7 Recipes Showcasing Alfalfa Sprouts

Sprouts with Apples and Nasturtium Leaves
Photo: © Simon Watson

When alfalfa seeds get sprouted, they become a tasty ingredient that adds flavor and textural interest to salads, sandwiches, and more. Here are seven of our favorite recipes featuring alfalfa sprouts.

01 of 07

Grilled Squash, Corn, and Kale Salad with Sunflower Seed Vinaigrette

Grilled Squash, Corn and Kale Salad with Sunflower Seed Vinaigrette
Adrian Gaut

The creamy sunflower seed dressing for this hearty summer salad is flavored with za’atar, the classic Middle Eastern spice mix that often includes thyme, oregano or marjoram, sesame seeds, tangy sumac, and salt.

02 of 07

Vegetable Sandwich with Dill Sauce

Vegetable Sandwich with Dill Sauce
© Christina Holmes

Stacked high with plenty of alfalfa sprouts and slices of tomato, onion, cucumber, avocado, and provolone cheese, this is a vegetable sandwich that even confirmed carnivores will love. You can add or substitute other fresh vegetables; radishes, spinach, or grated carrot go particularly well here. When you can't get good tomatoes, don't buy lousy, cotttony ones; use twice the amount of lettuce instead.

03 of 07

Sprouts with Apples and Nasturtium Leaves

Sprouts with Apples and Nasturtium Leaves
© Simon Watson

One day chef Pierre Gagnaire's vegetable supplier showed up at the restaurant with tiny sprouts of houblon (hops). Gagnaire created this dish on the spot, combining the sprouts with slightly acidic Granny Smith apple, rich toasted peanut oil, peppery nasturtium leaves, and tangy sheep's milk yogurt.

04 of 07

Vegetable Summer Rolls with Chile-Lime Dipping Sauce

Vegetable Summer Rolls with Chile-Lime Dipping Sauce
© Tina Rupp

Restaurateur Wendy Leon says these rolls, filled with bell pepper and slivers of avocado, are an effective way to get her grandchildren to eat vegetables.

05 of 07

Snow Pea Salad

Snow Pea Salad
© John Cullen

This bright, crunchy salad gets a hint of smoky sweetness from the maple syrup in the vinaigrette.

06 of 07

California BLTs

California BLTs
© Christina Holmes

F&W culinary director at large Justin Chapple makes sure there's bacon in every bite of his BLT by weaving the strips into a lattice before baking them. He adds California style with avocado and lemon-herb mayo.

07 of 07

Fresh Tuna Salad with Avocado

Fresh Tuna Salad with Avocado
© Frances Janisch

Nan McEvoy created this salad after falling in love with the incredible olive oil-poached tuna prepared by her friend Paul Bertolli, the former chef at Oliveto's in nearby Oakland. You can spoon the salad onto avocado halves or use it as a sandwich filling and a topping for crostini. An alfalfa sprouts garnish works with whatever you choose.

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