Micro Sorrel
Estimated Inventory, 4 oz : 1.00
This item was last sold on : 11/17/24
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Description/Taste
Micro Sorrel is a slender green with elongated, oval leaves that taper slightly to a curved or pointed tip. The bright green leaves are smooth, flat, pliable, and uniform, with a central midrib notably seen on the underside of the leaf. The leaves are also attached to a narrow, fleshy pale green stem, contributing to the microgreen’s crisp, succulent, and tender consistency. Micro Sorrel has a delicate texture with a bright, earthy, and tangy, herbal flavor, comprised of sour, lemon-like green nuances mixed with subtle acidity.
Seasons/Availability
Micro Sorrel is available year-round.
Current Facts
Micro Sorrel consists of young, edible seedlings that are a part of a line of specialty microgreens grown by Fresh Origins Farm in San Diego, California. The delicate greens provide a refreshing and bright, citrus-forward flavor inspired by spring. The name sorrel is derived from the German word “sur” and the French word “surele,” both translating to mean “sour,” which is a descriptor of the green’s tangy, herbal flavor. Micro Sorrel was specially curated to provide chefs with a unique, edible garnish that contributes clean flavors, textures, and unusual shapes to culinary dishes. Microgreens are generally harvested 1 to 2 weeks after sowing and are gathered at the peak of their growth cycle to ensure optimum flavor and nutritional properties. Micro Sorrel elevates the dining experience by adding subtle acidic flavors without overpowering the dish's main elements. In addition to being featured as a microgreen, Micro Sorrel is also offered as a Petite® Green, a slightly larger, more mature version of the microgreen.
Nutritional Value
Micro Sorrel is a source of potassium, a mineral that helps the body balance fluid levels and acts as an electrolyte to prevent dehydration. The microgreens also provide vitamins A and C to strengthen the immune system and reduce inflammation, fiber to stimulate the digestive tract, and lower amounts of iron, calcium, and magnesium. 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 Sorrel is best suited as an edible garnish and provides added sensory elements to a wide variety of culinary dishes. The tender, tart greens are showcased when consumed fresh and should be added at the end of preparations to avoid wilting and provide the brightest flavor. Micro Sorrel can be mixed with milder lettuce greens to make a tangy salad, floated on soups, used as a garnish over quiche, or placed as an accent in creamy pasta dishes. The sharp greens can also be utilized as a garnish to sushi and seafood, complementing flavors of fish with a rich and fatty oil content, or they can be incorporated into sauces for roasted meats and vegetables. Beyond culinary dishes, Micro Sorrel can be muddled into cocktails or used as an edible garnish for beverages. Micro Sorrel pairs well with Asian, French, Latin, and Mexican cuisines and complements nuts such as pepitas, pistachios, and Marcona almonds, beets, leeks, radishes, radicchio, ginger, meats such as poultry, goose, and turkey, salmon, cheeses such as chevre, goat, gouda, and blue, and herbs such as tarragon, chives, and parsley. Micro Sorrel will generally keep 5 to 7 days stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
In Europe, sorrel has historically been incorporated into sauces as a bright, acidic flavoring to contrast heavy elements commonly found in rich foods. The art of combining sorrel into “green sauce” can be traced back to Ancient Greece and Rome, and the tangy sauce reached its peak popularity during the Middle Ages in Western Europe. Sorrel was a seasonal flavoring reminiscent of springtime and was most notably used in British green sauces, combined with other herbs, including thyme, sage, and parsley, spices, and garlic to flavor fish, fowl, and roasted game. The green sauce was used so frequently in the Middle Ages that local vendors would blend and bottle their own recipes to sell to consumers for an easy addition to meals. In the “Dictionary of Gastronomy,” author Andre L. Simon also noted that a favored 16th-century English recipe used sorrel sauce and adorned the sauce with edible marigolds and citrus slices. Plating dishes with edible garnishes is not a new concept, but in the modern-day, Micro Sorrel is a contemporary twist on classic sorrel flavorings. The tiny greens can be used to elevate and accent dishes without the need for homemade sauces, or they can be used in conjunction with the sauce as an added, flavorful garnish.
Geography/History
Micro Sorrel was developed at Fresh Origins Farm 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 year-round 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 Sorrel 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.
Le Coq | La Jolla CA | 858-427-1500 |
Fairmont Grand Del Mar | San Diego CA | 858-314-1975 |
InterContinental Vistal Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-501-9400 |
Rancho Bernardo Inn (Avant) | San Diego CA | 858-675-8505 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Micro Sorrel. One is easiest, three is harder.