Sophia Bielenberg is the Marketing Content Specialist at High Mowing Organic Seeds opens in a new tab. High Mowing offers 10 varieties of certified organic, Non-GMO Project verified sprouting seeds and is in the process of Non-GMO Project verifying their complete line of organic vegetable seeds. Look for High Mowing Organic Seeds at select Whole Foods Market stores!Summer is a great time to celebrate fresh food. Summer dishes ranging from salads to burgers are even more tasty and nutritious when topped with a lesser-known vegetable: fresh sprouts. Sprouts are tiny plants produced without soil — a type of fresh greens that can be grown virtually anywhere, at any time of year.
Read on to find out how you can enter to win a gift from High Mowing Organic Seeds. UPDATE: Thank you to everyone that entered. Congrats to our randomly chosen winners: Deborah, Renee, and Archena.
Why Sprout?
Fresh and tasty sprouts are raw, vegan, low in fat and cholesterol-free. Add them to a dish and you’ll be getting Vitamin C, Folic Acid, and good phytonutrients.
These little superfoods are so quick and simple to grow at home — they’re a great kid-friendly activity — you’ll be growing your own from start to finish in just a few days.
They don’t need soil, so there’s no mess. They’re compact, so they can grow indoors, in small spaces. Best of all they come in great flavors, from versatile classics like Alfalfa opens in a new tab and Mung Beans opens in a new tab to specialty varieties like Broccoli opens in a new tab, Fenugreek opens in a new tab, and Ancient Eastern Blend opens in a new tab.
How to Grow Sprouts
To grow sprouts at home, all you need are a few simple tools: a wide-mouth jar, a sprouting lid, sprouting seeds, and fresh water.
Here are the basic steps to get you started, but always check the back of the sprouting seed package for variety-specific instructions.
Place 1-2 tablespoons sprouting seeds in a clean, wide-mouth quart jar. Add 2 cups of cool fresh water, screw on the sprouting lid, and let soak for 8 hours.
With the sprouting lid on, drain the water from the jar, refill with cool water, and drain again. Then turn the jar upside down and store it in a bowl at an angle (so that any remaining water can continue to drain).
Repeat the rinsing and draining process every 8-12 hours for 3-5 days.
On the last day, when the sprouts have formed slender white stems and tiny leaves, place the jar in indirect light. This causes the leaves to turn a vibrant green, and your sprouts are now ready to eat!
The sprouts can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to one week.
You can also learn to sprout in this video opens in a new tab.
High Mowing Organic Seeds for sprouting at home are the first organic, Non-GMO Project opens in a new tab verified sprouting seeds available and can be found at select Whole Foods Market stores and on the High Mowing Organic Seeds website opens in a new tab.
Here’s one of our favorite summer recipes that uses our Spicy Salad Mix sprouts.
Raw Kale Salad
Serves 6
1 bunch Lacinato kale, chopped, stems and tough ribs removed , chopped (grow your own with Organic Lacinato Kale seeds opens in a new tab)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup toasted sesame oil
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 cup Organic Spicy Salad Mix sprouts opens in a new tab
1 small fennel bulb, thinly sliced (grow your own with Organic Florence Fennichio seeds opens in a new tab)
1/2 cup toasted sunflower seeds
Instructions:
Toss together chopped kale, olive oil, and salt in large salad bowl. “Massage” the kale by gently squeezing with your hands for 5 minutes or until soft. Set aside. Whisk sesame oil and vinegar until combined and add to kale mixture. Stir well and top with sprouts, fennel and sunflower seeds.
Mung bean sprouts are the most popular sprout on the planet – try these other great recipes featuring mung bean sprouts: Bean Sprout Salad opens in a new tab, Pad Thai Wraps opens in a new tab, & Broccoli Salad with Almond Chili Dressing opens in a new tab
Win Some Seeds
Three lucky winners will receive a sprouting lid and 3 varieties of organic, Non-GMO Project verified planting and sprouting seeds from High Mowing Organic Seeds.
Enter to win by leaving a comment below by August 13th and tell us a new way you’d like to try sprouts!
Fine Print: No purchase necessary. Promotion ends August 13th, 2014, 11:59 PM CDT. Must be a legal resident of the US or Canada (except in Quebec, where it is void) age 18 or older to participate. Taxes on prize, if applicable, are the responsibility of the winner. Employees of Whole Foods Market, Inc., are not eligible. Void where prohibited.
