Sprouting Seeds

How are sprouted seeds helpful?

A Sprouted seed possesses all the energy, goodness and power to enable it to develop from a small seed to a strong plant. Sprouted seeds and beans contain many more nutrients than fully grown supermarket vegetables. By eating sprouts daily we have a tasty way of effectively increasing our nutrient intake. You can buy a good range of inexpensive pre-grown individual and mixed sprouts from most supermarkets and health shops but it’s cheaper and more fun to grow your own.

Some examples of sprouted seeds include:

• mung beans
• chick peas
• alfalfa
• fenugreek seeds

How to sprout your own seeds

Equipment

• An old jam jar OR a simple sprouter from a health food shops (if you buy a sprouter, you do not need the mesh cloth or elastic bands)
• A fine mesh cloth such as muslin
• A couple of elastic bands

Method

1. Measure enough seeds for the size of the jar – e.g. in a litre jar, you would put one-third of a cup of mung beans. Sprouts need space to grow so you may have to experiment to get the quantity right for your jar.
2. Place the seeds in the jar and fill the jar two-thirds of the way up with fresh cold water.
3. Fix the fine mesh cloth over the jar with two elastic bands. This ensures better tightness of the cloth.
4. Leave the seeds soaking in the water for 12-24 hours away from direct sunlight.
5. Without removing the cloth, turn the jar upside down and drain out the water.
6. Without removing the cloth, rinse the seeds, under cold running water, 2 or 3 times or until the water runs clear.
7. When the seeds are fully washed and water drained, place the jar upside down at a 45 degree angle, out of direct sunlight. Propping the jar against a dish drainer works well.
8. Make sure the seeds are not covering the mesh cloth so that air can get inside the jar. Every morning and evening, without removing the cloth, repeat the rinsing process; returning the jar to its 45 degree position.
9. How long you grow your sprouts depends on the type of seed, climate and temperature. In summer your sprouts will grow faster than in winter. If you want to slow down the growth or store them, then thoroughly wash your sprouts first then put in the fridge in an airtight container.

How to use sprouts

There are so many ways to eat sprouts such as sprinkling or tossing them in a salad but always thoroughly wash your sprouts before you eat them.

Ideas for putting sprouts in a salads and wraps

• A colourful, protein-rich salad can be created with a variety of sprouted pulses such as chick peas, mung beans, aduki beans and lentils added to chopped tomato, cucumber and coriander with a mustard dressing.
• Alfafa and fenugreek sprouts added to a leafy green salad with lettuce, watercress, avocado, tomato, chopped celery and spring onion with a French dressing tastes great!
• To make a healthy wrap take a large lettuce leaf and add a variety of your favourite sandwich fillings such as tomato, avocado, houmus, cucumber strips, basil leaves, a few pine nuts, top with a few sprouts such as alfalfa, then wrap and enjoy!

Ready to eat sprouts

Aconbury Sprouts deliver across the UK and offer a huge range of ready to eat sprouted seeds www.aconbury.co.uk. Tel 01981 241 155.