Alfalfa Sprouts: Grow Yourself & Benefits

Thanks to their many vitamins and minerals, alfalfa sprouts enrich the diet not only in winter. The alfalfa sprouts germinate with ease and can be harvested after just 7 or 8 days.

Growing alfalfa sprouts is very easy and doesn't require much time or expensive equipment. Homegrown alfalfa sprouts do not need to be packaged, transported or stored and are therefore significantly fresher than sprouts from trade. The risk of contamination of the sprouts with germs is therefore many times lower than with purchased sprouts.

What are alfalfa sprouts?

Alfalfa sprouts are germinated seeds of the alfalfa plant (Medicago sativa). Alfalfa is also used by us as alfalfa referred to, counts as beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), Peas(Pisum sativum) and clover (trifolium) to the legume family (Fabaceae) and is widely grown in agriculture as cover crops and animal feed. But the filigree seedlings that develop from the small seeds are also used in a variety of ways in our kitchens.

Tip: Not only from alfalfa seeds can be pull sprouts. Soybean sprouts, for example, are also healthy and tasty Broccoli Sprouts.

Grow your own alfalfa sprouts

Germinating alfalfa sprouts is easy and almost always successful. Alfalfa is therefore a good starting point for growing sprouts. As far as the equipment is concerned, alfalfa sprouts are relatively undemanding. For example, are well suited sprout glasses. Cultivation is even possible in germination bowls or a glass with many small holes in the lid. Growing alfalfa sprouts on the windowsill works all year round. The sprouts are a valuable addition, especially in winter, when we only have a few regional and seasonal vegetables.

Instructions: Germinate alfalfa sprouts

1. Start by washing the alfalfa seeds thoroughly, for example in a colander under running water.
2. The seeds are then soaked in room-warm water for 6 to 8 hours.
3. Then pour off the water. Sprout glasses should now be placed upside down. If you are using a germination tray, the seeds are now distributed flat in the tray.
4. Set up your germinator at around 18 to 22°C. If the bowl is placed in a bright place, green chlorophyll, which is very healthy, is formed during the germination of alfalfa.
5. Rinse the seeds twice a day. Fill the sprouting glass or germination bowl with water until all the seeds are covered and pour it off again after a few minutes.
6. After 7 to 8 days, the alfalfa sprouts have usually grown so far that they can be eaten.

Danger: As a protection against predators, alfalfa seeds contain the substance canavanine, which is toxic to many animals and also to humans. However, this is broken down during the germination process. Therefore, only a very small amount of canavanine is left in sprouts. To be on the safe side, alfalfa sprouts should only be eaten after 7 to 8 days of germination. You can also sort out ungerminated seeds before consumption.

How Healthy Are Alfalfa Sprouts?

Alfalfa sprouts are very high in protein, at around 4g of protein per 100g for vegetables, and also contain all of the essential amino acids for humans. But the content of vitamins and minerals is also very high. Alfalfa sprouts contain vitamins A, B1, 2 and 6, C, E and K as well as significant amounts of calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium. Finally, there are a few phytochemicals to add to the list of healthy ingredients found in sprouted alfalfa. Saponins, for example, have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects.

However, with these outstanding concentrations, one has to consider that the amount of alfalfa sprouts consumed is usually relatively small. Ultimately, you only consume small amounts of the vitamins, proteins and minerals it contains. Under no circumstances can the occasional consumption of sprouts completely replace a healthy, vegetable-rich diet - in winter, however, it is a good bridging measure.

Not only are alfalfa sprouts healthy and beautiful to look at, they taste good too. With their mildly tart, nutty taste, like many other sprouts, they are suitable for salads, dips or as a topping for bread.

Can you eat alfalfa sprouts raw? Raw alfalfa sprouts are very healthy. However, you should make sure that you let the seeds germinate for at least 7 days so that the canavanin they contain is already broken down.

Even from the seeds of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) sprouts can be drawn. The undemanding plant is just as easy to grow in the garden. Everything you need to know about this, as well as tips on how to use it, can be found in another article.