritional makeup. For a peppery blend, add arugula or cauliflower. For a nuttier variation, you can add sunflower instead. 

Supplies

Microgreen smoothies are made similarly to traditional smoothies. They tend to include larger fruits and thickeners as well. The only major difference is that you'll be adding a handful of your preferred microgreen mix. This means you can easily incorporate microgreens into your favorite smoothie recipes without much change. The supplies you'll need aren't much different either.

Blender

The blender is the most important tool in any smoothie-making experience. A large countertop blender is useful for making multiple servings at once. You can store the remainder in the fridge and have it ready to go whenever the mood strikes.

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Ninja BL610 Professional 72 Oz Countertop Blender with 1000-Watt Base and Total Crushing Technology for Smoothies, Ice and Frozen Fruit, Black, 9.5 in L x 7.5 in W x 17 in H
  • PROFESSIONAL POWER: 1000 watts of professional power can crush ice and breakdown any tough ingredient.
  • XL CAPACITY: The 72 oz.* professional blender pitcher is excellent for making frozen drinks and creamy smoothies for the entire family. *64 oz. max liquid capacity
  • INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY: Total Crushing Technology delivers unbeatable power with blades that pulverize and crush through ice, whole fruits and vegetables in seconds.
  • ICE CRUSHING: Blast ice into snow in seconds and blend your favorite ingredients into delicious resort-style frozen drinks!
  • RECIPE INSPIRATION: The included recipe guide provides drink and dish making inspiration.

I personally use this blender for my own microgreen smoothies and love it. The blender works well and has a second blade about midlevel ensuring that your smoothie is blended up nicely.

Vegetable Knife

Having a high-quality vegetable knife makes harvesting microgreens a breeze. A heavy, sturdy blade is crucial for cutting through large patches of greens at once. You can use this same knife for preparing the larger ingredients as well.

TUO Vegetable Cleaver- Chinese Chef’s Knife - Stainless Steel Kitchen Cutlery - Pakkawood Handle - Gift Box Included - 7 inch - Fiery Phoenix Series
  • Professional Cleaver Knife: TUO vegetable cleaver featured curved blade profile, the sharp tip can cut up vegetables, the middle part of the blade can smash garlic while the bottom can mince meat. This 7-inch Vegetable Chopper is perfect for mincing, chopping and cutting ingredients, offering you unrivalled cutting performance like no other.
  • WELL DESIGNED: From the striking grain of the polished pakkawood handle to the gentle curve of the blade, this is an ergonomic handle with polished bolster design for exceptional comfort and maneuverability. The full tang structure ensures you the stability and durability of the knife.
  • SUPER STEEL: Forged with premium High Carbon German Stainless steel DIN:1.4116 (X50CrMoV15), this Chinese chef’s knife is precisely tempered with High-Tech Vacuum Heat Treatment to reach the hardness of the blade to. HRC56±2. TUO experienced bladesmiths hand sharpen each edge with 18 degree per side to ensure you a razor sharp blade.
  • PAKKAWOOD HANDLE: Pakkawood is a very dense product that is largely waterproof, providing much of the same look and feel as wood, but without the warping and splitting common in real wood. The Pakkawood (sourced from Africa) is unique for each piece, giving you a both luxurious and beautiful look.
  • TUO LIFETIEM GUARANTEE: 100% SATISFACTION OR MONEY BACK GUARANTEE, try it risk free. We guarantee a superior product that will give you a lifetime guarantee against manufacturer defects. With the luxury case, it is the wise choice as a gift.

A Good Cup

You might be surprised by the difference a good cup can make. If you plan on taking your smoothie with you to the gym or on a jog, it needs to be durable and sealable. A cup with a wide mouth makes it easier to scoop in additional protein or supplements if you prefer.

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BlenderBottle Shaker Bottle Pro Series Perfect for Protein Shakes and Pre Workout, 24-Ounce, Black
  • 24-ounce capacity (note: measurements only go to 18 ounces) sleek and durable Pro24 shaker cup for mixing protein shakes, smoothies, and supplements
  • Patented mixing system uses 316 surgical-grade stainless steel BlenderBall wire whisk found only in BlenderBottle brand shaker cups
  • Screw-on lid creates leak-proof seal, and secure flip cap with SpoutGuard keeps germs at bay; wide loop top for easy carrying or attaching keys
  • Wide mouth makes it easy to add mix scoops and liquids, and embossed markings measure both ounces and milliliters; rounded base for thorough mixing
  • Made of BPA and phthalate-free, stain and odor-resistant durable Eastman Tritan plastic; dishwasher safe; manufacturer’s limited lifetime warranty

Final Thoughts

Microgreens have moved from the cafe plate to the smoothie cup over the past 40 years and we're all healthier for it. The variety available has also increased tremendously during that same period. It's easier than ever to discover and mix new combinations loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, fiber, and other healthy nutrients. The supplies are easy to find and even the greens themselves can be grown at home. Healthy eating has never been so easy.
 


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About The Author
I have been growing microgreens for myself and others for quite some time now and I absolutely love the process.

Even more I love spreading awareness of an amazing crop that has so many nutritional benefits for our bodies which improve our overall health and wellbeing.

Jon Smith

Founder/Writer
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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.