Bhelpuri - Indian snack! (BioSnackySprouts Challenge - Mung Beans!)

It is day 5 of the A.Vogel BioSnacky Original Sprouter challenge!!  Thirty Canadian Bloggers selected by A.Vogel to try out their new fun and innovative BioSnackySprouter. Right now all are sprouting away in their homes and documenting it on their blogs!  

I'm feeling so lucky to be one of them, and also at the same time wondering how the heck have I been managing without this sprouter in my life!  Watering it is so much fun, I look forward to every 12 hours when I simply pour a full large mason jar of water into the top tier and watch it trickle down perfectly watering each sprouts crop. 

Today we're talking mung beans, they're one of my favourite sprouts and since they started on thursday (the 20th) they seem to have fully sprouted in 4-5 days. 

The recipe I'm incorporating them into is like a party in your mouth, it's an Indian snack street food called Bhelpuri, by no means am I claiming this to be a "traditional" recipe because I'm not an expert, I simply put together this version using all the flavours I love. 

I think this is a perfect summer recipe, it's spicy and fresh and a nice change! Makes a fabulous appetizer too for a backyard BBQ or get together. Try serving them in small rolled up newspaper cones for more of that "Street food" flare. 

This morning bright and early I set out to the local Chinese and Caribbean market to pick up a coconut, red onion and chilis to add to the rest of the vibrant flavours which were already stocked in my pantry and fridge like fresh ginger, cilantro, cucumbers, tomatoes ...

This recipe is in 2 parts, the fresh salsa and then the dry snack and you only mix it together when you're about to serve otherwise it'll go soggy if left sitting.

For the fresh "Salsa" part:

- 1/2 english cucumber, finely diced
- 1 large firm tomato (use the outter part removing the seeds and core) dice finely.
- 1/4 large red onion - finely diced

- 1 piece of ginger (small thumb size piece) peeled and finely diced 

- 2 chilies - finely diced (or adjust to your taste)
- 1/2 fresh coconut flesh, cut into strips/shavings

- 1 1/2 tbsp mung beans - sprouted 4 days in advange in the A.Vogel biosnackysprouts sprouter 

- Cilantro, chopped finely (a couple of sprigs)  

- Lemon or lime for squeezing 

- Sea salt

Lightly toss all of the above together except for the lemon juice and salt


For the dry mix: 

Store bought assorted Indian snack.  About 1 1/2 cups from the package. 

At my grocery store or local Indian market there are SEVERAL varieties of snacks and mixes, many include spiced fried noodles made of a dough that comes from ground chickpeas. Added to that are puffed rices, lentils, chickpeas, all kinds of very interesting and tasty ingredients.

Before serving:
When ready to serve mix the dry and wet together and add a squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkling of sea salt to your taste, tossing lightly with fingertips salad spoons and immediately serve in individual portions with a small spoon.

Variations: Add finely diced mango to the mix, or create drizzling sauces made from tamarind and other vibrant flavours to awaken the senses!

Feel free to adjust the amounts too, add more of something you like and less of another!

I hope you try this recipe and enjoy it as much as I did!

A.Vogel BioSnacky Original Sprouter

Dear readers, allow me to introduce you to my buddy "BioSnacky Original" sprouter by A.Vogel

I'm feeling so fortunate to be part of the thirty blogger participants selected to be a part of this 10 day sprouting challenge using this interesting triple decker sprouter. 

Recently I've been incorporating more healthy posts into my blog, as you've probably all noticed and even though I hardly posted (I think) anything about sprouts I'm actually a big sprouts fan and started sprouting in my mid teens. 

I'm that person who hangs out at the health and wellness trade shows looking for what's new and innovative in the sprouting world. Somewhere around here I've got quite the collection of sprouters but that's all for another day because today (and for the next 9 days) we're going to be using this sprouter and I'll guide you through how to use it and let you know my thoughts about it as well as updates on how the sprouts are doing.  I've got you covered recipe wise too.

Earlier I began by putting the kettle on (a cup of tea is always a good idea!)  Honey and ginseng it was.

Next I took out all the pieces and rinsed them. Following the guidelines I measured out 1 1/2 tablespoon of each seed (it was coincidental that they all had the same measurements in the instructions book and I chose to sprout the mung bean, little radish and alfalfa leaving the fitness mix for the next round)

Taking turns rinsing each seed variety and sprinkling in it's own tray, I then stacked them putting the alfalfa at the bottom (sprouting time is a couple of days longer) and mung bean in the middle with radish at the top.   The red drainage valves are staggered so when you look from above you see all 3 distinctly in a triangle design.

I pour half a litre (about 2 1/4 cups ) of  filtered brita slightly cooler than room temp water (our tap water isn't so good so figured better to be safe). Pouring it into the top tray it slowly trickles down into the next level (its like floors in an apartment building, very cool to watch!)

It moves on to the third level before ultimately collecting in the bottom most vessel, and at this point the instructions mentioned discarding it or using it to water house plants.

I put the lid on top and it's all ready to go until it's next rinse. Luckily again all the seeds need the same similar rinsing times, twice a day, so I'm assuming every 12 hours I will pour half a liter of water into the top again and allow it to filter down nourishing and watering each tier.

If you're interested in purchasing the sprouter you can find it on the A.Vogel site here 
Feel free to follow and join the conversation on twitter under the hashtag #biosnackysprouts

Stay tuned for more!

A.Vogel BioSnackySprouts Challenge

Look what arrived in the mail!!!

Stay tuned - Between June 20th and June 30th I'm participating in the A.Vogel biosnackysprouts challenge! So get ready everyone..  On June 20th, Let's start sprouting!!