Mixed Sprouts | How To Make Mixed Sprouts

This Mixed Sprouts method is going to be so handy to you, that after referring to this you’ll probably bid adieu to the store-bought ones forever! Not just another ‘how to,’ but quite a useful hack as it is best to sprout beans at home, with ease and at your convenience. Go ahead with this way of making mixed sprouts at home and then use it for lovely homely delicacies.

Why Homemade Mixed Sprouts

I wouldn’t lie about the fact that there was a time when even I used to regularly buy mixed bean sprouts or moong sprouts from the market.

And most of the times, even after buying from the best of places, the sprouts would result in spoilage way before the expiry date. This was even when I was refrigerating them properly.

It was quite a hassle as many a times I would plan a recipe creation using those sprouts and because of the decay I would not be able to use them and waste that much of time and effort.

I was troubled because of the same reason even while preparing the regular meals at home, if any of them used mixed sprouts.

One day, I gave it a thought and eventually deduced the reason for this occurrence. It must’ve got something to do with the water that was being used by the sellers, for soaking the legumes or beans.

One never really knows what kind of water is used, whether clean or not? That was just the eureka moment for me to get on to a sprouting wagon at home itself.

And since that day, I’ve been making mixed sprouts myself. Even today, I never buy mixed bean or moong sprouts from any grocery store or market.

Sprouting Beans At Home

I began by making homemade Moong Bean Sprouts. It became an instant hit with my regular home cooking at the personal front as well as the ones that I created professionally.

Moong beans are really easy to sprout and the process also happens quickly. However, the same is not obvious with other beans.

For instance, black chickpeas, green chickpeas, green peas, black eyed beans, black peas and garbanzo beans do take a longer time to sprout.

For this mixed sprouts, I had taken equal quantities of all the above mentioned beans plus moong and moth beans as well.

While these two particular beans sprouted quickly, some of the other beans didn’t sprout till the second day.

It was only the third day, when the young shoots were seen on the remaining beans as well. As far as the size of the sprouts is concerned, some of them were quite visible whereas a few of them were extremely tiny.

Nevertheless, I used the mixed beans for cooking on the third day.

How to make Mixed Sprouts

1. Pick and clean 2 cups mixed beans or any amount you prefer. Take equal portions of the beans that you will be using.

I have here used equal portions of brown chickpeas, red cowpeas, moth beans, black eyed peas, moong beans, dried green peas, green chickpeas.

2. Rinse the beans 3 to 4 times in clean water. In a big bowl, soak the beans overnight, with the water covering 2 to 3 inches above the beans.

3. Next day, discard all the water from the soaked beans. Make sure that all the water is removed from the mixed legumes.

Then with water that has been boiled and cooled or clean filtered water, rinse the soaked beans. Rinsing beans this way helps to avoid the risk of contamination.

Transfer rinsed beans to a clean dry bowl. Cover the bowl and keep them undisturbed in a dry, clean place in your kitchen. Check the next day to see if the sprouts are visible.

If yes and you want a little longer sprouts, than cover and keep undisturbed. Do not toss or turn the sprouts. Just see and cover the bowl with a lid.

Check the third day to see the sprouts.

6. If you are satisfied with the sprouts, then do not keep the bowl undisturbed. You can use the Mixed Sprouts right away.

Dish up a salad, chaat, sabzi, cook a soup or add them to your pasta. I made a spicy coconut based Indian curry known as Usal with the sprouted beans.

Sprouting In Muslin Or Cotton Napkin

You can also sprout the soaked legumes in a clean muslin or cheesecloth or a thin cotton napkin. First wet the muslin with clean filtered water and squeeze out any extra water from it.

Spread and place the soaked legumes in the center of the cloth. Join all the sides of the muslin and make a bundle. Do not make the bundle too tight. Place the bundle inside a bowl and keep the bowl covered with a lid. The lid should not be too tight or too loose.

Do remember to keep the cloth moist when sprouting beans in it. If after a few days, the muslin or cotton napkin looks dry, then lightly sprinkle some filtered water on it all over.

If you want to check the sprouting beans, then avoid opening the bundle. Check the outside of the napkin after the first day is over.

You may see small and tiny sprouts coming out from the cloth. These are more visible if you have used a thin fabric like muslin.

Depending on the time taken for the sprouts to grow, continue to let them grow for one more day or as needed. It may take 1 to 3 days depending on the climate and temperature conditions in your city.

Cook With Sprouts

Since the day I’ve been sprouting mixed beans at home, the flavor and textures of dishes that I make with them has also been drastically different.

I mean, you need to try to get to know the result. Using store bought sprouts versus homemade sprouts, you will always go with the latter.

Before you make any recipe with them or eat them raw, rinse them thoroughly in lightly hot water. Then you can choose to steam them in a pan or simmer with some water until tender.

Some of the recipes that I’ve made with both the mixed sprouts and moong sprouts made at home include Sprouts Curry, Sprouts Salad, Sprouts Chaat and Moong Sprouts Sabzi. All of these are worth giving a try.

While there are other recipes with mixed bean sprouts that I’m always working on, I would just say that whenever you can, do opt for this wholesome way of consuming beans. Also, make them at home for best results.

Mixed Sprouts Are Super

It is a definite no brainer that any type of bean sprouts is packed with essential nutrients. Thus, are super nutritious with maximum number of essential nutrients and must be consumed on a daily basis.

Rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber and many antioxidants, mixed bean sprouts is really a best friend of your health. Include it in your diet because:

• Mixed sprouts help lower the risk to infections and speedup healing of wounds.
• Helps to make the immune system powerful and is effective in balancing cholesterol levels in the body.
• Sprouts are great for improving metabolism and digestion.
• An opt choice for weight management – it is filling, so keeps you full for a longer time. Thus, helping in weight loss.
• A magical food for your heart health by regulating bone mineral density.
• The substantial amount of iron in mixed sprouts help in decreasing the chances of muscle weakness, anemia, fatigue and light headedness.
• According to researchers, mixed sprouts are good for reducing stress, anxiety and promoting healthy sleep patterns.

If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it in the recipe card or leave a comment below – I’d love to hear your feedback. For more vegetarian inspiration, sign up for my email updates or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or X.

This Mixed Sprouts recipe post from the archives, first published in September 2010 has been updated and republished on November 2022.