Small but mighty, broccoli sprouts are powerhouses of nutrition. Learn how to make broccoli sprouts at home with just a few simple steps!

If you’ve never sprouted any kind of seed (or grain or legume) before, it’s pretty darn fun. I first explored sprouting a couple years ago when I made sprouted lentils. Sprouting is relatively easy to do and helps enhance the nutritional properties of a food. Sprouting can also help aid digestion but helping to break down certain tough-to-digest components of foods, like phytic acid.

Last fall I sprouted broccoli seeds for the first time and it’s a pretty satisfying process. Over the span of just a few days you get the watch little tiny seeds start bursting sprouts out of their shell. Then you get to enjoy all the wonderful benefits of them!

Benefits of Broccoli Sprouts

Broccoli sprouts are nutritional powerhouses.

Basically, broccoli sprouts include the nutritional value of a mature head of broccoli but in a much greater amount. Their teeny tiny little seeds are loaded with enzymes, protein, vitamins and minerals, and an anti-cancer phytochemical called sulforaphane.

Sulforaphane is an antioxidant-rich phytonutrient that has incredible anti-inflammatory properties. Their bitter, peppery flavour is what give them their potent health-promoting properties, so embrace it! If you don’t love the taste however, blend them into smoothies or eat with a larger salad.

Broccoli sprouts are a fantastic addition to salads, smoothies, and sandwiches.

How to Make Broccoli Sprouts at Home

To make broccoli sprouts at home, all you’ll need is:

• 2 tbsp broccoli sprouting seeds (I like Mumm’s Sprouting Seeds)
• filtered water
• a large wide-mouthed mason jar or sprouting jar
• a sprouting lid

Follow these steps to get started with making your very own broccoli sprouts! I promise it’s easy:

1. Add broccoli seeds to mason jar.
2. Cover with 2 inches filtered water and cap with sprouting lid. Store in warm, dark place (such as kitchen cabinet or pantry) overnight.
3. In the morning, drain the water.
4. Rinse seeds with fresh water by swirling then draining the water. Most of the water should be drained, so to improve drainage, place jar upside down in large bowl at a 45 degree angle.
5. Repeat the rinse, swirl, and drain process 2-3 times per day.
6. After a few days the seeds will begin to break open and the tiny sprouts will appear. Once they’ve reached 1 inch and have long yellow leaves, give them some sunlight to help them mature. Once they turn green, they’ve matured, and they’re ready to eat.
7. Cover and store in airtight container/ jar in fridge for up to 1 week.

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If you try making your own broccoli sprouts, let me know how it goes in the comments below or tag me in your photos on Instagram @meghanlivingstone!