It's no secret that a well-balanced diet is the foundation of good health.
Have you ever considered taking your nutrition to the next level with lentil sprouts? Yes, you heard me right. You can make your own delicious lentil sprouts at home!
Lentil sprouts are easy to make, delicious to eat and packed with healthy nutrients.
That's what Plantelys is all about - easy and healthy home growing. Let's dive into this fascinating world of germinating seeds.
Lentil sprouts are packed with nutrition and easy to digest. They are rich in protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals, all of which contribute to your overall health. Lentil sprouts can also contribute to weight loss as they are low in calories but high in nutrients.
By making your own sprouts, you can ensure that they are 100% organic and chemical-free.
This is where our germinating seeds from Plantelys enters the picture.
The choice of lenses
Green, brown, and Red lenses can all be used to make lentil sprouts. As long as they are whole lentils. Split lentils will not germinate.
Try experimenting with different types of lenses to find your favourites.
Others sprout
It's not just lentils you can make sprouts from.
See also our article on how to grow bean sprouts from Mung beans and other beans here: Bean sprouts - How to grow delicious and healthy sprouts
The flavour of lentil sprouts
Sprouted lentils have a fresh taste reminiscent of the taste of iceberg salad with a touch of peas.
They have a crispy and fresh texture that differs from the more floury texture of cooked lentils.
When eaten raw. Recommended for the most crispy and delicate flavour. They are most delicious when the small white roots are a maximum of 1-1.5 cm long.
You can eat the whole sprout including the thin seed capsule, although the finest lentil flavour is most prominent without the seed capsules. Most often, the thin seed pods will fall off during growth, or they can be removed by rinsing the sprouts in a bowl of water just before eating.
What you need to get started
Equipment and Ingredients
You don't need much equipment to get started making your own lentil sprouts.
One sprout hill or one germination glass with mesh lid is all you need to get started.
Remember to choose one glass spire, that can endure boiling water (supermarket glasses are not a good idea as they don't tolerate boiling water very well).
Step-by-Step guide to making lentil sprouts
Before you start, you should wash your sprout container thoroughly, and finish by scalding the sprout glass and lid with boiling water, so that you don't get bacteria in your sprouts.
- Rinse your lentils well and then soak them in water for 8-12 hours in the fridge
- Drain and rinse the lenses again
- Place the lentils in your sprouting tray or sprouting glass
- Cover the tray with a lid, or place the glass in a sprouting glass holder
- Place your sprouts in a bright but not sunny location
- Rinse and drain the lentils twice a day until they begin to sprout. This will typically take 2-3 days
- When the sprouts have reached the desired length of a few centimeters, you can stop the sprouting process by placing them in the refrigerator
- Rinse them free of empty seed pods and enjoy them raw right away
- They can stay fresh in the fridge for approx. 2 days, after which the taste diminishes
Recipe for a Salad with lentil sprouts
Now that you know how to make lentil sprouts. Why not try making a delicious dish with them? Try this salad recipe for a colourful and nutritious salad with both red and green lentil sprouts.
Ingredients
- 1 cup red lentil sprouts
- 1 cup green lentil sprouts
- 1 red pepper
- 1 yellow pepper
- 1 cucumber
- 1 handful of cherry tomatoes
- 1 handful of fresh coriander
- 1 cup cooked chickpeas and/or beans
- The juice from 1 lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Course of action
- Rinse all vegetables thoroughly.
- Chop peppers, cucumber, cherry tomatoes and coriander.
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
- Add lemon juice, salt and pepper and mix well.
- Serve and enjoy!
FAQ - Frequently asked questions
It is easy to sprout lentils at home in a sprouting glass or a sprouting tray. And it takes a maximum of 5 days from the start until you can eat them.
Lentil sprouts can be made from both green, red and brown lentils, and they are super healthy.
It's easy to grow your own lentil sprouts from red, green and brown lentils. Remember that they must be food approved and organic in order for them to sprout and be eaten raw.
Alternatively, you can grow the whole plant and enjoy fresh lentils. Lentils do not make great demands on the soil, and they can tolerate drought during their growth. Read more about the plant here
Lentil sprouts can stay fresh in the fridge for approx. 2 days, after which the taste diminishes. So enjoy them as soon as possible when they are ready to eat.
All types of lentil sprouts are healthy as they are full of protein, vitamins and minerals. The sprouting process increases their nutritional content, makes them easier to digest and boosts their antioxidants. Choosing the "healthiest" type may depend on your personal nutritional needs and flavour preferences.
