Grow Your Own Magazine

Have just started sprouting seeds for stir fries. Am not sure when to use them(ie how big) and whether to cook the kernel as well. Really hope I do otherwise it could take hours to prepare each tiny one!!!
Help please!!!!
SS

Hi Stroppy scotte, you can use them once there is about a centimetre (1/2 inch approx) of shoot and just chuck them in whole. They are also delicious in salads/sandwiches etc or as a nibble. What sort of seeds are you sprouting?

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Earthbabe
If at first you don't succeed, open a bottle of wine.

Pea and beans as well as mustard andything else that is too old to plant at the lottie!!
Thanks Earthbabe. Almost have some ready for use then.
SS

Don't forget to try things like fenugreek, chick peas, lentils, alfalfa etc. Very tasty. I think there are a couple of other threads where you can probably find a long list of what can be sprouted.

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Earthbabe
If at first you don't succeed, open a bottle of wine.

You could be right about there being a list Earthbabe, but I do know you can grow beetroot like this and the sprouts have a seriously intense beetroot taste - never a bad thing - I love beetroot !!

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Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

Blog updated Wednesday 17th September

OOhh not tried beetroot sprouts. Fenugreek has a pleasing spicy taste although you do need to pick over it a little because you can get stones and things in there.

Red cabbage is nice too and it adds colour.

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Earthbabe
If at first you don't succeed, open a bottle of wine.

Optimum time for sprouting/using depends on the type but they are all between 2 and 5 days. During the final rinse I tend to float off any separated husks but that is cosmetic more than anything. As for using them,
Alfalfa - good sandwich filling addition for the kids
Mung - classic stir fry
Lentils - nice garlicky dressing
Aduki - alternative for stir fry
Fenugreek - a bit of spice for stir fry
Chick peas - in a mixed salad

I sprout any old seeds and beans from the health food shop. They never look like the ones you buy in the supermarket, because they've been grown in the dark and also flattened to give a uniform shape.
BYW, I've been warned against using seeds meant for sowing in the ground because they may have chemicals added to them, fungicides, that kind of thing?

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

It depends where you get your seeds from 2Sheds. The smaller companies such as Tamar and Kings can tell you which ones are treated and which not, in fact Tamar only sell untreated seeds and I think Kings are the same.

And most catalogues seem to sell seed specifically for sprouting anyway.

I will however say that generally speaking stuff from our local asian cash&carry works out cheaper than the catalogues though.

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Bright Blessings
Earthbabe
If at first you don't succeed, open a bottle of wine.

I think you can sprout seeds in an airing cupboard or similar if you want to get the pale long thin ones like the beansprouts etc. that you see in the shops, otherwise if you sprout them in the light they will go green & taste very slightly different. I got 2 packs from the GYO offer a while back but haven't tried them yet.

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Into every life a little rain must fall.

Has anyone grown T&M Basil sprouting seed?I've grown alfalfa,fenugreek,beet,plus various others with no probs but soaked the basil seed over night as instructed,and it looked like mini frogspawn after being rinsed. Tried to send email to T&M to ask if this was normal for this particular seed but came back email service not available at this time.Everytime I try and rinse the seed it just goes back to glupy mess in the bottom of sprouter