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Alfalfa Sprout

Inventory, 12 ct : 7.83
This item was last sold on : 10/16/21

• 68 Featured Restaurants

• 17 Recipe Ideas

Description/Taste

Alfalfa sprouts consist of tiny, dark brown seeds that have sprouted young, slender shoots with one set of small leaves, averaging 5 to 12 centimeters in length. The thin, white stems are delicate, flexible, and succulent with a crisp consistency. The leaves also bear a tender texture, ranging in color from yellow, green, to dark green, depending on the amount of light exposure, and have an elongated, oval shape with curved edges. The surface of the small leaves is smooth and glossy with a pliable, fleshy nature, giving the sprouts a slight crunch. Alfalfa sprouts have a mild, nutty, and subtly sweet flavor with fresh green nuances.

Seasons/Availability

Alfalfa sprouts are available year-round.

Current Facts

Alfalfa sprouts, botanically classified as Medicago sativa, are the immature shoots of an herbaceous perennial belonging to the Fabaceae or pea family. The slender shoots are grown from germinated Alfalfa seeds, harvested 3 to 6 days after sprouting, and the shoots are gathered before they begin to mature and still have a nutty, mild flavor. Full-grown Alfalfa leaves have a bitter taste and are not typically consumed. Alfalfa is native to Western Asia and has been extensively cultivated for thousands of years as animal feed. The name Alfalfa is derived from the Arabic phrase “al-fac-facah,” translating to mean “the father of all foods,” and was given in honor of the plant’s high nutritional value. Alfalfa is also known as Lucerne in Europe, Australia, and South Africa and is one of the most popular sprouts consumed worldwide. Alfalfa sprouts add a light, fresh flavor, delicate crunch, and added nutrients to culinary preparations.

Nutritional Value

Alfalfa sprouts are an excellent source of vitamin K to absorb calcium to strengthen bones and teeth and are rich in vitamin C, an antioxidant that boosts the immune system while reducing inflammation. Sprouts also have a high content of phytoestrogens, which have been shown to aid in preventing heart disease, and contain lower amounts of manganese, potassium, calcium, copper, folate, magnesium, and iron.

Applications

Alfalfa sprouts add texture, moisture, and a slight crunch to a variety of raw or cooked applications. It is important to note that Alfalfa sprouts can contain food-borne illnesses such as salmonella and E. coli. Research and care must be taken before consuming Alfalfa sprouts, and the sprouts should always be washed prior to use. The FDA also has recommendations for growers and consumers on avoiding contamination when selecting and preparing sprouts, and their website can be viewed for further details. When fresh, Alfalfa sprouts can be layered into sandwiches, burgers, wraps, or spread on toast, tossed into salads and coleslaws, or incorporated into fresh spring rolls. The shoots can also be mixed into stir-fries, blended into smoothies, cooked into omelets, used as a topping for tacos, pasta, or pizza, or floated on top of soups. Alfalfa sprouts pair well with herbs such as mint, dill, coriander, and chives, avocado, apples, tomatoes, bell pepper, broccoli, kale, nasturtium leaves, and cheeses such as goat, feta, cream, and mozzarella. Alfalfa sprouts should be dry, kept in a plastic bag or airtight container, and stored in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator, where they will keep for 2 to 5 days. It is not recommended to freeze Alfalfa sprouts.

Ethnic/Cultural Info

Alfalfa sprouts are widely consumed in South Indian vegetarian cuisine. The young shoots are known as Rajko in Hindi and are favored in the winter for their high nutritional content, utilized in both raw and cooked applications. In India, Alfalfa sprouts are combined with beets as a fresh side dish, mixed into dal dishes, mixed with apples, yogurt, mustard powder, and pepper, and spread on toast. The sprouts are also blended into tahini for hummus or steeped in boiling water and strained to make a light tea. Beyond culinary applications, Alfalfa sprouts are used as offerings to the goddess Mariyamman. Sprout offerings are a part of a sprout festival held in Rameswaram, Southern India, and the annual festival date varies depending on the Hindu religious calendar. During the festival, women carry sprouts on their heads and throw the shoots into the ocean in hopes of a blessed harvest. The celebration is held at Agni Thirtham, a beach that borders a holy area of water used to cleanse sin and perform rituals to appease the gods. Sprouts are traditionally grown in homes for this festival, and when ready for harvest, the sprouted shoots are carried during a symbolic journey to the beach where live music and dancing are performed before the shoots are thrown into the water.

Geography/History

Alfalfa is believed to be native to Western Asia and was first domesticated in Turkey and Iran. The plant has been used as an important fodder crop for more than 6,000 years, spreading quickly across Europe and Asia, and in its young, sprouted form, it has been documented as a medicinal ingredient since ancient times. In the 16th century, Spanish explorers introduced Alfalfa to the New World, planting crops throughout South America and Mexico, and the greens later arrived in the United States in 1736. While Alfalfa sprouts were consumed in Europe and Asia for centuries, the young shoots did not become popular in North America for culinary use until the 1970s. Today Alfalfa sprouts are grown in subtropical to temperate climates worldwide and are found through specialty grocers, farmer’s markets, and select online retailers. Sprouts are also grown in home gardens and kitchens, but caution must be taken to purchase disinfected seeds and provide a sanitary growing environment.

Featured Restaurants

Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.

Thyme for Something Homemade	Rancho Santa Fe CA	858-245-1004
La Costa Glen South	Carlsbad CA	760-704-1000
Rabbit Hole	San Diego CA	619-255-4653
SIE Culinary Management	San Diego CA	858-964-8677
Beach Terrance Inn	Carlsbad CA	760-729-5951
Waters Catering	San Diego CA	619-276-8803 x4
GoodOnYa	Encinitas CA	949-295-3145
The Wild Thyme Company	San Diego CA	858-527-0226
Meraki Cafe	San Diego CA	415-819-2175
Sheldons Service Station	La Mesa CA	619-741-8577
The Promiscuous Fork-La Jolla Blvd	La Jolla CA	858-776-3246
Pendry SD (Provisional)	San Diego CA	619-738-7000
MRKT Space	Encinitas CA	760-331-8705
The Flavor Chef (Catering)	Vista CA	619-295-3172
JSIX American restaurant & Bar	San Diego CA	619-531-8744
La Costa Glen North	Carlsbad CA	760-704-1436
White Rice LPM	San Diego CA	619-564-2618
Orens Fine Foods	San Diego CA	510-910-2298
Rubicon Deli India Street	San Diego CA	619-200-4201
Herb & Wood	San Diego CA	520-205-1288

the other 48...

Sets Kitchen and Bar	San Marcos CA	970-390-2148
Swagyu Chop Shop-PB	San Diego CA	858-758-0357
Nutmeg Bakery & Cafe 2	Poway CA	858-397-2922
Four Seasons Foods Catering	San Diego CA	619-876-6986
Local Greens	Solana Beach CA	858-504-0332
Pure Burger	Carlsbad CA	760-519-5377
Shorehouse Kitchen	La Jolla CA	858-459-3300
Monarch	Del Mar CA	619-308-6500
Wrench and Rodent	Oceanside CA	760-840-1976
Green Acres Campus 2020	San Diego CA	858-450-9907
Olive Tree Marketplace	San Diego CA	619-224-0443
Mimmos Italian Village	San Diego CA	619-239-3710
Scrimshaw Coffee	San Diego CA	951-663-2207
Paradise Point Resort BQT Kitchen	San Diego CA	858-490-6363
Farmer and The Seahorse 2020	San Diego CA	619-302-3682
Kensington Cafe	San Diego CA	619-684-0044
Beach Plum Kitchen	Carlsbad CA	760-688-8682
Marriott Courtyard Old Town	San Diego CA	619-260-8500
The Farm Golf Club	Rancho Santa Fe CA	858-756-5585
Morgan Run Resort and Club	Rancho Sante Fe CA	858-756-2471
Inn at Rancho Santa Fe	Rancho Santa Fe CA	858-381-8289
Sugar Bear Enterprises	San Diego CA	925-383-3623
Shorehouse Kitchen Carlsbad	Carlsbad CA	858-663-9916
AToN Center Inc.	Encinitas CA	858-759-5017
Lean and Green La Jolla 2020	La Jolla CA	858-459-5326
Waverly	Cardiff CA	619-244-0416
Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe	Rancho Santa Fe CA	858-759-6063
Sorority Cuisine - Gamma Phi Beta	San Diego CA	310-634-2371
Red Tail Catering	San Marcos CA	858-605-8219
Churchill's Pub and Grille	San Marcos CA	760-471-8773
Claytons Bakery & Bistro	Coronado CA	619-435-5425
Communal Coffee	San Diego CA
Paradise Point Resort Barefoot	San Diego CA	858-490-6363
Milton's Delicatessen, Grill & Bakery	Del Mar CA	858-792-2225
Hilton Garden Inn	San Diego CA	858-720-9500
Sushi Exchange	San Diego CA	619-961-7218
Maxota Raw	San Diego CA	201-615-1727
KI's	Encinitas CA	760-586-8289
Voltaire Beach House	San Diego CA	619-574-6878
Milk Organics	Vista CA	760-504-8019
Barleymash	San Diego CA	619-276-6700 x304
Rancho Valencia	Del Mar CA	858-756-1123
Pannikin La Jolla	La Jolla CA	858-454-5453
Chateau Lake San Marcos	San Marcos CA	760-670-5807
Moxy San Diego Gaslamp	San Diego CA	619-376-1850
Rubicon Deli-UTC	San Diego CA	619-200-4201
Local Greens Liberty Station	San Diego CA	619-487-9346
Claire's on Cedros - SKSB	Solana Beach CA	858-259-8597

Recipe Ideas

Recipes that include Alfalfa Sprout. One

is easiest, three is harder.

Food Buddy		Guacamole and Alfalfa Sprouts Sandwich
Spoonful of Flavor		Spring Superfood Bowl with Blueberry-Ginger Dressing
BBC Good Food		California quinoa & avocado salad
Hip Foodie Mom		Vegan Power Sandwich with Asparagus Pesto
Ujwala's Delicacies		Black Eye Peas, Samosa with Alfalfa Sprouts Chaat
Best Juice Recipes		Alfalfa Sprout Juice
Trial & Eater		Raw Nori Roll
Belly Full		Turkey and Swiss Cheese Wrap with Spicy Mayo
Joe's Healthy Meals		Avocado Toast with a Fried Egg
Mother Thyme		Smashed Chickpea and Avocado Salad Sandwich

the other 7...

Kali Mirch by smita		Roasted Capsicum and Alfalfa Sprouts Salad with Peanut Dressing
Ezra Pound Cake		California Sandwich
Eat Smarter		Rice and Chickpea Salad with Alfalfa Sprouts, Olives, and Tomatoes
The Comfort of Cooking		Thai Chicken Pizza
Bebe Love Okazu		Kale, Sprout & Avocado Salad
London Eats		Edamame and Sprout Salad
Belly Full		Pear Honey Sandwiches