Sprouting your own Alfalfa Seeds can multiply the nutritional benefits, especially consuming them when they're freshly sprouted. It's a fun, inexpensive process and below we teach you exactly how.
Read more about why it is good to sprout seeds on our blog, here.
Alfalfa sprouts are delicious in a sandwich and one of the easiest ways to include them in your diet. Teamed with the tangy taste of sundried tomatoes, butter bean hummus and crunchy cucumber - A superb nutrition filled sandwich for picnic season!
Equipment
- FOR THE SEED SPROUTING:
- Large Clean Jam Jar
- Scrap of Muslin, Hessian or Loose Weave Fabric
- 1 Elastic Band
- Tray or Bowl for Draining
- A Warm Dry Place, such as a Window Ledge
- FOR THE HUMMUS CREATION & SANDWICH MAKING:
- Bowl for Soaking
- Saucepan
- Blender or Food Processor
- Cutlery Knife
- Tupperware
- Bread Knife
- Sharp Knife
- Chopping Board
Ingredients
- 5 Thick Slices of Sourdough Bread
- Handful of Sundried Tomatoes
- Handful of Cucumber (sliced)
For the butterbean hummus
- 1 Garlic Clove
- Juice of Half a Lemon
- 1/2 Tsp Cumin Powder
- 2 1/2 Tbsp Olive Oil
Method
- HOW TO SPOUT ALFALFA SEEDS:
- Soak the seeds overnight, or for at least 4 hours, at room temperature.
- The following morning simply drain the water off and rinse the seeds in a sieve.
- Put the rinsed seeds into a damp sprouting bag (I use a nut milk bag) or onto a damp piece of muslin.
- Two or three times a day rinse the seeds again with water to keep them damp and mould-free. Do not place in direct sunlight.
- You can harvest them when the root (not the shoot) is the length of the original seed. This could be a matter of a day or several days depending on many factors including the temperature of the room or environment, the type, size and quality of the seed.
- Once harvested rinse once more before preserving in the fridge in a jar.
- HOW TO MAKE BUTTER BEAN HUMMUS:
- Soak 100g butter beans in a bowl of water overnight.
- Rinse and drain the soaked butter beans, cook in saucepan on medium heat for 2 hours or until soft.
- Leave butter beans to cool before making the hummus.
- In a blender, place all of the hummus ingredients including the cooled butter beans. Blend until you have a smooth consistancy.
- If the consistancy is too thick, add a splash of water or more lemon juice. Give it a taste. Add extra pepper and salt if you wish.
- Finally, put together the sandwich...
- Carefully cut slices of your chosen bread.
- Spread a thick layer of the butter bean hummus on both sides of the bread.
- Add sliced cucumber, lay on the sundred tomatoes and then pack as many alfalfa sprouts in as you like.
- Eat and enjoy!
Notes
Green Lentils can also be grown into sprouts in the same way if you prefer those to Alfalfa Seeds. (see video)
If you'd like to make your own bread, this recipe can be enjoyed with Sprouted Quinoa & Courgette Bread or Seeded Sweet Potato Bread.
