How to Sprout Lentils (and other Legumes)

I get frustrated when I see simple things made complicated, especially when the complication is added in order to sell gadgets. Overpriced, unnecessary gadgets. Sprouting lentils, and indeed most legumes, is really easy and requires nothing more than an empty jar and a bit of patience.

Sprouting essentially involves germinating a seed so that it produces a shoot which would eventually become a new plant if given the right conditions. We eat them while they are still tiny shoots – tender, crunchy and delicious. Seeds can lie dormant for years before being germinated. They contain all the nutrients a new plant will require to kick-start its life. Sprouting seeds releases these nutrients, making them more easily digestible.

Lentils, and most other legumes, are high in both dietary fibre and protein. I’m not a vegetarian but I try to limit my meat consumption to just one meal each day. Spouted lentils are a great way to add protein to a leafy green salad or a vegetable stir-fry. The bean sprout typically used in Chinese cooking is a mung bean sprout. I have sprouted these with great success using the same method. However, as lentils are less expensive and a little easier to find (especially here in Lithuania), they are my go-to legume for sprouting.

There are many methods for sprouting lentils but all involve three key conditions – moisture, warmth and air. The moisture is provided by water. The lentils are soaked in water overnight to ensure the water penetrates the seed fully. The lentils are then rinsed but left damp and then left at room temperature, ideally out of strong direct sunlight, to sprout. You need to ensure the lentils are not left sitting in water and that they get sufficient air to allow them to germinate while at the same time keeping out dust and bugs. One option is to cover the jar with muslin or cheesecloth, held in place with string or elastic. My method is a little more rustic but just as effective – I used a nail to make 3-4 holes in the original lid. The holes should be smaller than the lentils or beans you are sprouting so that none come out when you shake the jar. You need to shake the jar at least once and ideally twice per day to ensure no lentils have stuck to the bottom of the jar and to ensure greater circulation of air.

Once those three conditions have been met all you need is a little patience. Difference legumes take different lengths of time to sprout but in general you should allow at least 2 days and up to 5 days for your shoots to reach your desired size. Once sprouted the shoots will keep in the fridge for 3-5 days, ready for adding to salads, stir-fries, breads or anything else you fancy.

Some resources I’ve read on sprouting go overboard about hygiene and potential growth of harmful bacteria in a way that could easily be off-putting. Almost invariably these sites try to sell me something to minimise the risk, a trick which makes me instantly suspicious about their motives. I am no more fastidious about my sprouting than I am about any other food preparation. I keep my kitchen and my equipment clean and if I don’t like the look or smell of a food I simply don’t eat it.

Because of their low cost lentils are one of my favourite legumes to sprout. However, the same method can be used for many different legumes. Ones I have sprouted successfully include mung beans and adzuki beans. These both sprout more quickly than lentils and can be ready to eat in just 2 days.

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Mung Bean Sprouts