chick pea sprouts

do you ever sprout chick peas?

(aka garbanzo beans)

they are

~ so easy ~

~ so cheap ~

~ so yummy ~

~ so nutritious ~

i like to buy dried organic chick peas in bulk.

{better for you, better for the planet}

at the boise co-op they are $1.59/lb

but winco sells them for 77¢/lb (better for your wallet).

when you get them home, you will need to

soak them overnight

as if you were going to cook them.

i usually soak 4 cups of dried chick peas

then take some out to sprout

and cook the rest.

instant gratification

believe it or not,

after one overnight soak (at least 8 hours)

they are technically "sprouts"

and can be eaten immediately.

after soaking,

drain & rinse the chick peas.

at this point, i start munching on them.

  

here's what recommend:

keep the sprouts in a colander

on your kitchen counter, near the sink.

(keep them out of the direct sun.)

set the colander over a bowl so they can drain.

partially cover to allow airflow but prevent drying out. 

sprouts should be rinsed a few times every day

(about once every 8 hours)

and drained well after each rinse.

each day, they will continue to sprout

and become even more nutritious.

after about four days, i put them in them in the fridge.

this stops the sprouting & keeps them fresh.

this photo shows chick peas that are

1. dried
2. soaked overnight
3. sprouted for four days

these sprouts can be eaten as a snack,

tossed on top of a salad,

or as a side dish with a little oil & vinegar.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

i have a big pot of chick peas simmering on the stove.

check tomorrow's post to see what i'm making...

♥