How to Sprout Sesame Seeds

Sesame seeds have a slightly sweet flavor, and you can eat them alone with a bit of honey or add them to other dishes. Sesame seed sprouts are rich in vitamins E, C and B, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, calcium, amino acids and protein. For sprouting, buy unhulled brown or black sesame seeds.

Things You'll Need

• Organic, unhulled sesame seeds (brown or black)
• Cheesecloth
• Fine mesh colander
• Wide-mouthed glass jar
• Lightweight cloth to cover jar

Instructions

1. Place a piece of cheesecloth onto a fine mesh colander and place your seeds on top. Rinse the seeds thoroughly under running water and then place them into a wide-mouthed glass jar. Cover the seeds with water and leave them to soak for 6 to 8 hours.

2. Drain and rinse the seeds and then return them to the jar. Cover the jar with a small lightweight piece of cloth and leave the jar in a cool, semi-lit location. Rinse and drain the seeds every 4 hours for about 24 to 32 hours, or until your sprouts have reached the desired length. At night, rinse the seeds just before bed and attend to them again as soon as you wake.

3. Rinse the sesame seeds and place them in the refrigerator. Eat your sesame sprouts as soon as possible to prevent bitterness.

Tips & Warnings

• Black seeds are nutritionally superior to brown, but they are difficult to find unhulled.

• Sprout as many sesame seeds as you can each in just 1 to 2 days. Sesame seeds do not last as long as other sprouts in the refrigerator. While they do not go bad for some time, they become bitter after 2 days or so.

• 2/3 cup of seeds will yield about 1 cup of sprouts.