Micro Pea Greens
Estimated Inventory, 4 oz : -1.00
This item was last sold on : 11/26/24
Fresh Origins | Homepage |
Description/Taste
Micro Pea Greens are small, delicate leaves attached to slender stems, averaging 1 to 2 centimeters in diameter, and have a uniform and elongated, oval shape. The bright green leaves are thin, smooth, and flat with curved edges, and light green veining may appear across the surface. Each leaf is attached to a flexible but sturdy green stem, contributing to the microgreen’s crisp, succulent, and tender consistency. Micro Pea Greens have a mild and pleasant vegetal flavor with sweet, herbal, and bright grassy notes.
Seasons/Availability
Micro Pea Greens are available year-round.
Current Facts
Micro Pea Greens are young, edible seedlings a part of a line of flavorful and robust microgreens grown by Fresh Origins Farm in San Diego, California. Pea greens were historically available for a very short season, associated with spring as a fresh garnish, but Fresh Origins Farm has modernized the favored flavor into a microgreen that can be incorporated into dishes year-round. Micro Pea Greens are generally harvested 1 to 2 weeks after sowing, and chefs use the greens to elevate dishes and add a crisp, snappy texture. In addition to being featured as a microgreen, pea greens are also offered as a Petite® Pea Green™ and a Petite® Pea Green with Tendril™, which is a slightly larger, more mature version of the microgreen.
Nutritional Value
Micro Pea Greens contain beta-carotene, a nutrient converted into vitamin A in the body to protect against vision loss and improve skin complexion. The greens also contain vitamin C to strengthen the immune system and lower amounts of calcium, vitamin B, and iron. It is important to note that the vitamins and minerals are found primarily within the leaves and not in the stems of the microgreens. Growing conditions also significantly impact the nutritional content, and Fresh Origins cultivates their microgreens in a natural setting, an ideal climate for healthy, optimal greens.
Applications
Micro Pea Greens are best used fresh as an edible garnish or subtle flavoring. The delicate greens can be sprinkled over soups, mixed into salads, selectively placed on main dishes, appetizers, and some desserts to enhance the visual appeal, or used as a fresh flavor over roasted vegetables, potatoes, and pasta. Micro Pea Greens can also be sprinkled on vegetable pizza, layered into sandwiches, used as a bed of greens under grilled meats, or blended into a bright pesto. Pea greens are traditionally used in Asian cuisine and are a favored flavoring in stir-fries. The greens are also popularly dressed in light sauces as a side dish. Micro Pea Greens pair well with cheeses such as goat, feta, parmesan, and pecorino, aromatics such as garlic, ginger, leeks, and shallots, fava beans, asparagus, mushrooms, radishes, citrus, eggs, seafood, and poultry. Micro Pea Greens will generally keep 5 to 7 days when stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
In the early 20th century in the United States, peas were traditionally marketed in canned or frozen form and were rarely found fresh. The garden-fresh version of the grassy, crisp vegetables was reserved for seasonal farmer’s markets in the spring, and with their limited availability, using fresh pea greens became a fleeting culinary ingredient. In the 1990s, high-end restaurants began seeking unique greens to use as edible garnishes and to match this increased demand, the food industry slowly shifted to focus on fresh rather than processed ingredients. During this time, Fresh Origins also began developing microgreens as a modern twist on the classic, edible garnishes. Microgreens quickly increased in popularity among chefs for their new textures, flavors, and colors to elevate the dining experience. In modern-day, Micro Pea Greens provide bright, springtime flavors to dishes without seasonality constraints and allow chefs to incorporate the signature, grassy flavor in unusual, creative ways.
Geography/History
Pea vines are an ancient plant native to Central Asia and are believed to be one of the oldest food sources cultivated by humans. The plants were quickly spread across Asia and Europe through trade routes and were eventually introduced to the new world through explorers and migrating peoples. Today pea greens can be seasonally found in the spring and early summer, but in micro form, the greens can be found year-round through Fresh Origins Farm. Micro Pea Greens are grown at Fresh Origins in San Diego, California, the leading American producer of naturally grown microgreens since the mid-1990s. Fresh Origins has been using the mild, Southern California climate to produce robust, healthy, and flavorful microgreens for over twenty years, and the farm closely partners with chefs to create innovative varieties with unique flavorings. Fresh Origins also has the highest level third-party-audited food safety program and is a certified member of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, which follows science-based food safety practices to promote transparency and honesty in production. Today Micro Pea Greens can be found through select distribution partners of Fresh Origins across the United States, including Specialty Produce, and are also found through partners in Canada.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
Barbarella La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-454-7373 |
Red O Restaurant | San Diego CA | 858-291-8360 |
The Wild Thyme Company | San Diego CA | 858-527-0226 |
College Cuisine-Pi Beta Phi | San Diego CA | 310-634-2371 |
Mister A's | San Diego CA | 619-239-1377 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Micro Pea Greens. One is easiest, three is harder.
Eating Asia | Hot and Spicy Noodles with Pea Greens | |
Good Cheap Eats | Orange and Avocado Salad with Pear Tendrils |