Tips for Salads Any salad tastes better and crisp if the vegetables have been soaked in chilled water for a while. For good home-made sprouted lentils follow the following steps: Soak lentils in lots of water overnight. In the morning drain water and wash by draining and adding water 2-3 times. Do not rub. Finally drain all water. Cover and keep in warm dark place. At night add water and drain out. Cover and keep again as before. By morning 3/4 long sprouts are ready! Preferably use a porous container eg. an earthen pot. for best results.