Alfalfa sprouts are mostly used raw, appearing relentlessly in salads and sandwiches. They appeared on our salad bars in the 1970s, when they garnished every second dish at homes of our health-trendy friends. That is, until salmonella contamination was discovered in the North American supply in 1995. The rest of us, who had never found…
Sprouts
Bamboo Shoots
Bamboo Shoots are the ivory-white coloured young leaves of water bamboo, harvested when the leaves rise about 6 inches (15 cm) above the surface of the water. They are used as a vegetable. You only eat the peeled centre part of the shoot, which is white and hairless. They have a crisp texture with a…
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels Sprouts grow on stalks © Ned Lyttelton Brussels Sprouts are small, compact, leafy buds that sprout out along the stem of a variety of cabbage plant. They grow best in temperate climates, ideally where the daytime temperatures are 18 C (65 F) or less. When the weather is too hot, the sprouts will remain…
Buckwheat Grass
When allowed to grow into young plants to be eaten as greens, unhulled buckwheat seeds are called variously “Buckwheat Lettuce”, “Buckwheat Grass” or “Buckwheat Greens.” They have a mild flavour. Cooking Tips Soak the unhulled seeds for 8 to 12 hours. Drain off the soaking water, and rinse thoroughly. Set at room temperature out of…
Buckwheat Sprouts
In growing Buckwheat Sprouts, you need to use hulled buckwheat (aka Buckwheat Groats) as the starting seed. Otherwise, if you use unhulled, the very tough seedcase will be on the sprout. The Buckwheat Groats, of course, should be uncooked. If the groats are a medium brown colour, they have been toasted and won’t sprout. Cooking…
Corn Shoots
Corn Shoots are kernels of corn allowed to start growing, up to a few inches tall. Essentially, they are corn sprouts allowed to grow a bit longer — about three weeks. They have yellowish-green leaves with bluish edges, and are somewhat yellow at the heart, when grown in light. When grown in the dark, they…
Corn Sprouts
Corn Sprouts are sprouts grown from corn kernels. Different types of corn kernels can be used, as they will all sprout. The kernels, though, and particularly Sweet Corn kernels, can be very expensive to buy. If you are growing your own Corn Sprouts, make sure you are using corn seed that hasn’t been treated with…
Fenugreek Sprouts
Fenugreek Sprouts are sprouts grown from Fenugreek seed. For most people, the taste of them is too bitter to be consumed on their own, the way some other sprouts might be. Instead, they will use them in mixes and dishes where the bitterness can become a complimentary highlight to an overall taste. The taste is…
Mung Bean Sprouts
The large Bean Sprouts generally available in supermarket are sprouts from Mung Beans. They are whitish with a yellow tinge, crisp and nutty tasting. They are good both raw and in stir fries. These are the ones you will usually see in egg rolls and stir fries. The Chinese will also grow sprouts from soy…
Oat Sprouts
Oat Sprouts must be made from unhulled, untreated oats. They won’t sprout from “whole oats” or “oat groats”, as these have been hulled. The thick hull of the oat makes the sprouts very hard to chew. Cooking Tips Oat Sprouts are mostly used in recipes. They can be chopped and added to bread dough or…
Pea Shoots
Pea Shoots are the first few leaves and tendrils produced when a pea plant starts to grow. They can be from any pea plant, though they are most often snow pea shoots. Each shoot will be 3 to 4 inches (7 ½ to 10 cm) high. They are sold in bunches, with the thin tendrils…
Scallion Sprouts
Scallion Sprouts are the initial shoots of very young Scallions that have just started to grow. The are used in Japanese cooking, both as an ingredient and as a garnish on noodles or soups. They are sometimes used in sushi to balance the smell of raw fish. In Japan, stores sell them in packages. Substitutes…
Soybean Sprouts
Soybean Sprouts are sprouted soybeans. The sprouts are crunchy and firm, with greenish-yellow heads. They are ready to use in 3 to 4 days after the bean begins to sprout. They become bitter if allowed to grow much past that. To be clear, most bean sprouts sold are actually grown from mung beans, not soybeans….
Sprouting Barley
Sprouting barley is barley which is used for making sprouts from. The barley will be either unhulled (e.g. not processed in the slightest), or just hulled and not processed any further (aka hulled barley.)The grains will germinate and sprout in about 2 or 3 days. If unhulled barley is used, you’ll want to get rid…
Sprouts
Generally the phrase “Sprouts” means either “Brussel Sprouts” or “Bean Sprouts”, but it can also include Bamboo Sprouts — there is no real, set definition. When used to refer to Bean Sprouts, it means the first seedling growth coming up from either seeds or beans. Bean Sprouts require only water and some warmth to grow….