Gingered Mung Beans


Visit the Indian Food Glossary for information on the ingredients in this recipe
gingered mung beans

Legumes are a vegetarian's meat. Generally speaking, legumes in some shape or form appear on my menu everyday. They provide a multitude of health benefits, are inexpensive, and for the most part are easy to prepare. In addition to all of those benefits, think of the vast array of legumes at our fingertips and the endless ways to incorporate them into your diet — it follows that meals are never boring, but are instead an exciting taste experience.

Craving mung beans and not wanting to fuss too much in the kitchen, I came up with a simple curry with lots of ginger for a zingy dish. Mung beans have a distinct sweet and earthy taste and occupy a prominent role in the dishes they appear in, including spicy curries. They take very little time to cook, with minimal soaking beforehand — split mung cooks even faster, with no soaking time, but I generally prefer the slightly plumper whole mung for more texture.

gingered mung

To keep the meal easy, but well-balanced and satisfying, serve with a bed of hot basmati rice and perhaps some rotis and a side salad or vegetable dish.

Gingered Mung BeansGingered Mung Beans
Recipe by
Cuisine: Indian
Published on July 23, 2014

Simple, creamy and flavorful mung bean curry seasoned with Indian spices and plenty of fresh ginger

Preparation: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour 10 minutes

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Ingredients:
  • 1 cup dried whole mung beans
  • 3 1/4 cups water
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
  • 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced
  • 2 to 3 fresh green chilies, seeded and finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 1-inch piece fresh ginger, cut into thin strips
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 large tomato, diced
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
Instructions:
  • Rinse the mung beans well and soak for at least 6 hours or overnight in enough cold water to cover. Drain and rinse, then transfer to a medium saucepan. Add the water, turmeric and red pepper flakes, half of the minced ginger and half of the chilies. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the beans are tender but not falling apart — about 40 minutes. Remove from heat, leave covered, and set aside.

  • Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. When hot, add the thin strips of ginger and fry, stirring often, until the ginger is golden brown. Add the cumin seeds and continue to stir for a minute until the seeds darken a few shades. Add the onion and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until softened. Toss in the remaining minced ginger and chilies and cook, stirring, for another few minutes. Toss in the spices and stir for a minute or two until fragrant. Now stir in the tomato and cook, stirring often, until thickened — about 5 minutes.

  • Pour the cooked mung beans with their remaining cooking liquid into the pan and add the sea salt. Stir well and simmer for another 5 minutes or until your desired consistency is reached, adding more water as desired.

  • Serve hot with rice, vegetables dishes and your favorite flatbreads if desired.

Makes 4 to 6 servings

gingered mung beans

More mung creations you are sure to enjoy:
Creamy Mung Beans with Coconut Milk
Indian Sour Mung Bean Soup
Mung Bean and Tamarind Dal
Mung Beans, Toor Dal, Green Beans and Fresh Dill Palya

9 comments:

Eileen said...

These beans sound delicious! I have a big bag of whole dried mung beans in the freezer, so I'm always looking for new & tasty ways to eat them. This definitely sounds like a winner!

Joanne said...

I've been totally slacking on my legume consumption! Love this big bowl of gingery beans.

Ivy said...

Lisa thanks for passing by my blog. I rarely find any time for blog hopping any more but always reciprocate when someone visits :) It reminded me that I should send the recipe to My Legumes Love Affair and shall do so immediately. Love the addition of ginger to your Mung Beans.

Clevergirl said...

I just picked up the ginger and the tomato ... and have the first step in my pressure cooker as I type. All within 2 hours of first reading this. Looks yum... can't wait!

Lisa Turner said...

Lovely Clevergirl. I so love it when my readers try my recipes at home. Let me know how it turns out for you.

Clevergirl said...

;-) The answer is, "it's yum!" I used chilies and an onion from the farmer's market so there is added zing.

In the event anyone is curious about the pressure cooker method, I just threw all the ingredients into the pressure cooker (did not soak the mung beans and because of that used 3 3/4 cup water). Pressure cooked it on high for c. 20 min. Perfect.

Thanks Lisa! This one is a keeper!

Lisa Turner said...

Wonderful. Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for the pressure cooking tip too.

haremgypsy said...

I knew that you would have a lovely recipe for Mung Beans and this one turned out so good. I mixed the beans with the sauce and served it with rice.

I am enjoying your book and bought a copy for my son and his girlfriend.

Love niki

Lisa Turner said...

I am delighted you enjoyed the recipe, dear Niki. Thank you so much for your support and friendship. I have been meaning to write you, and will soon xoxo