How to Make a Microgreen Salad That Actually Tastes Amazing

Let's be honest — a bowl of plain microgreens with olive oil isn't going to win any awards. But a well-built microgreen salad? That can be genuinely incredible. The key is understanding that microgreens are an ingredient, not the entire salad. Here's how to make them the star without making it boring.

The Formula for a Great Microgreen Salad

Every excellent salad has five elements:

1. Greens: Your microgreens (obviously)
2. Something crunchy: Nuts, seeds, croutons, or raw vegetables
3. Something creamy: Avocado, cheese, or a creamy dressing
4. Something sweet or acidic: Fruit, pickled onion, or a tangy dressing
5. Something savoury/umami: Parmesan, olives, sun-dried tomatoes

Salad 1: The Classic (Pea Shoot, Avocado, Feta)

• 2 large handfuls pea shoot microgreens
• 1 avocado, sliced
• 100g feta cheese, crumbled
• ¼ cup toasted walnuts
• Cherry tomatoes, halved

Dressing: 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp honey, salt and pepper.

This is the salad that converts microgreen sceptics. The sweet pea shoots with creamy avocado and salty feta is a match made in heaven.

Salad 2: Asian-Inspired (Sunflower, Edamame, Sesame)

• 2 handfuls sunflower microgreens
• ½ cup shelled edamame
• 1 carrot, shredded
• ½ cucumber, sliced
• 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

Dressing: 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tsp sesame oil, 1 tsp honey, pinch of chilli flakes.

The nutty sunflower microgreens work perfectly with this umami-rich Asian dressing.

Salad 3: Mediterranean (Broccoli, Olive, Sun-Dried Tomato)

• 2 handfuls broccoli microgreens
• Handful of mixed salad leaves
• ¼ cup kalamata olives
• ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• Shaved parmesan
• ¼ cup pine nuts

Dressing: 3 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar, 1 clove garlic (minced), salt, pepper, dried oregano.

Salad 4: Spicy Radish and Apple

• 2 handfuls radish microgreens
• 1 green apple, thinly sliced
• ¼ red onion, thinly sliced
• ¼ cup candied pecans
• Crumbled blue cheese or goat cheese

Dressing: 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp maple syrup.

The peppery radish microgreens with sweet apple and sharp cheese creates an addictive flavour contrast.

Tips for Microgreen Salads

• Don't overdress: Microgreens are delicate — use less dressing than you think
• Dress at the last minute: Microgreens wilt quickly once dressed
• Mix varieties: Combining 2–3 types of microgreens adds visual appeal and flavour complexity
• Add height: Pile microgreens on top rather than tossing aggressively — they look best when a bit voluminous

Grow the freshest possible salad ingredients — browse our microgreen seeds and growing kits.