Generally, Asian Greens are just a group of different vegetables that are usually used in Asian cuisine. There are many different types of these greens and some of them are Pak Choi, Asian Mustard Greens, Mizuna, Watercress, Tatsoi, and the list goes on. They are accustomed to high amounts of nutrients and they’re quick and easy to grow. It’s always best to pick them fresh out of your garden if possible.
Asian Greens Trivia
- All of the Asian Greens are edible, both the stems and the leaves
- The world’s first sandwich invented by Earl of Sandwich contained watercress in it.
- Bok Choy’s name refers to “White Cabbage”
Asian Greens Buying Guide
Buy them in your local farmer’s markets if you’re not growing them fresh yourself. In general, all of them should pretty much be fresh, crisp, and clean. The flowering types of Asian Greens are best when in the bud than in full bloom.
Asian Greens Production & Farming in Texas
Most of the Asian Greens are still produced only by smaller local producers as people haven’t yet made sure whether it’s profitable to grow these in Texas or not. This will be made sure in Asian vegetable trials in Uvalde, Overton, El Paso, and Weslaco. Some of the Asian greens they’re trying to embrace are Tatsoi, Bok Choy, and some other Asian vegetables who don’t pertain to this category of Asian greens.
People started considering Asian greens most-likely when many Asian people settled in Houston. Locals started noticing the health benefits of these delicious vegetables.
Pesticides
Many Asian greens contain more pesticide residues than allowed. A Switzerland study tested vegetables imported from Asia to have more than an allowed concentration of pesticides. It’s always the best to grow your own if possible.
Geography
Asian greens have been around for thousands of years and they come from different parts of Asia. The vegetables spread to the U.S in the early 20th century.
How to grow these nutritious vegetables in Texas depends on which green you want to grow.
Packaging
The packaging of these vegetables may vary but they’re usually sent in large wooden boxes to the stores and afterward, they’re either tied to their stems in batches or placed in plastic bags.
Enjoying Asian Greens
Each Asian green can be prepared differently from the other, but they’re usually closely related when it comes to versatility. Most of them can be grilled, sauteed, boiled, stir-fried. They’re also usually eaten raw, or thrown in a salad to mix up the flavors and aromas with other vegetables.
Storage
Asian Greens generally don’t store that well since they’re mostly made out of water. But if you must, put them in a plastic bag with a few holes and store them in a crisper drawer of the refrigerator for one to two days.
Cooking
To get the most out of your Asian Greens, you may try Steamed Asian Greens with Honey Soy Sesame Dressing. Put some water in a pot and boil over high heat. Afterward, place the greens in a bamboo steamer and cover it. Place the steamer in the pot and steam the greens until they’re tender. While that is steaming, combine soy sauce, oil, honey, vinegar, and a teaspoon of sesame seeds in a bowl. Put the greens on a serving dish and pour the dressing over it.
Nutrition
Asian Greens are very healthy and have many different values to them. Some of the benefits of eating Asian greens are:
- Improving heart health
- Building Bones
- Cancer-Fighting
- Muscle Function
- Protecting Eye health
Asian greens are also a great source of:
- Vitamins A & C
- Potassium
- Iron
- Calcium
