Lentils are ideal for vegetarians because they have a high protein content and fill you up for a long time. They triple their volume during germination and are rich in valuable ingredients. They are also easier to digest than beans and peas.
Lentil seedlings are tasty and healthy
preparation
Put the lentils in a large saucepan and fill it up with lukewarm tap water. In the next twelve hours, the seeds swell. Drain the water and rinse the swollen lentil seeds. Wash the seeds twice a day.
Good to know:
- most lentil varieties are suitable for germination
- Exceptions are red and yellow lentils that are already peeled
- local Alb lentils have a particularly intense taste
Utils
A germination jar with a sieve lid and stand is ideal for germination. Mason jars that you cover with gauze or plastic gauze and a rubber band are a good alternative. The glasses are placed in such a way that their opening points slightly downwards. This prevents waterlogging, because moisture drips out of the germination container. A sieve that you cover with a saucepan lid has the same properties.
processing
At temperatures between 18 and 20 degrees, it takes two to four days for the first seedlings to appear. You can freeze the pre-sprouted lentils or keep them in the fridge for a week. Before consuming, you need to blanch the lentil seedlings for at least five minutes. Although soaking has reduced the concentration of indigestible ingredients, raw lentils still contain a high proportion of toxic substances such as lectins. These substances are rendered harmless during cooking.
particularities
Lentil sprouts have a more intense aroma than seeds that have not been pre-germinated. They taste nutty and are very aromatic. Some sources suggest that the human gut is better at breaking down the nutrients from pre-germinated seeds. The germination process multiplies the content of B vitamins. In contrast to dry seeds, the sprouted seeds contain vitamin C. The seedlings are suitable for use in soups and stews, risotto and vegetable dishes or simply as a topping for bread.
sowing
If you want to cultivate the annual plant, you can place the seedlings in nutrient-poor and lean soil. Soils that appear unattractive to other crops are suitable. Calcareous marl, gravel and sand offer optimal starting conditions. The lens prefers sunny, warm and dry conditions. It requires little water and no fertilizer.
tips
So that the delicate plants do not buckle later, you should sow grains such as barley or oats in the bed.
harvest
The legumes ripen from the bottom up. As soon as the skin turns brown and the kernels are hard, you can start harvesting. Since not all fruits are ripe at the same time, the harvest extends over a longer period of time.