Lentil sprouts are easy to prepare even without a sprout and can be used in salads, pokes and tacos
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Cooked lentils are rich in nutrients but raw sprouts made from these small legumes are even more so. So here's how to prepare and use them in a delicious way in our daily diet.
Lentils are an important source of vegetable protein but are also particularly rich in vitamins and minerals. We usually consume these legumes cooked in different ways but perhaps it escapes us that each lentil is a seed and therefore in fact a plant that is just waiting to sprout.
We can therefore obtain excellent sprouts from our lentils (to be purchased of good quality and from organic farming), a real live food, always fresh and rich in properties. But how to do it?
Read also: Sprouts what a passion! Here's why to eat them and how to grow them
How to make lentil sprouts
To grow lentil sprouts, you don't necessarily need to have a special sprouting plant, all you need is:
- 1 cup of organic lentils (try the different varieties)
- 1 glass jar large enough to hold lentils and sprouts
- water
- a small gauze
The lentils are put in the glass jar and covered with water. The mouth of the jar should be covered with gauze (which can be fixed with an elastic).
Leave in a dark place for 10-12 hours after which the lentils should be drained and rinsed with water for a minute or two.
Then reposition the jar away from the light. Rinsing should be done 2/3 times a day until the sprouts are ready (usually it takes 4-5 days).
Lentil sprouts can be kept in the fridge for a few days (maximum one week but the sooner they are eaten the better).
To learn more read also:
- 10 ideas for growing sprouts without buying a sprouter
How to use lentil sprouts
The beauty of sprouted lentils is that they can be eaten both raw and cooked but it would be better to use them raw in order to keep all their properties at their best.
The flavor and texture may vary slightly depending on the type of lentil used but generally have one slightly crunchy texture and an earthy flavor.
Here are some ideas for using your lentil sprouts:
- in salads prepared with vegetables, oil seeds, dried fruit or other
- to enrich avocado toast or sandwiches
- in a poke salad
- nei tacos
You can also prepare aspiced sprouted lentil salad, adding oil to your sprouts, minced garlic, a little cumin and coriander, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
If you want to try using cooked sprouted lentils, you can prepare a vegetable burger.
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Read also:
- Sprouts and their fantastic nutritional properties
