Earlier today we alerted you to an alfalfa sprout recall on the West Coast. Sad news, especially since one of our favorite vegetarian lunches is a sandwich made of good bread, a thick layer of cream cheese, and a fistful of sprouts. So what's our alfalfa substitute?
Our local grocery store sells several types of baby shoots, from broccoli sprouts to something called "Super Sprouts," which is a mix of a few varieties. In this sandwich, we used snow pea shoots. Their stems were a bit woody (we trimmed them), but a big bunch almost takes the form of a meaty middle to this sandwich.
The cream cheese gives good flavor and a soft contrast to the crunch of the sprouts. Plus, it provides some helpful glue to corral all of those wayward shoots.
In last week's email, Sara Kate told us about her visit to a yoga retreat, where she ate only two vegetarian meals a day, and she encouraged us to consider eating one-third less food during the week. We thought this mid-day meal was a good start. It's surprisingly filling, nutritious, and open to many adaptations. If you want a heartier sandwich, you can add turkey, sliced chicken, or other vegetables.
Another thought on safe alfalfa sprouts: We used to grow our own in a jar covered in cheese cloth. It's something to think about in the wake of the recall. We may tackle that as an early spring project.
Here are some more recent recipes that would make great vegetarian lunches:
• Breakfast for Lunch: Steelcut Oats with Dates, Coconut, Cinnamon, and Pecans
• Rich No-Cream Wild Mushroom Pasta Sauce
• Cous Cous Salad With Winter Squash and Cranberries
• Green Salad With Walnut Oil, Celery, and Radishes
Anyone else out there eat sprouts this way? What's your favorite healthy sandwich?
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(Image credit: Elizabeth Passarella for The Kitchn.)
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Whole grain bread with mashed avocado sprinkled with garlic salt. In season, I add sliced tomatoes.
I've been eating sprouts & cream cheese since I was a kid. One of my favorite sandwiches. Now that I'm older I really like daikon or radish sprouts, they give it a little pep.
Also, another good one is watercress (we used to gather it fresh when I was a kid). I had a sandwich with the pea shoots recently but did find them a little too woody and stringy for my tastes.
I started growing my own sprouts and they make the best sandwiches and salads.
I haven't tried cream cheese, but I'm a huge fan of seed bread, hummus, sprouts and sliced tomatoes. I'll have to give cream cheese a try soon.
This sandwich looks great! My mom used to grow sprouts on our kitchen counter, I would LOVE IT if you would post a "how to".
never had this as a sandwich, but i have a HGUE bowl of sprouts topped with other cruciferous veggies for lunch most days. I don't really care for most lettuces, but sprouts are so delicious! I do wonder if they're highly caloric or lower in nutrients than lettuces, but for now, amazing.
I agree with Eviedee! You should post a how to grow your own sprouts!
My favorite variation of a sprouts sandie includes red onion, and either cream cheese, goat cheese, or just plain mayo.
Another request for a how to discussion. Im embarrassed to admit I have no idea what kinds of beans I can buy and where I would get them (do dried beans work?).
How to grow sprouts:
Put a layer of seeds/beans of your choice in the bottom of an empty mayonnaise jar--alfalfa seeds, mung beans, lentils, sunflower seeds whatever. Seeds, especially, should probably be organic. The layer should be, oh, maybe an eighth of an inch thick or so. Fill the jar about halfway with water and let the seeds/beans soak overnight. Cover the jar with a double layer of cheesecloth and secure with a rubber band around the jar's neck. Drain the water out. Add new water, swish around and pour out. Repeat the rinse about three times a day or more if you are thinking about it. You'll have a jar full of sprouts in a few days.
What kind of amazing bread is the sprouts sandwich on? I would love to have just about any kind of sandwich on that!
Second the request for the bread recipe.
When I was little my dad would take us to this cozy little deli where I would always order the cream cheese, turkey, pineapple and spouts on whole grain. I love making them at home, and my own children now enjoy them.