My favourite lunch is a garden salad made from ingredients that inspire me during my midday wander around the garden. Usually I gather a collection of interesting leaves, herbs, edible flowers and even edible weeds, often ending up with twenty ingredients in my bowl - a leaf from this and a leaf from that.
To add extra protein to my salad, I sprinkle on some sunflower seeds, drizzle some tahini and top with homemade buckwheat sprouts and kim chi - all organic.
Sprouting is a wonderful way to improve the value of our food and increase our body's ability to uptake the nutrients and protein.
Sprouting takes a dormant thing and brings it to life. Fresh sprouts are the best so I make just enough for 2 days at a time.
Buckwheat is the easiest of all sprouts since the soaking time is only 20-30 minutes, rather than hours or overnight.
Buckwheat sprout instructions
Soak a big handful of organic raw buckwheat in water for 20-30 minutes.
Drain and rinse until the water runs clear.
Put a piece of breathable cloth cheesecloth on the mouth of the jar. Drain well so the buckwheat is not sitting in water.
Rinse morning and night making sure to wash off all the gooey starch that comes out of the seed.
When the sprouts are about the length of the seed give them a final rinse, seal the jar and store in fridge for 3-4 days.
About Buckwheat
Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) is an ancient food, domesticated in Asia over 9000 years ago.
It is actually not a grain nor related to wheat. It is a seed, in the same family as sorrel and rhubarb, and a great source of protein, contains eight essential amino acids , rich in complex carbohydrates,
Among it's many benefits, buckwheat is a brain booster, is high in vitamins and minerals iron, is a good source of fibre, balances cholesterol and strengthens capillary walls.
Buckwheat is used in the garden as part of a cover crop mix. The flowers are great attractors for beneficial insects.
Sow buckwheat in spring.
Flowering starts in just 4 weeks and seeds can be harvested from 8-12 weeks.
It is quite drought hardy and grows in a range of soils, even infertile ones.