Growing up in India, I saw my mom soaking a different bean almost every night. By morning, they would be wrapped in a white cloth, sitting in a colander in a warm dry spot. The following day, they would have magically grown into long sprouts. These sprouted beans or lentils were then used in cooking curries, dals, stir fry dishes, and also added raw to salads in addition to us snacking on by the handfuls. Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week! By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Minstry of Curry Lentils and Beans are the go-to plant-based protein sources in vegetarian diets and Indian cuisine. They are affordable and have a long shelf life. So, you can stock up your pantry with these versatile staples and whip up a variety of delicious dishes anytime!
What is Sprouting
So what is sprouting? Sprouting is a process where the lentils, beans, seeds, or even nuts are soaked in water for several hours and then allowed to germinate in a cool dry place for several days. While beans and lentils can be cooked from their dry form, soaking and sprouting them improves their texture and makes them faster to cook and easier on the stomach.
Tips
Before I explain how to sprout the beans, here are some of my tips and tricks, for perfect sprouts every time:
How to Sprout Beans
And now let’s get on to how to sprout the beans and lentils. It is very easy to sprout the beans at home, and although the whole process can take 2 to 3 days, most of the time is hands-off as you wait for the beans to soak or sprout. Here is how the beans are traditionally sprouted. In the photos, I am using Mung beans as an example, but the same process works for other beans too!
Step 1: Rinse & Soak
Rinse the beans thoroughly with cold water and soak them overnight (10-12) hours in warm water (2-3 times the volume of the beans). During the soaking process, the beans almost will double in size
Step 2: Drain
Drain out the water using a colander and then place the beans on a cheesecloth.
Step 3: Wrap & store in a cool dry place
Wrap the beans in cheesecloth and store them covered in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. I usually keep them in my oven and in winter keep the oven lights on for some warmth In the summer beans will start to sprout in 12 hours and this is how they will look in the initial few hours The longer you keep they will continue to grow. Usually, within 24 hours they grow a good ¼ to ½ inch long tail. In winter it may take up to 48 hours for the beans to sprout.
Sprouting beans using Instant Pot
You can also use the Instant Pot for sprouting. The Yogurt mode in the Instant Pot has the perfect temperature setting to help the beans sprout.
Tips
Storing
Once sprouted beans can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container or zip-lock bags. Raw sprouted mung beans are great for snacking or to add to salads.
Recipes
All three sprouted beans can be used to make curries that can be enjoyed with steamed rice or parathas. I especially love the Maharashtrian Misal Pav cooked with sprouted moth beans. Sprouted masoor is especially good in a khichdi or breakfast bowl. And if you haven’t already do try my mung bean salad where you can add either raw or lightly sautéed sprouts.
Recipe
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