Wondering what the best sprouts to eat are? Look no further! This post will show you what the best sprouts are, plus how to grow them. Growing sprouts is simple, and provides you with a nutrition-packed crunch any time of the year.
Growing your own sprouts is one of the easiest and most accessible ways to grow food at home because it requires very little space, can be done indoors at any time of year, and is super easy to do!
The only thing that can get a bit confusing is when you go to buy your seeds and find yourself faced with a shelf full of different varieties. Which should you choose?
The Best Sprouts to Eat and Grow
In this post, you’ll find a list of some of the best sprouts to grow from seed and what they taste like. This way you can pick the right sprouts for your preferences. You may also want to pick a few and mix them together—you can create all sorts of delicious flavor combinations!
Alfalfa
Alfalfa sprouts are one of the most common varieties, probably because the taste goes with everything! They are small, crunchy sprouts with a mild taste. Add these sprouts to any dish to add a little crunch and a lot of nutrients.
Beet
Beet sprouts have colorful stems in dark red or magenta and bright green leaves, so if you want to add a pop of pretty color to a dish, these are the right option for you. They taste slightly earthy and very sweet.
Broccoli
Broccoli produces thick, hefty sprouts that have a nutty, spicy flavor (a bit like radish). They don’t actually taste much like broccoli, but they are a delicious addition to anything that could use a little spice.
They are also particularly high in antioxidants, so if you want to boost your health, these are a good choice.
Fenugreek
Fenugreek has a bitter taste that adds complexity to dishes when mixed with other flavors (consider using it in a mix), but is usually not eaten on its own. This can help to relieve an upset stomach, so this is a good choice for those with sensitive tummies.
Green Pea
Green pea sprouts are crunchy with a fresh, sweet taste reminiscent of snow peas. They are mild and go well with most other flavors. These are many people’s go-to sandwich sprout! I like to grow them in combination with the mung bean variety mentioned below as they have the same growing time and complimentary flavors.
Lentil
Lentil sprouts come in various colors, making them an attractive addition to a dish that needs a little color contrast. They have a great, crunchy texture and a rich, nutty flavor.
Mung Bean
Mung bean sprouts are thick, juicy sprouts with white stems and a very mild taste. Their crunchy texture and tendency to take on the flavor of whatever sauce or seasoning is added to them, which makes this tasty treat a great addition to stir-fry.
Mustard
Mustard sprouts have an earthy taste and a spicy kick, kind of like horseradish. A perfect option for the spice lover!
Radish
Radish sprouts are very slender, with red-tipped leaves. They look lovely as a garnish. They taste similar to mature radish, but with less spice.
Red Clover
Red clover’s dark green sprouts have a mild, earthy taste and a very crunchy texture. They go well with most other flavors, so pile them onto all you favorite sandwiches, salads, wraps, and bowls.
Spelt
Sprouting spelt results in a nutritious, chewy grain with a mildly sweet taste. If you want to use them in a surprising way, these can be added to your morning granola, raw bread recipes, and even baked into cookies.
Sunflower
Sunflower sprouts have thick, juicy leaves with a deep, nutty flavor that is scrumptious. These are delicious in the usual dishes—salads, sandwiches, bowls, etc.—but their sweet flavor also makes them a welcome way to pack some more nutrients into a fruit smoothie. Learn more about these flavourful sprouts here.
I hope this list has your mouth watering as much as it does mine! Which variety (or varieties!) will you grow first?
Is there a place/catalog/link that you order your seeds from for sprouting?
You bet! I have my own mixes available here https://gardentherapy.ca/product/mason-jar-sprouts-kit/
Where can I buy the beet seed?
Hi Fern, usually wherever they sell sprouts and microgreen seeds. Here are some: https://amzn.to/2SenEdi
can you use seeds that aren’t originally designated for microgreen growth? like the seed packets you find in the grocery store?
Hi Sage,
I don’t recommend that. Sprouting seeds have to be prepared in facilities that are approved for food grade products. Other seeds do not and they could be treated.
Thank you for this article! Are there benefits to sprouting in soil vs. in a jar? I’ve only done the latter but have seen others grow sprouts in soil.
Hi Kelley, Those are microgreens (in soil) and the benefit to either method is just personal preference. Have a read about microgreens here: https://gardentherapy.ca/how-to-grow-microgreens/
Love this article. I love teaching kids how to grow sprouts. They love how fast they grow and all of the different colours.