If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably never tried Mizuna. It’s not something I ever saw in the grocery store growing up. In fact, I had never seen it at all until we recently moved and started going to a different farmer’s market each week.
Mizuna is a Japanese green that is part of the brassica family. Brassica is the genus of plants that is known as the cruciferous vegetables. This covers a range of veggies from cabbage to broccoli to mustard. Mizuna is classified as a mustard, due to its very mild mustard/peppery taste. It has dark green, serrated leaves and very thin white or pink stalks. There are currently 16 different types of Mizuna, so keep an eye out for a variety near you!
This Japanese Pink Mizuna is from our local farmer’s market, grown by Hillview Farms. Not only are they right in our own town, they are also the sweetest people!
Mizuna is also vitamin filled! It is high in vitamins, A, C, and K, while being very low in calories. It is also packed with antioxidants, such as kaempferol, quercetin, anthocyanin, and beta carotene. Antioxidants, such as these, help to protect your cells from damage from free radicals. So, incorporating nutrient packed foods such as Mizuna will help you fight those tiny little buggers!
Photo from Restoration Seeds
Now, what do you do with Mizuna? Anything! Since it has such a mild flavor, it is easy to add to any recipe you would normally add greens to. I love adding it to our breakfast veggies, or adding it to a stir fry, or even chopping it up into a salad. I also think it would make a great flavor for a homemade pesto. And don't let the mustard flavor put you off! I am NOT a mustard person, and yet I enjoy eating Mizuna. That is how light the “mustard” flavor really is. Get creative with this pretty green and then let me know how you use it so I can try it, too!
A mix of Mizuna and Chard getting cooked up and ready to be incorporated into a breakfast casserole for the week.
One last thought. Mizuna is a very hardy green that grows well is many different climates. Why not grow some at home? We make a deeper connection with our food when we know where it comes from. You can buy seeds and start your own Mizuna garden today! Or if you’re overwhelmed with the thought of that, try heading to a local farmer’s market to see if you can find some. Make a connection with the farmer’s that are local to you. Learn about what grows in what season in your area. Enjoy new foods!
