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Alfalfa Sprout

Inventory, 12 ct : 5.67
This item was last sold on : 01/19/21

• 45 Featured Restaurants

• 16 Recipe Ideas

• 1 Shares

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.

Pannikin La Jolla	La Jolla CA	858-454-5453
Claire's on Cedros - SKSB	Solana Beach CA	858-259-8597
AToN Center Inc.	Encinitas CA	858-759-5017
Monarch	Del Mar CA	619-308-6500
Pure Burger	Carlsbad CA	760-519-5377
Milton's Delicatessen, Grill & Bakery	Del Mar CA	858-792-2225
Lean and Green La Jolla 2020	La Jolla CA	858-459-5326
Scrimshaw Coffee	San Diego CA	951-663-2207
Rubicon Deli India Street	San Diego CA	619-200-4201
Sourdough & Co. San Marcos	San Marcos CA	858-218-4844
Saiko Sushi-North Park	San Diego CA	619-886-6656
Waters Catering	San Diego CA	619-276-8803 x4
Rubicon Deli-UTC	San Diego CA	619-200-4201
Shorehouse Kitchen Carlsbad	Carlsbad CA	858-663-9916
Brockton Villa Restaurant	San Diego CA	858-454-7393
Shorehouse Kitchen	La Jolla CA	858-459-3300
Kensington Cafe	San Diego CA	410-292-3093
Thyme for Something Homemade	Rancho Santa Fe CA	858-245-1004
Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe	Rancho Santa Fe CA	858-759-6063
The Promiscuous Fork-La Jolla Blvd	La Jolla CA	858-776-3246

the other 25...

Harvest Kitchen	Vista CA	619-709-0938
Armonia LLC	San Diego CA	619-724-7210
GoodOnYa	Encinitas CA	949-295-3145
The Roxy Encinitas	Encinitas CA	760-230-2899
Woods Kitchen Foods	San Diego CA	619-719-6924
La Clochette Du Coin	La Jolla CA	619-402-7911
Meraki Cafe	San Diego CA	415-819-2175
Local Greens	Solana Beach CA	858-504-0332
Sushi Exchange	San Diego CA	619-961-7218
La Clochette Du Coin-Pacific Beach	San Diego CA	619-402-7911
Hotel Del ENO Produce	Coronado CA	619-435-6611
Olive Tree Marketplace	San Diego CA	619-224-0443
Hilton Garden Inn	San Diego CA	858-720-9500
Sheldons Service Station	La Mesa CA	619-741-8577
Local Greens Liberty Station	San Diego CA	619-487-9346
Milk Organics	Vista CA	760-504-8019
Farmer and The Seahorse 2020	San Diego CA	619-302-3682
Green Acres Campus 2020	San Diego CA	619-581-3003
Ballast Point Restaurant - Little Italy	San Diego CA	619-298-2337
The Wild Thyme Company	San Diego CA	858-527-0226
KI's	Encinitas CA	760-586-8289
Chateau Lake San Marcos	San Marcos CA	760-670-5807
The Pearl Hotel	San Diego CA	877-732-7573
Crown Point Catering	San Diego CA	619-223-1211
Food of Joy	San Diego CA	858-531-6616

Recipe Ideas

Recipes that include Alfalfa Sprout. One

is easiest, three is harder.

Joe's Healthy Meals		Avocado Toast with a Fried Egg
Ezra Pound Cake		California Sandwich
Food Buddy		Guacamole and Alfalfa Sprouts Sandwich
Belly Full		Turkey and Swiss Cheese Wrap with Spicy Mayo
Eat Smarter		Rice and Chickpea Salad with Alfalfa Sprouts, Olives, and Tomatoes
Best Juice Recipes		Alfalfa Sprout Juice
Tarla Dalal		Roasted Capsicum and Alfalfa Sprouts Salad with Peanut Dressing
Spoonful of Flavor		Spring Superfood Bowl with Blueberry-Ginger Dressing
Ujwala's Delicacies		Black Eye Peas, Samosa with Alfalfa Sprouts Chaat
London Eats		Edamame and Sprout Salad

the other 6...

Bebe Love Okazu		Kale, Sprout & Avocado Salad
Belly Full		Pear Honey Sandwiches
Hip Foodie Mom		Vegan Power Sandwich with Asparagus Pesto
The Comfort of Cooking		Thai Chicken Pizza
Trial & Eater		Raw Nori Roll
Mother Thyme		Smashed Chickpea and Avocado Salad Sandwich

Recently Shared

Someone shared Alfalfa Sprout using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.

Produce Sharing allows you to share your produce discoveries with your neighbors and the world! Is your market carrying green dragon apples? Is a chef doing things with shaved fennel that are out of this world? Pinpoint your location annonymously through the Specialty Produce App and let others know about unique flavors that are around them.

Central market of Athens Greece 🇬🇷

Nature fresh SA
Central market of Athens Greece Y-14

Near Athens, Attiki, Greece
About 478 days ago, 10/01/19
Sharer's comments : Alfa Alfa sprouts 🌱