Beans, beans everywhere and not a one to eat. That's how I feel about trying to eat a vegetarian Paleo diet. But, thankfully, if I sprout, soak or ferment my beans, they are a bit more Paleo-friendly. In the process of changing my diet, I've learned some great tips on sprouting everything from adzuki beans to lentils. Try this seven-step process to become a sprouter extraordinaire and enjoy some frugal greens while your garden is on hiatus!

Sproutable dry beans: Most beans and seeds are sproutable. Try adzuki, chickpeas, pumpkin seeds, lentils, black beans or mung beans. Black beans are known to be a little tougher to sprout, so you may want to try an easier-sprouting bean like mung beans on your first try.

A wide-mouth quart canning jar: pretty self-explanatory.

Sprouting jar lid: This is a lid that fits on your canning jar and has a mesh screen in the center. You can make your own version with a canning ring and a piece of cheesecloth or mesh screen.

Water: You'll want a double or triple water to beans ratio.

Sprouted beans are excellent in soups (try swapping sprouted beans into our Mung Bean Soup recipe) and salads. Short sprouted beans are great for soups, while longer sprouts are excellent for salad toppings and greens replacement in winter sandwiches. You can even use short sprouted beans for a new take on Cuban Black Beans. For more on how to use sprouted beans, check out Wardeh's Yummy Ways to Use Sprouted Beans.

Sprouts are a great healthy green to eat over the winter. When there's no lettuce cropping up, you can make your own greens in a jar! It's incredibly frugal, delicious and nutritious.

Keep in touch with Kristi on Facebook, Twitter @VeggieConverter and Pinterest

How to Grow Your Own Sprouts (sprouts from seeds)

Sprouted Grains, Beans, Nuts and Seeds: Are They Healthier?

Growing Sprouts is Easy (and Healthy and Quite a Bit of Fun!)

http://www.littlehomesteaders.com/2013/07/sprouts-garden-less-green.html

http://www.vegetariantimes.com/blog/how-to-soak-and-sprout-nuts-seeds-grains-and-beans/

http://www.culturesforhealth.com/how-to-sprout-black-beans

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