Learn how to sprout lentils at home! Sprouting lentils is so easy and takes almost no effort – plus it increases the nutritional content and makes the lentils easier to digest. Enjoy sprouted lentils on your salads, sandwiches, soups, and more.
I used to waste a lot of money buying this crunchy sprout mix from Wegmans. It is a lovely mix of lentil, mung bean, and adzuki sprouts, and it is delicious! I really appreciated the nice, fresh crunch the sprouts added to my salads. Then one day I was like…
- This tiny little bag of sprouts is $3
- And a whole bag of dry beans is $3
- What am I doing???
- How hard could it actually be to sprout at home?
And this is where my sprouting journey began.
I’ve sprouted a bunch of different legumes the past few years, but today I want to focus on how to sprout lentils because these are by far my favorite thing to sprout!!! They are so easy, sprout quickly, and are perfect for sprouting beginners.
Benefits of sprouting
Some legumes (like lentils ❤️) can be eaten totally raw when sprouted, which means no cooking required! Sprouting will also help reduce the cook time of legumes that can take quite awhile to cook from dry, like chickpeas. Win-win.
In addition to convenience in the kitchen, sprouting can also help digestibility of legumes. If you have issues digesting lentils or beans, try sprouting them before eating and see if it helps.
Sprouting also increases the bioavailability of nutrients in lentils like B vitamins and vitamin C.
What tools do I need to sprout?
You need a mason jar, cheesecloth or sprouting lids, water, lentils. That’s it!
How to sprout lentils 🌱
Soak lentils for 12 hours
Rinse lentils to remove any debris. Place lentils in a mason jar and fill the jar with water until lentils are completely covered.
Cover the top of the jar with cheesecloth or sprouting lids. Good air circulation is very important throughout the whole sprouting process. I like to use cheesecloth, and I secure it in place with the band part of the jar top. You can also use a rubber band to secure the cheesecloth.
Soak the lentils for at least 12 hours.
Some people will tell you that you need to keep the lentils in a sunny area, but this is not necessary in order for them to sprout. Put your lentils somewhere with good air circulation, sunny or dark 🌝 🌚I keep mine on my kitchen table.
Drain, rinse, and let sit for 12 hours
Drain and rinse lentils, then put the cheesecloth back on the jar. Flip the jar upside and place in a bowl at an angle. This lets the lentils to continue to drain, while allowing air to circulate. Let sit for 12 hours.
Lentils start sprouting very quickly! After 12 hours, you might be able to see the tiniest sprouts beginning to grow 🎉
Continue until sprouts reach desired length
Lentils are safe to eat any time after they start sprouting, but I prefer to leave them 3-4 days so they can develop longer sprouts. Continue to drain and rinse the lentils every 12 hours until the sprouts reach the desired length.
How to store sprouted lentils
Once your lentils are done sprouting, lay them out on a paper towel to dry completely before storing – keeping your lentils as dry as possible will help them last longer. Once they are dry, store them in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Tip: you can line your storage container with a paper towel to soak up any excess moisture while lentil sprouts are in the fridge!
How to use sprouted lentils
Sprouted lentils can be eaten raw or cooked. Eat these plain as a snack, top your salads with them, put them in sandwiches, and more. You can also sub sprouted lentils in any recipe that calls for regular lentils.
Looking for more lentil recipes?
Check these out!
If you sprout your own lentils, leave me a comment letting me know how it went! You can also tag me @Daughter_of_Seitan on Instagram so I can see your lovely little sprouts. XOXO
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How to Sprout Lentils
- Prep Time: 2–4 days
- Total Time: 17 minute
- Yield: 2–3 cups 1x
- Category: How-To
- Method: Sprouting
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Increase the nutritional benefits and digestibility of lentils by sprouting them. Sprouting lentils is so easy and takes almost no effort to do!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup dry green lentils
- One 16oz mason jar
- Cheesecloth (or sprouting lids)
- Water
Instructions
- Rinse lentils, removing any stones or debris. Then place lentils in a mason jar, and fill the jar with water until lentils are completely covered.
- Cover the jar opening with cheesecloth. If you are using a mason jar, secure the cheesecloth with the band part of the jar top. Alternatively, you can use a sprouting lid if you have one. Soak lentils for at least 12 hours.
- Drain and rinse lentils, then put the cheesecloth back on the jar. Flip the jar upside and place in a bowl at an angle. This lets the lentils to continue to drain, while allowing air to circulate. Let sit for 12 hours.
- Rinse and drain the lentils every 12 hours until sprouts reach the desired length. The lentils should start to sprout within 24 hours. I like to let them sprout for about 3 days.
- Once you are happy with your sprouts, lay them out on a paper towel to completely dry before storing them in an air-tight container. Sprouted lentils will keep about 5-7 days in the fridge.
- Use sprouted lentils as a topping on salads, put them into stir frys, throw them into soups, and much more. Sprouted lentils are safe to eat raw, but you can cook them if you’d like.
Keywords: Lentils, Green Lentils, How to Sprout Lentils, Lentil Sprouts
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3 comments
I dont understand why it says continue to drain and rinse lentils? Does water appear in the jar or is it filled at some point!
Hi! So after the initial soak, you do not soak the lentils again. Every 12 hours, you rinse the lentils with water, drain the water from the jar, and flip the jar upside and place in a bowl at an angle. This lets the lentils to continue to drain, while allowing air to circulate. Once the lentils have sprouted to the desired length, you can use them.
I’ve never sprouted lentils before but had a bag in my pantry. Soaked them overnight and they already have little teeny tails! So fun.