Foodie

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Beansprouts

i am sure all of us have experienced the frustration when beansprouts are needed as a condiment and the bag of beansprouts,bought from the supermarket, is discolored, broken and the roots are at least 1/2 inch long. I feel like i am doing prison duty taking the roots off and i needed my mom more than ever, cos she is one who will patiently do this duty for me. Having seen my friend sprouted a batch of perfect beansprouts, gave me the inspiration to give it a try. The first batch was a total failure and i learned alot from this failure. The second and third batch turned out fine and i am now sprouting my fourth batch so that i can cook curry noodles when the beansprouts are ready.

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Ingredients:

1/4 cup mung beans
a square one gallon ice cream tub
a bag of pebbles about 3 - 5 lbs
a strainer
few layers of kitchen towel

Method:

Wash the beans thoroughly, and sort out any discolored or defective beans.

Place the beans in the tub, cover them with water, and let them soak overnight in a dark place.
Sprouting in light allows a green color to develop and most people prefer white sprouts.

The next morning, drain off the water using the strainer. Sort beans again, there will be immature beans that have not been soaked through.

Wet the kitchen towel and place on top of beans, then place the bag of pebbles on top. Cover the tub and place in a dark cabinet.

Each day rinse the beans and developing sprouts with lukewarm water, pouring off the excess water each time, rince once in the morning and then in the evening.

By the fourth day the sprouts should be at least 1 inch long .(the beansprouts can be eaten at this stage but i prefer them to be about 2 inches in length which will take another 3 - 4 days)

When the sprouts reach the desired stage of development, wash them in cold water to remove seed coats, fibrous roots, and other residue.

The sprouts are best eaten soon after washing, but can be stored for several days in the refrigerator at 40-45°F.

Serves

56 comments:

Lee Ping said...

Dear Auntie Lily,

I have been wanting to do this after throwing away bags of rotten bean sprouts. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! a million times....

A few questions, is the bag of pebbles necessary?

Also, after rinsing, do I put it back into the dark place?

Once it start sprouting, I don't have to put the pebbles on top, right?

SteamyKitchen said...

thanks for inspiring me to start growing my own again!

A Mature Student said...

Hi Lily
This is ingenious. The only reason I might want to try this even though it sounds like a lot of fussing around, is because where I am, beanshoots in the supermarket are all bruised and not edible. I have to drive about 45 mins to get nice beanshoots from the Chinese grocery shop.

Anonymous said...

Lily,

I would love to try this out. Do you leave the pebbles on top of the kitchen towel all the time - after every rinse?

I have been reading your blog for some time now and find it really useful. I am a Malaysian living abroad and your recipes has helped me create some of my favourite dishes. Thanks! and keep it up.

Unknown said...

lee ping

the weight is not necessary but the roots seem to be shorter with the weights.

After rincing, put back the kitchen towel and bag of pebbles on top, cover and leave the tub back in the same dark place.

good luck

Unknown said...

mei

yes, leave the kitchen towel and bag of pebbles all through. the roots will not be so leggy with the weights

Anonymous said...

Lily do you use only the dried green mung beans? Or can you try this method with other beans? This seems like a great project to have my son help me with. Thank you!

Lee Ping said...

Dear Auntie Lily,

I have some green beans in my pantry. I will try it today (without the pebbles). If I am successful, I will pass this recipe on to my friends and neighbors.

p/s You are the BEST!!!!

Unknown said...

lee ping

trust me, the weight does good to the sprouts growth. you do not need special ones, just get small pebbles from your garden, clean them. i so happened to have the leftovers for the fish tank but they are not enough - only 1 1/2 lbs, so i added 2 blocks of chocolate bark.

Lee Ping said...

Dear Auntie Lily,

Pebbles from the garden is a good idea. I do have some round rocks in my garden, I don't know if that will do.

If the purpose of the pebbles is to weigh the beans down, perhaps, I can cover a heavy book with plastic bag and just put the book on top of the beans?

I just washed and added enough water to cover the green beans. I even picked out a few beans that were black. Then, I put the container with soaked beans into a black lunch bag and put this bag in my pantry.

I will check on the beans tomorrow. :)

Unknown said...

i done it before with my ~teko~
it's look very sucessed and ~senang to do .

Unknown said...

lee ping

yes, use whatever heavy, it will work.

i use a bowl to soak the beans.

tomorrow, sort the unsoaked ones away

Anonymous said...

Lily,

Thanks for the bean sprouts instruction. I've beem wondering what summer project I can get my 6 year old involved.. and now I have it. Let her grow her own little "bean sprout garden". Thanks once again for all your wonderful ideas.

Koh from Chicago

Kay said...

Wow that is so cool! I've never imagined growing my own bean sprouts!

Unknown said...

anonymous

yes, it is the dried green beans.

Lee Ping said...

Dear Auntie Lily,

It is day 2 of soaking my sprouts. I have rinsed the green beans and re-soaked with fresh water. I have 2 square bowls. I used one to soak and the other to stack on top of the green beans.

I rinsed the beans without using a sifter and some beans fell out. I hope I remember to use a sifter at the next rinse.

p/s I see some beans already splitted. Can't wait for day 4 to see actual sprouts. :)

Anonymous said...

I have had just sprouted green beans in an Indian home for lunch and she mentioned she sprouts them herself. Tastes a little crunchy and green but very healthy. Wonder if you know how to prepare this dish. I have lost contact with her.

LA My Home said...

hello lily,
i am malaysian living in LA, california. came to ur blog thru kookyculinary. will try your apambalik recipe when i got the time.

my personal blog: http://familyfriendsnfood.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

lee ping

good job.

i started mine on march 25 and they are ready but i will keep it for another few days just to see the difference - better or worse

WokandSpoon said...

It's great that you grow your own - probably healthier. I used to try to grow this in primary school - but they got so smelly! (probably bec I didn't change the water everyday!)

Unknown said...

foodlover

there are endless ways and recipes. my batch of beansprouts which i started on march 25th is ready today and i am cooking curry noodles to go with it.

just blanching it quickly and leave in an ice bath to stop the cooking, then just a salad with fragrant oil and soya sauce.

Lee Ping said...

Dear Auntie Lily,

You mean May 25, right? :)

It is day 3, I will go check on my sprouts, now.

Lee Ping said...

Dear Auntie Lily,

I just checked the sprouts. It is beginning of day 3 and the green skin is starting to peel. I can understand why there is a need to rinse. The water becomes foul overnight. The green skin is light and floats on top, so I was able to easily remove them. A fresh soak, into the dark bag and back in the pantry. I will check on it later tonight.

Unknown said...

lee ping

thanks for pointing out that i am still behind in time. yes it is may 25 and today june 1, i had to clean them as i see more tiny roots appearing. it will go in the curry noodles tonight.

Lee Ping said...

No lar, Auntie Lily, you are not behind in time. I am sure it is just a typo.

How I wish it was still Mar 25. I can be one year younger. You see May 25 was my b'day. :)

Me said...

Hi Aunty,
Now I know how to make my bean sprout look white and clean! Usualy I not rinse and not keep them in the dark... Thank much for this.

Unknown said...

hi aunty lily,thanks 4 sharing how to grow bean sprout.
For the first day do i need to cover the tub or just leave uncovered with bean n water only?
(Wet the kitchen towel and place on top of beans, then place the bag of pebbles on top. Cover the tub and place in a dark cabinet)I do not understand this sentence!If place a towel n pebbles on top of bean , wont it be heavy and crack the bean . If its fully covered with towel , how is it going to grow? So the cloth + pebbles must be place for 5 day at least . And do i still need to add water after covering with cloth. So in the maybe 6 day proses...the top of th tub must be keep close all the time , right?

Soree 4 the long n winded Q but i really do not understant the cloth +pepples part.
thanks

Unknown said...

sue

you do not have to cover, just let the beans soak but leave the bowl in a dark place(i have forgotten once to leave in a dark place and the beans sprouted ok)

yes, you read right, wet the kitchen towel but squeeze it dry before using.

the weight will prevent the roots to be too leggy.

trust me, the beans will sprout with the weights.

every time you rince, it will be better with lukewarm water and then drain until very dry before putting back the kitchen towel and the weights.

Unknown said...

thank u aunty lily . One final question. Its only the first day that the beans need to be soak with water right? The rest of the 5 days only need to rinse with water, then dry the beans before adding the cloth n weigh.There is no need to soak the beans with water anymore right except for the first day correct?

rgds

Unknown said...

sue

yew and yes to all that is in your comment.

depending on where you are, like me here, our tap water is very cold so if so, use lukewarm water to rinse, they grow faster with warmth.

Unknown said...

thanks aunty lily...soree for being so "loh soh" and enquire so many question...heheheh

I'm now soaking my first batch of beans...finger cross..i'll be able to harvest my bean sprout soon.

rgds

Anonymous said...

just testing

Unknown said...

hi aunty lily, i'm now at the 3 day proses and i think its sprouting as it should be. I noticed that the head of the beansprout is changing to pinkish colour. I noticed that your is the same as well. Why is that and can we eat the top if is pink...or pluck if off?

rgds

Unknown said...

sue

i think it is the bean, it is ok to eat any sprouts for that matter. i eat as is.

Chrystal said...

woa.. i am so impressed by you!!

Anonymous said...

Dear lilyng,

I tried sprouting mung beans. It is about 5-6 days now and at the end of the sprouts, they have about an inch of roots. It dosent look exactly like your or the ones I get from the chinese market.
I did use weights, but I have forgotten 2 nights to rinse them in warm water.
Can you tell me what could I have done wrong? May be the weight wasnt sufficient?

Thanks
DP

Unknown said...

DP

the sprouts in the picture have been rinsed with water to rid ot the tiny roots that are attached to the main roots

just rinse with water gently

Anonymous said...

Hi aunty Lily,can i use a bag of marble instead of pebbles?.
I don't have a strainer,what can i use instead of that?
Hope you can reply soonest.
Thank you.
Mei-Mei

Anonymous said...

Greeting auny,how are you?
i have a guestion about this.
_________________________________

Cover the tub and place in a dark cabinet.
___________________________________

What thing can i use to cover the tub?
sorry bout this stupid question,but i realy don no how to make bean sprouts,this is my first time making it,and im so excited. :)
Also,can i use Nestle ice cream tub?,what tub are u using, Walls? Magnolia?

Please reply ASAp coz I just finished soaking the beans.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH SIFU

Melisa

Anonymous said...

aunty,

can i use the soil in the bag to replace pebbles?

Tq

Minty

Anonymous said...

aunty,do i need to cover all the beans by placing paper towel and the weight,if i cover all,the beans will not have air circulation,it will go rot/mouldy? please answer

Anonymous said...

aunty,PLEASE ANSWER MY QUESTION....PLEASEEEEEEE

Melisa

Unknown said...

mei mei

i am sorry for the late reply. i did reply but somehow????? it got lost.

you could use anything for weight as long as it is clean

Unknown said...

melissa

use the lid which comes with the ice cream tub. it does not matter what brand of ice cream.

Unknown said...

minty

i don't think that soil is a good replacement. i use 2 blocks of chocolate on top of the pebbles.

Unknown said...

anonymous

the sprouts surprisingly grow better with shorter roots if they are weighed on and the importance is to keep the kitchen towel moist. it will not be mouldy as the sprouts need to have their bath daily

Anonymous said...

Hi aunty Lily,Thank You ,i just finished growing the bean sprouts,and it turn SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FANTASTIC.

THANK YOU,THANK YOU,THANK YOU,THANK YOU,THANK YOU,THANK YOU,THANK YOU,THANK YOU,THANK YOU,THANK YOU,THANK YOU,THANK YOU,THANK YOU,THANK YOU,THANK YOU
A MILION TIMES.......

Melisa

Unknown said...

melisa

i am happy for you too.

Anonymous said...

Lily, Like you said, I always end up throwing away the balance of my beansprouts, so I stopped buying them. I have just attempted to sprout my own and have been very successful and it is so easy. Thank you so much for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Hello aunty Lily, I am ten years old and my mum printed out your recipe for the beansprouts for me to try out. I started preparing the beans on saturday and today(24/1/08) I have a beautiful bunch of beansprouts! A very big thank you because tomorrow i can start eating them! Thanks alot for sharing!

Anonymous said...

hi aunty Lily, my beans turned bad on the 2nd day, it went mushy.. :( i have to dry it very well after every rinse? i would just rinse it n drain n return it to the air tight container. kindly help... thanky so much for all your recipes! love them all!

Unknown said...

anonymous

the first day is soaking of the beans and that is very important to sort and throw away the bad ones and unsoaked or immature ones. the undesirable ones could be turning bad and made the whole batch mushy

Anonymous said...

thank you aunty Lily, i'l be trying again nxt week! d pictures of your food never fail to make me drool..slurp! :)

Anonymous said...

Thank you very much for series on bean sprouting. I have been trying this for a while and have a question. After a couple of days my beans have split and leaves appear. How do I prevent that?

Unknown said...

anonymous

i think the sprouts are ready for eating. they will be too matured and not good eats

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for sharing all this recipe.Mihaela

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