Sprouts 101

Making your own sprouts is so easy. I photographed this step-by-step tutorial in order to show how quickly they grow each day. All you have to do is rinse them once a day and they do the rest. You can use any flavor of sprout you like, including legumes. I typically go for broccoli and radish. They have a higher nutritional profile than alfalfa but all sprouts are good for you. The radish are a little spicy and I love that in combination with other varieties. You will need a quart jar, cheesecloth and a rubber band. Sprout seeds can be purchased at all health food stores, and are specifically labeled for sprouting.

These are just broccoli seeds. They're high in calcium, antioxidants and all of the compounds you get from eating green, raw, living foods. Anti-cancerous and nutritious, they taste great on salads and sandwiches and all kinds of wraps. Mixed with fruits and vegetables and nuts, they become a complete meal. They aren't as earthy as alfalfa and if you typically don't like sprouts, give these a try.

Step 1: Measure 1-2 tablespoons of seed into a quart sized jar and cover with filtered water. Cut two layers of cheesecloth or thin cotton into squares that fit over the mouth and can be secured with a rubber band. Swish the seeds around and rinse through the cheesecloth. Refill with fresh water. You don't need to remove the cover in order to do this. Water will pour out and in through it. Let the seeds soak in the fresh water for 24 hours.

 Steps 2-5: Pour the water out. The hulls will have started to soften and slightly pull away from the seed. Put your jar in a window with bright, indirect light, avoiding direct sunlight. Each day, you will rinse the seeds and pour the water out. Try to do it at the same time each day. Morning is easiest for me to remember. You can see that they start growing pretty fast by day 3. When the tiny rootlets form, they will start to grow together in a ball or clump and look a little fuzzy. This takes between 5-7 days, depending on your location and water. When the majority of the hulls are buried inside and the jar is nearly full of sprouts, you'll know they're done.

Step 6: You're ready to remove them from the jar. Take off the cheesecloth. It will all pull out in a hedge. I love the way they look like this, grown together in a green mass. Set them aside and fill a large bowl with water.

Step 7: Put the sprouts in the bowl and gently pull them apart. Swish everything around to loosen the empty hulls from the greens. They will float to the surface. Using a small strainer or spoon, run it around the edges picking them out and discarding them. You won't get every single one, but the majority you will.

Step 8: Spread a paper towel on a drying rack or a plate and lay the sprouts out to dry for about a half hour. Store them in the refrigerator in a tupperware container or plastic bag lined with a dry paper towel. They will keep for about 5 days, if they last that long.

ENJOY!!