We all know that splendid tall yellow flower which is the Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus), which reminds us of summer. We often associate it with sunflower oil, widely used in Italian and international cuisine, and lately more and more often we find its seeds in the preparation of recipes.
Slightly less common is, however, the use of sunflower sprouts, which are not only healthy and nutritious, but also good to eat, with a tasty and particular taste.
How are sunflower sprouts grown?
Sunflower sprouts can be obtained from seeds even without using a sprouter, in an easy do-it-yourself cultivation.
Let's see it together:
- All you need to get started is some sunflower seeds
- Then soak them in cold water in a rather large container or bowl, so that they float.
- Let them rest.
- After about 8 hours the seeds should start to germinate
- You will then have to wait at least two or three days to see the sprouting process completed, occasionally proceeding with a small rinsing of the seeds.
NUTRITIONAL ELEMENTS
100 grams of sunflower sprouts contain:
- Calories: 37 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 2.10 g of which sugars 0.44 g
- Fats: 2.10 g of which 0.10 g saturated
- Proteins: 250 g
- Sodium salt: 0.07 g
SUNFLOWER SPROUTS: THE USES IN THE KITCHEN
Sunflower sprouts are among the tastiest ones. Unexpectedly from what one might think, they are very sweet and taste similar to that of nuts. The feeling you get, therefore, in tasting them is quite particular and pleasant.
Precisely because of this particularity, they are often eaten as a snack or to break hunger. Excellent when added to soups or mixed salads. They can also be used as a simple side dish, to be dressed raw on a plate with oil, salt and lemon.
Some creative chefs also use them as a filling for fresh pasta (tortellini, ravioli) or insert them in the preparation of risottos and flans. Nothing prevents you from using them, also given the particularly sweet taste, in the preparation of cakes and biscuits.
More and more often we find them in smoothies, summer drinks, vegetable smoothies.
Where to find sunflower sprouts
Sunflower sprouts are a little more difficult to find than the other sprouts that are more common in Italy today (such as soy sprouts). If you go to large hypermarkets or shops specializing in healthy foods or organic food outlets, you will surely find a wide choice in the desired formats.
How to store them
Once taken home and placed in the refrigerator, sunflower sprouts can be kept for up to 10 days. The advice is to rinse them before use to refresh them as much as needed and reinvigorate them, to taste them fresh and crunchy, if eaten raw.