Sunday, October 18, 2009

Sprouts - Grow Your Own



If you haven’t tried to grown your own sprouts at home you should consider giving it a try. I started sprouting last winter and did it all winter and spring until the local produce started coming in. Now that the weather is growing cold I started sprouting again late last week.

All you need to make sprouts at home is a few mason jars, cheesecloth, rubber bands, filtered water and seeds or legumes to sprout. The process is the same no matter what you are sprouting.

Start with a very clean quart jar and either 2 tablespoons of small seeds (radish, clover, alfalfa, broccoli) or ¼ cup of beans or lentils (garbanzo beans, lentils, mung beans) and cover them with plenty of filtered water. Allow the seeds, legumes, or beans to soak for between 8 to 12 hours.

After the time has elapsed completely drain the water from the jars and sit the jars on the counter (out of direct sunlight). Rinse the seeds/beans/legumes at least twice a day and drain the water completely. Continue rinsing and draining at least twice a day until the sprouts have leaves that are beginning to green. At this point you need to put the sprouts in light so the leaves will develop chlorophyll.

Now refrigerate the sprouts until you are ready to eat them.

If you are wondering why you should grow your own sprouts I can think of a number of reasons. Growing your own sprouts is ridiculously cheap. A mere two tablespoons of alfalfa seeds will fill a quart jar in about 5 days. Those seeds might cost 25 cents. You will pay $2 for the sprouts at the grocery story. Additionally growing your own sprouts ensures that the sprouts are fresh and that means they probably have more nutrition. When you grow your own sprouts you can decide with variety you want (not what is in the store) and can ensure the seeds are organic. I found that we ate many more sprouts when I started growing them last year. Last, growing your own sprouts is fun.

If you like sprouting and decided to do it regularly they sell plastic lids that fit on a wide mouth quart jar and allow the water to drain easily. The lids come with varying drainage sizes. I have also read that some people use fiberglass screen (like for windows) to cover the top of the jars. I find cheesecloth works just as well as the plastic lids.

If you like to have sprouts on your sandwiches, salads or in Asian food why not try to grow them yourself at home. I purchase my seeds at our local health food store from the bulk area.

18 comments:

  1. Your sprouts look perfect.

    I did fenugreek sprouts that turned out well, but then I tried some alfalfa, which started to smell funky...oh well. I must try again.

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  2. Rose,

    Thanks for the nice compliment, especially given my lack of gardening skills.

    I don't do anything special with the sprouts that I can share. I probably rinse them 4 times a day and do make certain to drain them well so they don't sit in water. But that is all I do.

    Try to sprout a few lentils. Those are our favorites. They work great on salads and sandwiches. Lentil sprouts are crunchy and tender at the same time time. Even the parental units liked them (which is completely crazy).

    Alicia

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  3. Lentil sprouts! Yum! Lentil sprouts it is then. Let there be lentil sprouts!

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  4. Rose,

    I can't wait to hear if you like the lentil sprouts as much as we do. I have only tried the green lentils (just the regular green lentils not the French ones). I seem to think I heard somewhere the red lentils don't like to sprout.

    Alicia

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  5. It's fun to think that we're eating the little sprouts of the plants that would otherwise grow to produce lentils and other things. I start any cucurbits this way before I plant out.

    Legumes are sort of a mystery to me...I've grown beans, but always eat them green...I've never waited to gather the seeds to get dried beans. Wouldn't it be fun to eat your own lentils, your own garbanzos, your own kidney beans?

    Anyway, all systems go; I'm going to try lentil sprouts this week. Delish! Good tip about the red lentils; I think I try just plain green ones.

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  6. need to look into getting some seeds, it does look pretty easy.

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  7. I used to grow my own sprouts about seven years ago. I didn't even use cheese cloth or a lid, just the mason jar. I really need to get back into it.

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  8. Shenandoah,

    Please tell us more. Did you punch little holes in the original lid or use papertowel or a coffee filter to cover the opening? I am trying to understand how you kept the seeds from going down the drain when you rinsed the seeds. I would love to know the trick for when I am out of cheesecloth but "need" sprouts. I used papertowel once and it worked okay, but cheesecloth was definitely more durable.

    thanks,
    Alicia

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  9. Michelle,

    If you have lentils or garbanzos try sprouting those. For lentils and garbanzos use 1/4 cup in a quart mason jar. If you start today you will have sprouts by Friday or Saturday. The lentils and garbanzos take a day or two longer than the small seeds. We like the lentils and garbanzos for salads and sandwiches.

    Alicia

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  10. Rose,

    If you grow legumes next year please share all the details. I have thought a few times about growing fava beans but never did it since it was such a mystery to this "non-gardener".

    Alicia

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  11. I love sprouts and have just gotten back into sprouting myself. One thing I love is that they last longer than store bought sprouts.
    Debra @ Vegan Family Style

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  12. Debra,

    Thanks for pointing out that the sprouts you grow yourself last longer. I don't know how I forgot to mention that. Old age must be creeping into my brain.

    You encouraged me to dust off the dehydrator. I have something in there now. With a little luck my experiment will be successful. If it is I will post the recipe tonight.

    Alicia

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  13. Andy,

    Thanks for commenting.

    What are your favorite sprouts? For taste and texture the green lentil sprouts are my favorite. However, I am always looking for potential new favorites.

    Alicia

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  14. Hi Alicia,

    You've made it onto the MoFo Roundup at VMF Headquarters:

    http://veganmofo.wordpress.com/

    :)

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  15. Rose,

    Thanks for letting me know.

    Alicia

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  16. I would just drain the water from the jar and hold back the sprouts with my hand. I got the directions from the pamphlet that came when I ordered the seeds/beans online. I need to go look at that again.

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  17. Shenandoah,

    Can I say duh? It didn't occur to me that would work. I was picturing the little seeds going down the drain. It would certain work really well with bigger beans. Sometimes I can be so dense.

    thanks for clarifying,
    Alicia

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