Find a Recipe!

Just a Little Bit of Bacon

where comfort food meets the farm stand

  • Home
  • Recipes
    • beverages
    • desserts
    • grilling and bbq
    • main courses
    • quick dinners
    • side dishes
    • soups and stews
  • mediterranean recipes
    • italian recipes
      • italian comfort food
      • italian antipasti
      • fundamentals of italian cooking
    • spanish recipes
      • spanish tapas
    • french recipes
      • french comfort food
    • greek recipes
  • holiday favorites
    • christmas
    • easter dinner
    • thanksgiving feast
  • resources
    • dinner and party menus
    • farmers’ market
      • ingredient spotlight
    • roundup post
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

What is Mizuna? Ingredient Spotlight

August 21, 2018 By justalittlebitofbacon Leave a Comment

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. Click here for details.

Have you been at the farmers’ market or opening your CSA box and said ‘Mizuna? What is mizuna?’ Well then you’re in luck because I have put together this ingredient spotlight to answer all your questions and give you some ideas on how to use mizuna.

Mizuna greens upright in a container of water showing the feathery leaves.

Recently I was at the farmers’ market visiting the various vendor stalls and came across a table with several bundles of leaves along one side. And I had no idea what it was or how to use it. This made me very happy since I love to find ‘new to me’ fruits and vegetables.

So I asked the farmers about it. They told me it was mizuna and let me try a leaf to see how it tasted. I was immediately hooked!

I bought a couple of bunches, made some recipes, and looked up all the info I could find. Which I shall now share with you in this ingredient spotlight. And I hope it will answer the questions: what is mizuna? and what do I do with mizuna?

What is Mizuna?

Mizuna is a member of the Brassica family of plants. What is the Brassica family? You might know them better as mustard greens, cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts), turnips, kohlrabi, and kale. Yes, a very large portion of the vegetables we eat are all related.

Specifically, mizuna is a type of mustard green found in Japan. It is often used in Asian cooking and has been making its way into American cuisine where it is found in baby lettuce mixes (as a little spicy factor) and in big bunches at farmers’ markets.

Mizuna has dark green, serrated, feathered leaves and looks rather delicate even when allowed to grow into larger leaves.

Fun fact: Mizuna was grown on the International Space Station in the Lada Greenhouse on the station to test some of the variabilities of growing greens in space.

Where does Mizuna Come From?

Mizuna is widely cultivated in Japan and has been for at least 200-300 years. It may have first been cultivated in China, though I can’t find any authoritative citations for that. (Or maybe it’s Indian in origin!)

It was traditionally grown in Kyoto, and is sometimes called kyona. In Kyoto it is still grown in wet fields as a fall/winter crop.

Either way, it is often used in Japanese cooking, where it is pickled, used in Japanese hot pots, stir fried, and put in soups.

Mizuna greens being chopped into pieces with a knive on a cutting board.

What does mizuna taste like?

Mizuna tastes like a cross between mustard greens and arugula. It is mildly spicy with a peppery bite.

You have probably had it raw as a baby green in lettuce mixes, where it looks like a more feathery arugula. As a mature green, though you could chop it up and have it in a salad, it is usually cooked to add a little bite to whatever you’re making.

Is Mizuna good for you?

Yes! As with all of the Brassica family, mizuna is packed full of nutrients while contributing very few calories to your diet.

  1. Mizuna is full of vitamins, such as A, C, and K, along with beta carotene. Vitamin K is especially helpful in improving bone health and blood clotting.
  2. Mizuna contains antioxidants, especially kaempferol, which helps with chronic inflammation, protecting healthy cells, and may help reduce the spread of cancers.
  3. The antioxidants also helps support a healthy immune system.
  4. Mizuna also improves eye health through its supply of vitamin A and lutein.

For more information on the health benefits of mizuna, check out Top 6 Benefits of This Super Green.

Note: If you suffer from oxalate kidney stones, mizuna, like the rest of its relatives, does contain high amounts of oxalates, so enjoy it in moderation.

A bunch of mizuna greens on a tabletop.

What are some great recipes for mizuna?

Mizuna is great in any recipes which call for greens. Use it in place of kale or spinach in soups, sautes, and salads. Also, since it’s a traditional Japanese green, it pairs well with Asian flavors and is great as salt pickles or in stir fries and hot pots.

Here are a few mizuna recipes for you try:

  • Overnight Salt (Soaking) Pickles
  • Mizuna Quinoa Salad with Lemon Scallion Vinaigrette
  • Stir-Fried Bok Choy and Mizuna with Tofu
  • Mizuna with a Sweet Vinaigrette
  • Orecchiette with Mizuna Pesto

And here is my recipe for mizuna (more to come in the future!):

Leek frittata with mustard greens and prosciutto is a great, easy cast iron recipe for breakfast, brunch or dinner. Switch it up by using spinach or kale. Serve hot or at room temperature.
Mustard Greens (Mizuna), Prosciutto, and Leek Frittata

 

What is mizuna? What do you make with these leafy greens? What are the health benefits? Find recipes, history, and more in this ingredient spotlight. | justalittlebitofbacon.com #mizuna #mustardgreens #japanesefood #csavegetables
What is mizuna? What do you make with these leafy greens? What are the health benefits? Find recipes, history, and more in this ingredient spotlight. | justalittlebitofbacon.com #mizuna #mustardgreens #japanesefood #csavegetables

Related Posts:

  • Mustard Greens, Prosciutto, and Leek FrittataMustard Greens, Prosciutto, and Leek Frittata
  • What is Kohlrabi? Ingredient SpotlightWhat is Kohlrabi? Ingredient Spotlight
  • A Guide to the Spring Farmers’ MarketA Guide to the Spring Farmers’ Market
  • Ingredient Spotlight: Mild, Sweet Hakurei TurnipsIngredient Spotlight: Mild, Sweet Hakurei Turnips
  • Ingredient Spotlight: All About Swiss ChardIngredient Spotlight: All About Swiss Chard
  • Ingredient Spotlight – All About Brussels SproutsIngredient Spotlight – All About Brussels Sprouts

Filed Under: fall, farmers' market, ingredient spotlight, winter Tagged With: mizuna, mustard greens

« Mustard Greens, Prosciutto, and Leek Frittata
Grilled Greek Burgers with Yogurt Feta Sauce »

Follow me on:

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

Don’t miss a post!

Get new recipes in your inbox every week!

Disclosure:

Justalittlebitofbacon is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hello, I’m Annemarie

Welcome to my kitchen! I’m a Italian-American girl who loves fresh foods, local ingredients, and all sorts of comfort foods. Here you will find Mediterranean flavors and recipes from a New England perspective.

Don’t miss a post!

Sign up here to have new recipes delivered to your inbox every week.

Follow me on:

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Thanksgiving Feast

Fresh cranberry sauce is the secret to these intensely flavored tart-sweet fresh cranberry margaritas. Make them by the glass or in a pitcher for parties. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Fresh Cranberry Margaritas

Tender vanilla cake is filled with fresh cranberries and orange zest, then topped with cream cheese frosting in these cranberry orange cupcakes. Great for Thanksgiving or Christmass dessert! | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Fresh Cranberry Orange Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Baked sweet potatoes, cream, spices, and a dollop of bourbon come together to make a classic bourbon sweet potato pie which is perfect for the Thanksgiving table. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie

Thanksgiving Sides Roundup Post - All the sides I've made that would be a wonderful part of a Thanksgiving holiday dinner. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Thanksgiving Roundup Post – Sides

Looking for traditional holiday pie ideas? Here are 10 of the best must have Thanksgiving pies, from apple to chocolate, pumpkin, pecan, and more! | justalittlebitofbacon.com #thanksgiving #thanksgivingpie #thanksgivingdessert #holiday #holidaydessert #pie

10 Must Have Thanksgiving Pies

Simple Turnip Gratin - Thinly sliced mild turnips are layered with onion and thyme in this simple gratin, which is finished with a bit of cream and cheese sprinkled over the top just before serving. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Simple Turnip Gratin

Reader Favorites

These gluten-free Italian pignoli cookies, adapted from Lidia Bastianich, are a great holiday cookie full of almonds and pine nuts! A great addition to a Christmas cookie tray. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Lidia’s Italian Pignoli Cookies

Italian comfort food of tomato, braised sausage, and pork shoulder ragu simmering on the stove is the perfect way to spend a chilly day. This pork ragu is easily doubled and freezes well. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Italian Braised Pork Shoulder Ragu

Homemade buttermilk blue cheese dressing is creamy, chunky and simple to make! So much better than bottled dressing. Perfect for salads, wings, and vegetable platters.

Homemade Buttermilk Blue Cheese Dressing

Parmesan Truffle Fries - Use frozen, bagged fries to have tasty truffle fries, covered in truffle oil, parmesan, and parsley on the table in less than 15 minutes. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Quick and Easy Parmesan Truffle Fries

Chocolate Chip Butterscotch Bars - These one bowl bars have all the comfort of an old-fashioned butterscotch bar and the added pleasure of gooey chocolate chips in every bite. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Chocolate Chip Butterscotch Bars

My Favorite Bread and Sausage Stuffing - This classic combination of bread, pork sausage, aromatics, and lots of sage produces a stuffing that says Thanksgiving to me. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

My Favorite Sausage Bread Stuffing

Copyright © 2019 — Just a Little Bit of Bacon • All rights reserved. • Disclaimer

Genesis Framework • Foodie Pro Theme • by Shay Bocks