The first job I landed after moving to Copenhagen, was working as a chef in a little cafe. After a few weeks of consistently not burning lasagna and under seasoning everything, I was asked if I was interested in cooking on a few episodes on a local, public TV station. The producers suggested I choose a few dishes that I love, and filmed me in a friend’s kitchen, since mine was too small. My husband gently warned me beforehand that Danes don’t respond well to overly-enthusiastic, hyperbolic Americans, so I faked it and was awkwardly not myself as I spoke lukewarmly about whole grains and beans, fermented things and dark leafy greens. The first recipe I made on the show was sprouted hummus, and although the recipe turned out well, I felt like a fraud. Because above all things, sprouts were, and still are, my true love.
The show was on at 2 or 3 in the morning, and because I didn’t have a television, I never actually saw it on air. Instead, I watched it on my computer on a borrowed CD, long after it had been on TV. Much to my dismay, the producers titled the show “Cooking with Sareh”, which still baffles me considering the fact that my name is spelled the exact same way in Danish. The program was poorly edited, badly lit, awkward in every sense, and in my attempts to come off as cool and nonchalant, I seemed utterly bored as I fondled chickpea sprouts – something that otherwise would get me pretty riled up. On the whole, this experience was totally mortifying, except for one small, redeeming factor. I was suddenly being recognized at work in the café, and on the bike paths of Christiania: “hey sprout girl!” they’d call at me. “It’s you! I didn’t make your hummus, but your show is great, sprout girl”, they’d say. If there was any consolation, this was it. I was Sprout Girl.
So in case you missed my break out performance on Cooking with Sareh, and my reined-in, lackluster pitch about sprouts, here it is again. Because I am Sprout Girl forever and always.
Sprouting is like any other kitchen endeavour: it seems pretty daunting until you actually do it, then you’re left wondering what took you so long to try – a real facepalm moment. With simple equipment that you most likely have in your cupboard, and seeds that you already have in your pantry, it’s a fun and empowering practice that brings you one step closer to your food.
Sprouts are so nutritious because they are life potential, ignited. When we soak a seed, we end its dormancy, and awaken the nutrition inside it needed to grow a plant which will in turn make more seeds and more plants. When we eat a sprout, we eat this potential! Pound for pound, sprouts have the largest amount of nutrients of any food. Did you get that? This is a big deal! And it’s all because sprouting increases vitamin content significantly, especially vitamin A, B’s, C and E, along with boosting calcium, iron, selenium, and zinc. The quality of protein and carbohydrates improves, as the sprouting process begins to break down the complex proteins and starches into amino acids, peptides, and simple carbohydrates needed by the seed to grow. At the same time, anti-nutrients such as phytic acid, protease and amylase inhibitors are neutralized. This makes a sprout very easy to digest with highly absorbable nutrients.
Who is responsible for this influx of awesomeness? It’s enzymes! Enzymes are compounds found in raw plants that are needed for nearly every biochemical process that takes place in our body, and something many of our modern diets are lacking. Sprouts are virtually loaded with them. There are up to 100 times more enzymes in sprouts than uncooked fruits and veggies! Enzymes are also what sets living food apart from raw food. Yes, raw foods still offer us enzymes, but eating a food that is alive guantees more enzymes, and in fact more nutrients altogether. As soon as a food is picked, it begins losing its nutrients. Imagine how much vitamin C is left in that orange, which has traveled hundreds, if not thousands of kilometers to get to your plate, and spent weeks, if not months in a storage facility before being dropped off at your local grocer. Sprouts are the remedy to this, pulsating with life and life-giving nutrients, and pretty much the freshest food you can eat outside of a garden.
Sprouts are also incredibly low in calories, yet deliciously filling due to their high fiber and water content. A fantastic food to binge on, especially if you’re trying to elbow out some of the other stuff from your diet. I love the versatility of sprouts, not only are there so many varieties, but they can be used in so many ways. Like this hummus for example! You can also go classic and top your sandwiches with sprouts, or fold them into grain salads, puree them into soups and even smoothies. I also love freshening up cooked dishes, like stir-fries, curries and pizzas with sprouts. Their crunch and earthy brightness are a welcoming balance to heavier, richer meals.
If you’re on a budget, sprouts are a sweet deal. Because the amount of food you sprout triples or quadruples in size, you’ll end up with way more to eat than you started with for the same price. It’s kind of magical. What’s more, is that properly stored sprouts can last over a month, and some varieties up to 70 days. If you’re prone to tossing away spoiled produce, sprouts will save you money, big time.
Sprouting can take place anywhere you have access to fresh, clean water twice a day. I’ve sprouted on road trips, beach holidays, visiting the in-laws…all over the place! And the groovy thing about taking your show on the road is that you can convince other people to get sprouting too.
And sprouts are not just great for our health, but also the planet. Consider the fact that you’re growing a garden right in your kitchen, using your own energy to make the magic happen. It’s hyper-local food at its best! No chemicals or pesticides during the growing process, or fossil fuels for transportation. Could sprouts be the perfect food?! The answer is yes. But I may be a little biased. I am the Sprout Girl, after all.
If you are concerned about mold or bacteria contamination, please understand that commercially-grown sprouts are propagated in an ideal environment for pathogens to proliferate. Just one more reason to grow your own sprouts at home where you can be sure of proper hygiene and care. Make sure that your jar or sprouting container is thoroughly clean, that you’re rinsing your sprouts with cool water twice daily, and that your sprouts have plenty of airflow. After I drain my sprouts, I make sure that the seeds / sprouts aren’t blocking the entire opening of the jar (see photo). If you follow these tips, you shouldn’t have any problems.
Scoring Seeds
You can sprout just about anything, but the cheapest and easiest things are found in the bulk bin of your health food store! Lentils, beans, chickpeas, rice, buckwheat, wheat are all widely available and inexpensive. It’s imperative that you choose organically-grown ingredients, as conventionally grown seeds are often irradiated, making them difficult, or even impossible to germinate. You can also purchase seeds online, especially the more specialty ones, like alfalfa, radish, onion, broccoli etc.
Finding Equipment
There are plenty of sprouting apparatuses that you can buy, but if you’re just starting out, use a jar! I bet you already have one.
– 1 sterilized, large-mouth, quart-sized glass jar with an airtight lid
– small piece of cheesecloth
– rubber band
– a bowl or dish rack
How to Sprout
There are countless resources on this topic online, and even whole books written about sprouting, so I am presenting you with a very simple, yet rather foolproof technique. If you want to learn more (which I encourage you to do!) here’s a great place to learn about different methods, applications, as well as help and advice: Sprout People
Simple Sprouting
Day 1
1. Prep (night)
Take a quick glance at the seeds as you put them into the sterilized soaking container. Remove any stones, cracked / damaged seeds, and rinse well.
2. Soak (night)
A general rule is covering the seeds with 2-3 times the amount of water (e.g. 1 cup seeds : 2-3 cups water). Use pure, filtered, unchlorinated water. Skim off any seeds that are floating. Let sit for 8-12 hours.
Day 2
1. Drain (morning)
Put a piece of cheesecloth over the mouth of the jar and secure it with a rubber band. Drain the seeds letting all the water run out.
2. Rinse + drain (morning)
Run cool water through the cheesecloth, swish the seeds around and drain. Repeat, then set the jar in a bowl or on your dish rack at a 45° angle so that any remaining water can drain out, but air can easily get in.
3. Rinse + drain again (night)
Day 3
1. Rinse + drain (morning)
Run cool water through the cheesecloth, swish the seeds around and drain. Repeat, then set the jar in a bowl or on your dish rack at a 45° angle so that any remaining water can drain out, but air can easily get in.
2. Rinse + drain again (night)
Day 4
1. Rinse + drain (morning)
Run cool water through the cheesecloth, swish the seeds around and drain. Repeat, then set the jar in a bowl or on your dish rack at a 45° angle so that any remaining water can drain out, but air can easily get in.
2. Rinse + drain again (night)
3. Enjoy (night)
Your sprouts are ready! The tail should be at least the length of the seed itself (if it is not quite there yet, continue with the rinsing and draining process until it is. Some seeds take a couple more days). If you’re not going to eat all the sprouts right away, make sure you let the sprouts drain for at least 8 hours after their last rinse before you put them in the fridge. Never store wet sprouts, as they will spoil quickly. Store sprouts in the sprouting jar with an airtight lid for one month, or more.
It’s Alive! Sprouted Chickpea Hummus
Makes 4 cups
Ingredients:
2 cloves garlic
1/3 cup / 85ml tahini
½ tsp. fine salt, to taste
2 tsp. ground cumin
¼ tsp. smoked paprika (optional)
zest of 1 lemon
4 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
4 Tbsp. cold-pressed olive oil
4 cups / 500g sprouted chickpeas (start with 1½ cups / 300g dried chickpeas)
Directions:
1. Pulse the garlic in the food processor until minced. Add all other ingredients, except for the sprouted chickpea and blend until you have a paste. Add the chickpeas and blend on high until as smooth as possible. Season to taste and adjust more salt / spice if desired. To achieve an even smoother consistency, scoop hummus into a high-speed blender and blend on high for an additional 10-15 seconds. Serve immediately and store leftovers in an airtight container for up to five days.
I hope that this process seems simple enough for you to try. I promise that once you start sprouting, you won’t be able to stop! It’s so easy, fun, and connecting – not to mention delicious. Good luck and happy sprouting, dear friends!
xo, Sarah B
* * * * * *
Hey Copenhagen! I am thrilled to announce my first two cookbook events in CPH this Spring. The first will be an intimate talk and demonstration at SLOW Copenhagen, and the second will be a magical, celebratory dinner in collaboration with the local, organic grocer and kitchen, Kost. Click on the images for more info and tickets! Can’t wait to see you there.
Hi I love your enthusiasm for sprouting! My search die a recipe started like this: wanted to make homemade roasted chickpeas. Where I live you find AWESOME ones at the Turkish supermarket, they are soft yet “powdery”, they melt in your mouth and whatnot, so I wanted to replicate this at home. I figured they were done with soaked uncooked chickpeas roasted at almost dehydrating temperature (so very low oven over a long time). This original idea and the search for a recipe (I didn’t find the exact recipe and I am kinda hoping this inspires you to try and make them like that hahaha) ended up with me trying to do roasted SPROUTED chickpeas because it sounds exciting and possibly healthy and delicious.
I found your sprouting technique and nice blog with lovely pictures, and I might very well use some of the sprouted chickpeas to try your lovely raw hummus here (I am waiting for my garbanzos to sprout).
Question: I put mine inside a nut-milk bag in a dark place, where the rest of the water can drain as well, is this okay too? I don’t plan on storing them this time so that’s not an issue for me.
Another question: could you try roasting some and giving us a good recipe for it? I like when they are not hard and have not always been successful in my attempts to roast.
Thanks a lot!!
Hello Talulah! I hope you had success with the nut milk bag — i don’t see why that wouldn’t work as long as they had enough breathing room and had room to drain! I will add your suggestion to my list of kitchen projects — thanks for your comment!
I tried sprouting chickpeas and lentils a few times years ago. The sprouting part was easy (the beans I used were always quick to grow nice, long tails), but keeping the sprouts from spoiling was not; I couldn’t seem to keep them. I’m trying again now, and, as in the past, the sprouting isn’t an issue. I am wrapping up my second full day — again using a combination of chickpeas and green lentils — and they are looking very healthy. I am concerned about them molding once I go to store them, though, and I am wondering how you are able to get yours to dry in their sprouting jar before you put them in the fridge. After a full day of resting post rinse and drain, mine are still visibly wet in the jar. Are you able to share any further tips to help the sprouts to dry before I refrigerate them? Many thanks.
Hello! You can spread them out on a clean towel to dry before storing in the fridge instead of in their jar. Hope that helps 🙂
I’ll try that — thank you. 🙂
I’ve been following along with your Insta stories; thank you for making this seem so accessible! For some reason I always viewed sprouting as a difficult process, but I’m confident I can do this myself. Thank you! 🙂
That’s great, way to go! Enjoy 🙂
thanks for your inspiration
So no tahini in this recipe? That is a tradtional ingredient of hummus ususally, but I will try leaving it out. I don’t LOVE the grassy taste of raw sprouted chickpeas, but I will try it with the olive oil and see if that helps! Your passion in infectious, and I DO love the idea of consuming chickpeas raw and sprouted, so much healthier!
It’s the second ingredient…
Hummus is very good and very healthy I like it very much but without lemon juice. With lemon juice is too sour for me.
Thanks so much for this helpful post. I do have some questions. After the initial soak, it sounds like you do not soak again, just rinse? (Other sites say to soak several nights overnight…?) Also, what is the airtight lid for, if you are just covering with cheesecloth? Would keeping the sprouting beans in a colander overnight be any different? Why do they have to be in a jar? Thanks for any clarification you can provide.
Hello Kay,
Here are the answers to your questions, I hope they help!
1. Just one soak, then rinse. No need to soak for several days or nights – they will get waterlogged and not sprout at all.
2. The airtight lid is for when you store them. While sprouting, the chickpeas need to breathe, hence the cheesecloth.
3. You can keep the chickpeas in a colander if you like, but it will be occupied for three-four days, then you’ll have to transfer them to a jar for storage anyway.
Good luck! I promise it’s easier than it sounds 🙂
xo, Sarah B
You make a pretty presentation. Thanks to you I’m now soaking all of my beans and grains, and I’m trying all kinds of new sprouts!
I was thinking of feeding my 14 months baby with boiled and pureed sprouted chickpeas since you say they are so nutritious and easily digestible. I hope he likes it because he refuses most foods and is mostly on formula milk.
That hummus looks amazing! Loved all the information on sprouting. I had heard of it but never really understood why people do it. After reading your post I’m definitely going to give it a go myself.
Undoubtedly I have become a great fan of your this website and I love all the recipes you shared here. Thank you for sharing such amazing posts with us.
The article is perfect. I love it
Thank you for that great and special recipe!!! Never sprouted Chickpea before. Can’t wait to try it!!!
That looks absolutely delicious.
http://www.mecooks.com
Wow, I love your hummus! It’s a great inspiration for me. I’ve never thought about sprouting chickpea. Now I found gorgeous taste and so healthy idea!
I had no idea sprouts packed such a powerful punch! On an unrelated note, your photos are gorgeous. What camera do you use?
Thanks for a great recipe and clear instructions.
How can I extend the shelf life of hummus in the refrigerator?, Are there any health supplements preservatives in order to solve this issue?
Thanks, Rebecca
HI Rebecca, In my experience, if you want to extend your Hummus shelf life, you can either freeze as chickpeas; or if you don’t would like to hold it another 3-4 days in the fridge, you can crash the chickpeas and all, but just don’t add lemon juice until you are ready to serve.
Hope this helps, Oren
Thank you for sharing. Great recipes !
Very inspiring article! Definitely inspired me to try different recipes and inspire myself to venture with food! And an individual can be very inspired to eat healthy, be healthy and live healthy! Hope you wont mind me addig your web/blog to share it with my bloggers and allow them to inspire themselves via your blogs!
I soaked my chickpeas about 10 days ago preparing to make hummus. I didn’t get at them right away so put them in a container in the fridge until I had an opportunity to get at them. They got pushed to the back of the fridge and forgotten about…. until this morning when I was cleaning out the fridge. Opened the container and discovered that my chickpeas had sprouted.. about 1/4 inch sprouts. I rinsed them as they were beginning to develop a bit of a greasy feel. Are these chickpeas still safe to consume. ?
I’ve been sprouting since 1970, I use a small piece of nylon stocking as my jar cover with a rubber band. I know that sounds terrible, but I would never buy something to do the job that my own ingenuity couldn’t come up with, I never heard of keeping the jar at a 45° angle…we just put the jar on its side. I’ve grown alfalfa, mung, broccoli, garbanzo and everything else…not a problem, just rinse and keep out of sunlight, until you are ready for the chlorophyll magic.
Wow- great ideas – and for doing this for such a long time-
Thank you for the wonderful information on sprouting! I just recently started with broccoli sprouts and love the process. I hadn’t thought about sprouting chickpeas so I made this recipe and it was awesome! Can you tell me what type of sprouts the green ones are on the side of the hummus dish? Just curious. They make a pretty presentation. Thanks to you I’m now soaking all of my beans and grains, and I’m trying all kinds of new sprouts! I love your new book! My daughters and I had a Cookbook Club and tried many of the recipes. All delicious!
Yum, I have never thought about sprouting chickpeas but it looks real good and can’t wait to give it a try
Keep meaning to try sprouting and never seem to get around to it. Thanks for the easy instructions. Really must try it 🙂 And the hummus looks amazing — one of my favorite dishes.
The food looks awesome, I am a food lover and I am sure I will enjoy the food. Love the photos and the post 🙂
Thank you for the great recipe! I would suggest one more delicios food blog clickhere.
love the way you are going about hummus,
please keep up the good work
Tim
Thank you for your great recipes !
Yum! I would have never thought to try sprouted hummus like this. Going to try this tomorrow!! Thanks for sharing. P.s your photography is incredible.
– Nikki
http://www.nikkisplate.com
Great Post! Question: do you have to rinse and drain the sprouts with filtered water to or is tab water ok after you soaked them overnight?
This looks very good, delicious and fascinating thanks for this wonderful recipe.
Hi Sarah, Thank you for your great recipes! You banana bread and pancakes are a stapl,e at my place. I have the same question as above, the chickpeas are just soaked and sprouted and not cooked before making hummus? I Always use the uncooked but soaked variety for falaffel but I cook them normally when making hummus.
I’m wondering the same thing…..don’t need to cook them to soften them up??
Yes, hummus also works with the sprouted chickpeas, they will be softer than after only soaking as sprouting takes a while longer. It’s different from using cooked chickpeas, but I like the rather fresh and spicy taste of using sprouted.
I really should get back into sprouting, hopefully by the end of this week I will have my water filter installed and I can get back to it. I love that the first recipe I can make will be this for my daughters birthday party – Oh, man yum!!!
Agreed. I haven’t sprouted in a couple of years and I love sprouts too for their high fiber and low calories. And I didn’t know you lived in Copenhagen!!!! Not that I’ve been there or anything like that, but I did watch a 30 minute Rick Steves video on PBS about it.
My arab friend taught me to first mix the lemon or lime juice with the tajine and the mixture turns pure white and hardens. It’s like magic!! Then you loosen it with some of the water in which you cooked the chickpeas, ir liuid from can if using tinned chick peas, but remember it’s salty!! and then you add the rest of the ingredients just the same way.
Okay, so, great post as always. I, too, love the idea of sprouts. I only have one teeny-tiny little problem: their effing taste. I really hate how sprouts taste. They’re so… undercooked. Bland. Hard. Also, they upset my tummy, contrary to their being easier to digest. Weird, huh. So, no. Not a fan. Of sprouts, that is. I will always be your fan 😉
Thanks Sprout Girl! I am so grateful for this knowledge…happy sprout feasting!
Haha, love the title. Also, this hummus sounds delicious!
Stupid question, but these chickpeas are used raw, right? Not cooked like regular hummus?
yes!! Cooked chickpeas won’t sprout.
Love this because I thought that sprouting was sort of hard to do… But I guess not really! I have all that is needed sitting in my cupboard. OK, I’m on it! Thank you!
Sprouting seems so much easier than I ever thought it would be. I’m going to have to try both sprouting and this hummus- it looks incredible.
hahah ‘cooking with Sareh’. It was AMAZING meeting you in Toronto- love when you share your killer knowledge on all things sprouting!
You are the queen of sprouting girl! It was from your first book that I was first encouraged to do so, and I love how you’ve made a hummus from your little chickpea sprouts here. This snack platter looks like such a FEAST. Happy weekend-ing Sarah! xx
If you were sprouting in a third world country would it be safe to drink the rinse water?
Hi Sarah,
I love sprouting all kinds of different seeds and legumes, but I’ve read that during pregnancy also homegrown sprouts are not recommended as due to the constant humidity and warm environment they are a perfect host for pathogens. Do you think that with your recommendations (that’s how I do it anyway) there should be no concern?
Thanks for sharing!
Sarah, you never fail to inspire me with your evident passion for nutrition and better health! Cannot wait to try this sprouted hummus 🙂
Our bodies make the enzymes that it needs in our cells. Our cells doesn’t have/need the same enzymes (mostly) as a chickpea does. We can’t absorbe enzymes from our food in our intestines, the molecules are too big, if they were to survive the gastric acid (which purpose is to break down enzymes/proteins).
Nonetheless, I bet the hummus is delicious and sprouts are still a healthy food.
Thanks a lot for the reminder, Sarah, I will be definitely going there! May I curiously ask why you recommend filtered water? I suppose the Danish water is of quite a good quality already? Don’t you lose important minerals by filtering? Would love to hear your opinion in this! Thanks once more for all the wonderful inspirations you give! :-)))