Raw Food Recipe: Living Food Sprout Recipes

Classic Living Food Sprout Salad
Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups of mixed sprouts
• Green salad leaf
• ½ avocado
• Basil and chives
• Olives
• Your favourite dressing – I like a simple garlic dressing for this recipe

Directions

1. Mix sprouted grains or seeds in a bowl
2. Add half a sliced avocado
3. Season with fresh basil and chives
4. Garnish with  olives and your choice of dressing

 

Special Sprouted Juice
Ingredients

• 3 carrots
• 1 apple
• 1 cup of sprouted seeds – such as mung beans, chickpeas or alfalfa

Directions

Place through your juicer and serve.

Sprouts Part 3 – Which seeds and beans are best

The following list gives some of the more popular sprouted seeds and beans. It is not all inclusive as you can sprout almost any kind of seed. Taste varies a lot, so experiment to find your favourites.

Remember that seeds soak up 3-4 times their dry volume in water and sprouts need at least six times the volume occupied by the seeds.

Be sure that your container is large enough, and start with a minimal amount of seed in a container like a jar, until you determine the correct quantity that will grow the sprouts to the size you like, without being difficult to remove.

When purchasing seeds for sprouting, be certain that the seeds are intended for food and not for planting. This precaution is necessary because some seeds meant for planting have been treated with fungicides or insecticides.

Alfalfa, Broccoli, Clover, fenugreek and Radish – should be soaked for 6-12 hours.

Sprouts can be eaten after 3 days. When the root is 1-2 inches long, it will begin to develop tiny green leaves. At this stage, it needs to be eaten immediately so the plant will not switch to photosynthesis that exhausts the stored food in the seed.

Peas and chickpeas – should be soaked for 12 hours.

Sprouts can be eaten after 3 days. When the roots are 2-inches long, they are ready to eat.

Lentils – should be soaked for 12-hours (Don’t forget to rinse lentils thoroughly).

The sprouts are ready in 3-4 days. Lentil sprouts are ready to be eaten when the root is 1-inch long.

Barley, Oats, Rye, and Wheat – should be soaked for 12 hours.

The sprouts are ready to eat after 3-4 days. The ideal length for eating is about ½ inch.

Soybeans – should be soaked for 12 hours

The sprouts are usually ready after 3-5 days. They are ready to eat when the root is 2-inches long.

Mung Beans – should be soaked for 12-hours.

Mung bean sprouts are usually ready to eat after 3-5 days. When the bright, white root grows from 1-2 inches long, they are ready to eat.

Sprouts Part 2 – How to…

Directions for growing sprouts in a jar

1. Put about 1 tablespoon of alfalfa or clover seeds, or 4 tablespoons of beans or large seeds – removing any that are broken or damaged – in a wide-mouth glass jar.
2. Place a piece of cheesecloth, muslin, or material suitable for straining, over the mouth of the jar. Use a rubber band or a ring lid to hold the material securely in place.
3. Rinse the seeds by filling the jar with water, gently swirl it around and then drain through the straining material.
   Lentils will take a lot more rinsing as they are coated with a starch.
4. Soak the seeds, grains, or beans in room temperature water overnight.
5. In the morning, pour off the water in the jar and rinse the seeds/beans again.Repeat the rinsing 2-3 times a day.
   It is important to ensure that any excess water drains off as the sprouts should not stand in water.
6. When the seeds/beans begin to sprout – usually about the third or fourth day – move the jar into the light to activate the chlorophyll and turn the sprouts green.

Coming next – Part 3: Which seeds and beans are best to sprout

Sprouts Part 1 – What you need…

How do I use sprouts?
Sprouts are excellent fresh vegetables and are ideal for use in salads, sandwiches, dips and soups. They can add great flavour, texture and colour to any of your favourite dishes.

How do I sprout?
Anyone can sprout, no matter how small your kitchen.
Sprouts can be grown almost anywhere and the best part is you only need a few basic supplies to get started. By following a few simple steps, you can grow your own continuous supply of nutritious and tasty sprouts.

The easiest method to grow your own sprouts is to grow them in a jar

What you will need

• A jar or sprouting equipment of your choice
• Fresh, clean water
• Seeds, beans or pulses of your choice

 

Coming next – Sprouts Part 2 – How to…

Sprouts – Powerhouses on your plate

Sprouts are baby plants; they are newly germinated seeds, grains and pulses that are bursting with concentrated nutrition that is required to grow into a fully grown plant.

Sprouts are a true living food.

Sprouts are powerhouses of nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and enzymes.

The soaking and sprouting process makes many grains and pulses edible and nuts and seeds more easily digestible. Please note kidney beans should never be eaten raw and seeds from the nightshade family should be avoided.

Sprouts are excellent living and fresh vegetables and are ideal for use in salads, sandwiches, dips and soups. They can add great fl avour, texture and colour to any of your favourite dishes.