Category: Cooking

Sprouting Lentils Made Easy

Here’s How To Sprout Lentils…….
Sprouted Brown Lentils.
Sprouted Brown Lentils.
  • Sprouting lentils is easy and nutritionally beneficial.
  1. It “ups” the vitamin  and mineral count, packing a punch.
  2. It helps reduce the intestinal gas one experiences when consuming legumes.
  3. And, at roughly 80 calories per cup, you will have no problem filling full and losing some extra pounds the same time.

Measure out 1/2 cup of brown lentils and rinse in a fine mesh colander under cold water.

My homemade mesh screen. I have the tools in my lab that enabled me to modify the existing lid.
My homemade mesh screen. I have the tools in my lab that enabled me to modify the existing lid.

Find a quart size canning jar and replace the center lid with a mesh screen or a piece of cheesecloth.  You will still use the band.  Alternately, use any jar  you have on hand and secure the piece of cheesecloth with a rubber band. 

Put the 1/2 cup of rinsed lentils in the jar and fill with filtered water.  Cover the top with the mesh or cheesecloth and close the band.

Start with 1/2 cup of lentils in a quart size canning jar, covered with water.
Start with 1/2 cup of lentils in a quart size canning jar, covered with water. Soak for 24 hours.

Put the jar on the counter and let it soak for 12 hours.  Rinse and fill with water again, cover and leave it for another 12 hours.

Drain through the mesh lid, then rinse.
Drain through the mesh lid, then rinse.

 

 

After 24 hours, drain and rinse the lentils.

This time, don’t add water.

 

 

Replace the  lid and put them on the counter to begin the sprouting process.

Continue to rinse the lentils every 12 hours.   I do it in the morning and before I go to bed.  It doesn’t take long at all.

You will see them, not only start to sprout but, begin to expand.

The tails are beginning to appear.
The tails are beginning to appear.

 

I made the mistake of using 1 cup of lentils the first time and not only does it make more than I can use for the week but my quart size jar was way too small.

 

 

I usually let mine sprout for 2-4 days or when they expand to the point of explosion!

Like this ……..

The sprouts on the lentils are about an inch long and ready to be stored in the refrigerator.
The tails on the lentils are about an inch long and ready to be stored in the refrigerator.

 

Remember ………

We only started with

1/2 cup of lentils.

🙂

 

 

I transfer them into containers and store in the fridge.  But, I have also kept them in the jar and popped them into the fridge and they kept for the entire week.

Ready to store in the fridge.
Ready to store in the fridge.

 

I don’t know how much longer they will last, because I use mine within a week.

 

 

You can add them to almost anything, including salads however, I don’t particularly care for them raw, they taste o.k. to me but I prefer to cook the lentils first, before I use them.

Ideas for using sprouted lentils:
  • I use them in place of ground turkey or beef, for meatloaf.
  • I heat them up in the skillet and add taco seasoning for tacos.
  • I add them to soups.
  • I fry them up and add whatever seasoning I’m the mood for and eat them for lunch.
  • I throw them into a sandwich.

Your options with these babies are endless. They’re crazy good for you and so easy to make.  Eat sprouted lentils with rice, quinoa, whole wheat or oats and you’ve got yourself a complete protein!

*I have used red lentils but they don’t seem to sprout, or hold their shape, as well as the brown lentils.

“Sometimes the greatest meals on vacations are the ones you find when Plan A falls through.”                                                                             –  Anthony Bourdain 

I’m hoping for just that, Tony (RIP) ……….. xoxo, Katy

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