How to Sprout Quinoa Seeds

Often referred to as a grain, quinoa is actually the seed of the plant named Chenopodium quinoa. This plant is related to spinach, beets, chards and tumbleweeds. The leaves of this plant are also used as a vegetable, much like amaranthus. Even though, it is not a grain in the true sense, quinoa is highly popular as a breakfast cereal. It is also used as a whole grain side dish.

Cooked quinoa has a fluffy and creamy texture with a nutty flavor that is enhanced with toasting (before cooking). Apart from being a rich source of protein, quinoa has considerable amounts of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin E, folate and dietary fiber.

Even quinoa sprouts are said to be nutritious as well as delicious. It is used in fresh salads, sandwiches, wraps and is an ingredient in various food recipes.

As mentioned above, nutritious quinoa can be consumed in many ways. You can cook whole quinoa and add nuts and fruits, to use it as a breakfast porridge. Cooked quinoa can be added to salads and vegetable soups. Even quinoa flour can be used in cookies and muffins. Quinoa in the form of sprouts, is one of the nutritious ways of consuming these seeds.

It is like alfalfa spouts and can be used in salads, sandwiches and various other food recipes.

• First of all, get some organic quinoa seeds for sprouting. Before starting with the sprouting procedure, you must know that these seeds will triple in size, once they sprout. For example, if you take a cup of quinoa, you will get around three cup of sprouts. So, use these seeds as per your requirement, as the storage time is only two weeks.

• Take the required amount of quinoa seeds and rinse them thoroughly. Rinsing helps in removing the soapy covering of quinoa. This soapy feeling is due to the presence of saponins which is responsible for their bitter taste.

• Once you are done with rinsing, take a bowl with enough water to immerse the quinoa seeds. The next step is to let the seeds soak in this water for around 10 to 12 hours. It will be better to soak them overnight.

• The next morning, drain the water from the bowl and rinse the soaked seeds. As mentioned above, rinsing is very important to eliminate the bitter flavor of the seeds. Transfer these seeds to a bowl or tray and cover it with a damp cloth. Place the tray in a dark, cool place.

• You have to rinse these seeds at regular intervals (every six to eight hours). Rinse and drain the seeds, before keeping them in the bowl with the damp cloth cover. The procedure has to be continued for at least 48 hours. Apart from removing saponins, this rinsing process helps in faster sprouting and in curbing the growth of mold.

• Once the sprouts reach a length of half to one inch, you can stop the rinsing process. Rinse and drain them before storing in the refrigerator. Cover them loosely with a damp cloth and store these sprouts. Make sure to use them within two weeks.

The above said is one of the commonly used methods for sprouting quinoa seeds. Some people try the refrigerator method for sprouting these seeds. As per this method, you have to soak the seeds in water for almost 10 to 12 hours, Try rinsing in between.

Once done, transfer them to a bowl with water and keep the bowl inside the refrigerator for at least 12 to 15 hours, for getting quinoa sprouts.

Quinoa sprouts can be used in various ways. They are perfect for a side salad, when combined with other vegetables. You may also include them in wraps and sandwiches.

Even though consuming raw sprouts is preferred by health conscious people, sprouted quinoa seeds can also be used in a stir fry meal, but make sure to fry these sprouts for not more than two minutes. So, try sprouting quinoa seeds at home and reap the nutrition offered by these seeds.