Lentils are seeds and as such, they can be sprouted and those sprouted seeds can be eaten.
Sprouting lentils[]
- Select organic dried lentils for sprouting. Lentils come in a large variety of types, all of which can be sprouted; however, each will have a slightly different flavor and larger lentils will require longer sprouting times. Most lentils provide a slightly spicy flavor with makes a fantastic addition to salads and sandwiches.
- Soak your dried lentils in water for 8 to 14 hours. Smaller lentil varieties do great with just 8 hours; however, larger lentil will require 12 to 14 hours. Remember that lentils will almost quadruple in size, so do not sprout more lentils than you can eat in about 2 weeks.
- Rinse the lentils thoroughly, after soaking, to remove acids and toxins from the surface. Drain the water as well as you can and place them in a wide-mouthed glass jar. Cover the jar loosely with a light cloth and place the lentils in a cool, semi-lit location.
- Remove the cloth lid from your lentils jar and rinse them well every 8 to 12 hours, draining the water thoroughly before returning them to the jar. After about 3 days, try eating a few lentils, which should now have about ½-inch sprouts. If you would like the sprouts to be a bit more tender, continue the process for another day.
- Finish the sprouting process by giving your lentils a final rinse and then cover them with a cloth and placing them in the refrigerator. You should eat sprouted lentils within about 2 weeks to ensure freshness.