How to Grow Quinoa Sprouts
Quinoa is an ancient gluten-free, pseudo-grain that was a food staple of the Inca people. It is native to the South American Andes in Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile. Purdue University Extension notes that quinoa contains every amino acid required by humans and healthy amounts of vitamins A, B, C and E, and potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and niacin. Raw food enthusiasts sprout quinoa for use in salads. When cooked as a grain, it is used in breads and as cereal. The seeds have a hard coat that contains saponin, a toxic substance that tastes like soap. Soaking and thoroughly rinsing the seeds removes the saponin. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Pour a half cup of bulk quinoa seeds into a 1-quart sprouting jar with a fine mesh or screen lid. Cover the seeds with water to at least two times the height of the seeds. Swirl the seeds in the water to wet them evenly. Let the jar of water and seeds sit for one-half hour.
-
2
After half an hour, screw the mesh lid onto the jar, upend it and drain the quinoa. Rinse and drain thoroughly again to eliminate dust or dirt and soapy saponin residue. Replace the water and set the jar aside to soak for about eight hours or overnight. Some seeds require darkness to begin sprouting and then light to finish developing tiny stems and leaves. Quinoa just produces a white sprout and is fine sitting on a counter. A shady rather than sunny spot is the best location.
-
-
3
After eight hours, pour off the water. Rinse the quinoa again by filling the jar with water, swirling to wet and wash all the seeds, and draining the water completely. Tilt the jar on its side and leave the damp seeds to sprout. Repeat rinsing and draining once or twice more, at eight-hour intervals, tasting one seed each time for flavor. Quinoa often sprouts within a day, but seeds can take up to two days to complete sprouting. Continue rinsing and draining as long as necessary.
-
4
When the quinoa develops a little tail it has sprouted. At this point it is still crunchy and should have a slightly nutty flavor. Rinse it one last time and drain completely to let the sprouts get as dry as possible. Eat them at once, toss in a salad or store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you let quinoa continue to sprout, it will grow a longer tail. However, the sprout will get mushy and lose its flavor.
Packaged quinoa is often prewashed to remove the saponin -- check the label to find out. It's still a good idea to rinse the quinoa before using it. Experiment with packaged quinoa to see if it is still viable and sprouts readily.
Different bulk grains may sprout rapidly or more slowly, so you may want to try sprouting a few to check the timing prior to preparing them for a recipe.
References
- Photo Credit Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images
