What are sprouted seeds?

They’re being recommended by nutritionists everywhere, but what exactly are sprouted seeds and what makes them so good for us? After seeing sprouts mentioned in passing a few years back in some health food articles and podcasts, we did some research and decided to invest in a small sprouting set-up to try them for ourselves.

The process involves soaking edible seeds in water, then following a strict regime of rinsing and draining the seeds to keep them in the right conditions for the seed to germinate, but not allow mould to grow. This can take anywhere from one day to several, depending on the type of seed and the conditions they are grown in.

Although this may sound like a relatively new concept, you’ve probably come across sprouted seeds before without realising it - one of the most common types of sprouted seeds are mung beans, commonly known simply as ‘bean sprouts’ in the UK and often used in Asian cuisine in dishes like stir-fries & chow mein (not necessarily what you may think of as a ‘health food!)

Which seeds are good to sprout?

Although mung beans are commonly sprouted, you can sprout almost any seed. Some of the most popular are broccoli (due to its impressive nutritional content), mixed beans, alfalfa, and sunflower seeds. Each type has a distinct flavour and texture, with some adding quite a peppery taste to a dish, whereas others are much milder so blend well into smoothies. If you’re new to adding sprouts into your diet, we found it helpful to try a selection initially until you find your favourite ‘go to’ sprouts. You may also want to consider the various health benefits of sprouted seeds when choosing them as each variety has its own powerful mixture of vitamins, minerals and amino acids, each with its own benefits.

How to eat sprouted seeds

Sprouted seeds can be eaten raw or cooked but most nutritionists would recommend eating them raw or only very lightly cooked. This makes sure you get the full benefits from the seed as the high temperatures used in cooking may damage the cells of the sprout and reduce the availability of the nutrients inside them. Sprouts are actually very easy to add to your diet as they are ready to eat raw and can be added to anything from smoothies, dips, sandwiches & wraps, as a topper to toast, or added into stir-fries.

We’ve added some of our favourite easy sprout recipes & ideas for some inspiration to get you started!

Let me know if you have any questions about sprouting or eating sprouted seeds in the comments :)