What to Do With Leftover Sprouts — And Why You Shouldn’t Toss Them

What to do with leftover sprouts might be a question you ask yourself after big meals or bountiful harvests! The good news is that these sprouts are a goldmine of flavor and potential. There are several ways to turn these tiny greens into something useful - or delicious! 

Uses for Leftover Sprouts

Throwing away leftovers such as alfalfa sprouts or broccoli sprouts, to name a few, is a wasteful practice. Not only are you unnecessarily contributing to food wastage, but you’re also discarding a valuable addition to your meals.

Instead of directing them to a bin, here are some eco-friendly ways to make use of those sprouts:

1. Compost or Use Them as Fertilizer: This is a great thing to do, particularly if the sprouts are already too far gone for eating. Composting returns nutrients to the earth, further enriching the soil, which you can use to grow other vegetables successfully.      
2. Feed Them to Animals: Livestock animals and pets like dogs can safely eat sprouts in moderation. You can use them raw or cooked. If cooking the sprouts, skip adding onion or garlic cloves since they can be toxic to pets.
3. Blend Into Smoothie Base or Soup Stock: If you’ve got softer sprouts (like those that have already been boiled, steamed, or roasted), you can toss them into a blender along with olive oil, black pepper, and some veggies. This will create a veggie-packed soup or smoothie base that you can freeze and use for recipes later. 
4. Rework Them Into Meals: The tastiest option is to transform these sprouts into new dishes or recipes. They might even become better the second time around!  

Delicious Ways to Use Leftover Sprouts 

Here are some easy recipes to solve the question of what to do with leftover sprouts:

Bubble and Squeak

This classic British dish is the go-to answer for dealing with leftover veggies, including cabbage and sprouts. The recipe is comforting, hearty, and super simple! 

Ingredients:

• Leftover Brussels sprouts
• Mashed potato (boiled also works)
• Chopped onion
• Salt
• Black Pepper
• Olive oil or butter

Instructions:

1. Mix everything in a bowl.
2. Shape the mixture into patties.
3. Heat oil or butter in a frying pan.
4. Fry the patties until golden and crispy.
5. Serve with a fried egg or as a veggie side dish.

Sprouts Stir Fry 

This dish is a good way to revive leftovers into something vibrant and flavorful. 

Ingredients:

• Sprouts
• Carrots, julienned
• Red onion, sliced
• Garlic cloves, minced
• Ginger, grated
• Soy sauce
• Rice vinegar
• Sesame oil
• Sesame seeds
• Chili flakes, optional

Instructions:

1. Heat oil in a pan or wok.
2. Saute garlic cloves, ginger, and onion.
3. Add sprouts and carrots. 
4. Stir-fry for a few minutes.
5. Add soy sauce, rice vinegar, and chili flakes (if using).
6. Garnish with sesame seeds and serve hot. 

Roasted Sprouts and Veggie Pasta

These leftovers can be turned into a nutritious, delicious pasta dish!

Ingredients:

• Leftover sprouts
• Pasta of choice
• Onion, chopped
• Garlic cloves
• Mixed vegetables (like zucchini or bell peppers)
• Olive oil
• Parmesan cheese (you can use vegan cheese if needed)
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Lemon, optional

Instructions:

1. Mix the veggies, aromatics, salt, pepper, and olive oil. 
2. Roast them in the oven at 400°F for about 20-25 minutes. 
3. Cook the pasta according to package instructions. 
4. Toss everything together in a large bowl.
5. Top with parmesan or vegan cheese, then serve.
6. If the dish needs a little brightness, add a squeeze of lemon juice.  

Sprouts Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

A sprouts salad is a lovely way to enjoy sprouts without any heavy cooking. 

Ingredients:

• Leftover sprouts
• Greens (like arugula or spinach leaves)
• Red onion, thinly sliced
• Red pepper flakes
• Lemon juice
• Olive oil
• Vinegar (balsamic or rice vinegar)
• Salt
• Black pepper

Instructions:

1. Add olive oil to a pan.
2. Add the sprouts and heat them.
3. Mix with greens, onions, and chili flakes.
4. Transfer to a bowl.
5. Make a vinaigrette by mixing lemon juice, vinegar, salt, and pepper.
6. Drizzle the mixture over the salad and serve.  

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