Mung beans are a small, green little legume that is commonly found in Asian cuisine. They originate in India but have become popular all over the world. It’s because they’re delicious! They have a light, nutty flavor that works well with many different kinds of cuisine. Oh! And they’re quite healthy. They are loaded with vitamins and minerals. Plus, they’re antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. Some studies have shown that they can even fight cancerous tumors. That’s not even mentioning the high amounts of fiber and protein. Basically, you’ve gotta add mung beans to your diet. And I’m here to help! I’ve compiled a list of 17 of my favorite mung bean recipes for you to try.
1. Mung Bean and Coconut Curry
Who says healthy food has to be boring? Certainly, not me… and that definitely won’t be said about this curry. It’s filling and flavorful but super nutritious. This curry features traditional curry flavors like cumin, ginger, garlic, turmeric, tomato, and coriander. Cayenne pepper adds some heat and coconut milk adds a cooling creaminess. Mung beans add texture, protein, and fiber. Lime adds a little zip of freshness that perfectly balances every spoonful. Serve as a soup or over rice.
2. Mung Bean Soup
This soup is creamy and comforting, yet it has some actual substance too. Plus, it’s seriously scrumptious and healthy… and just so happens to be vegan. This is a very fresh soup featuring coconut milk, mung beans, seasonings, and veggies. This soup will nourish you, body and soul.
3. Pork Monggo
Filipino pork monggo is a dish your whole family will rave about. It’s meaty, savory, and absolutely delicious. Not to mention, it’s healthy and filling. If you like lentil stew or soup, I know that you will like this dish. It has a similar texture to lentils, as well as that “good-for-you” feeling. Pork monggo has a mix of light and rich ingredients, so every bite is heavenly. But every ingredient adds flavor and some nutrition. Except maybe the chicharron… That’s purely for flavor.
4. Make-Ahead Super Green Vegan Quinoa Burritos
Some people might hesitate when they first glance at this burrito. And that’s okay because it’s not for everyone. It does have a lot of green stuff. However, it’s worth trying. Because I think its punchy flavors and pleasant textures might just change your mind. The avocado dressing is the real MVP here… it’s fresh, herbaceous, and SPICY. Seriously, this burrito is everything. It’s got spice, saltiness, freshness, creaminess, and crunch.
5. Nokdujeon (Mung Bean Pancakes)
Pancakes are not just for breakfast anymore! Nokdujeon is a type of savory Korean pancake, popular during Korean New Year. They’re reminiscent of a potato cake or fish cake. These fried bites of heaven are crispy on the outside and chewy inside. They’re made with ground mung beans and your choice of veggies and meats. So, they’re very customizable with vegan and vegetarian options.
6. Mung Bean Hummus
Mung beans and chickpeas are both legumes and have fairly similar nutritional content. In a contest, mung beans might take the trophy for most overall benefits. But, both are healthy. Since they are so similar, it makes sense that mung beans would make fantastic hummus. It’s creamy, delicious, full of protein, and perfectly dippable. This recipe doesn’t have tahini. So if you’re not usually a fan of hummus, you might like this one better.
7. Hearty Mung Bean Stew with Kale
There is nothing quite like a thick, tasty stew that sticks to your ribs. It’s even better when it’s actually good for you. And that’s exactly what you get with this mung bean and kale stew. It’s loaded with veggies like potatoes, kale, garlic, tomatoes, and onions. Of course, it also features super-powered mung beans, so every bite tastes and feels good.
8. Sprouted Mung Bean Salad
This light and healthy salad is perfect if you don’t want a traditional salad. It’s still loaded with healthy veggies, but it just has a little more OOMPH.
9. One-Pot Coconut Mung Bean Stew
One-pot meals are the best because they are so easy. Since everything is cooked together, the flavors are out of this world. This creamy, Asain-inspired stew proves it. Also, this might just be the most refreshing stew you’ve ever had. Actually, it might be the only stew you could call refreshing. It features coconut milk, lime juice, cilantro, jalapeño, ginger, and spices. Plus, it has mung beans and typical stew ingredients like carrots and onions. It’s light yet filling and super tasty.
10. Banh it Tran (Sticky Rice Dumpling)
These little dumplings are so yummy and fabulously textural. The mung bean filling is soft and savory, while the dumpling dough is deliciously chewy. They’re covered in a flavorful sauce. This recipe is fairly simple, but it does require several time-consuming steps. However, these tasty Vietnamese dumplings are worth every second of effort.
11. Mung Bean Oatmeal Protein Pancakes
Start your day off right with these Indian-inspired mung bean and oatmeal pancakes. Like the Korean nokdujeon, these are savory pancakes. So, really you can have them any time of day. These are made with oatmeal and mung bean puree, plus jalapeño and scallions. They are very yummy with a hint of spice. Serve them with a flavorsome yogurt dip.
12. Lentil Mung Bean Soft Tacos Stuffed with Chickpea and Cauliflower
These tacos are wholly nutritious and utterly D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S. And… they are free of everything. There’s no meat, no gluten, no rice, no nuts, and no dairy. If you make your own taco seasoning, they’re sugar-free, too! Fear not because these tacos are still super flavorful. This recipe uses a filling of seasoned chickpeas, cauliflower, and caramelized onions. It’s delicious. But the really special part of this dish is the homemade taco shells. They’re made from ground and pureed mung beans and lentils. You cook the “batter” like a pancake, so you get soft, fresh, and warm shells. They are so yummy. Plus, you can make the shells for a non-plant-based taco night!
13. Mung Bean Popsicles
I promised you dessert and here it is! Sweet bean desserts are very common in Asia and they are very delicious. These mung bean popsicles are a fantastic example. They are refreshingly light and wonderfully sweet. Each bite has the perfect soft popsicle chew. AND the extra mung beans on the bottom add even more fun texture. There’s some time and effort involved with these popsicles, but they’re worth it. I think making these popsicles would be a great educational activity to do with kiddos.
14. Mediterranean Mung Bean Burgers (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
I eat meat, but I do enjoy having plant-based meals in my regular rotation. Until now, I’ve struggled to find plant-based burgers that I like. Mung bean burgers are game-changing! They’re full of protein and the texture -though unlike meat- is fabulous. These are in a delicious category all their own. Plus, they taste like a trip to Italy. You’ll taste sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, garlic, and olives in every bite. And you save on plane tickets.
15. Kale and Quinoa Salad
This kale and quinoa salad is the perfect healthy side dish. Every bite is a rollercoaster of flavor and texture. It’s fresh, protein-filled, and totally customizable.
16. Vietnamese Glutinous Rice Balls
Here’s another dessert that is essentially the sweet version of Banh it tran. They’re chewy rice balls filled with a sweetened mung bean paste. But there’s more… When they’ve finished cooking, soak them in a sweet and spicy ginger syrup. And when you’re ready to eat, you serve them in sweetened coconut cream. Finally, you top your dish with toasted sesame seeds for a fantastic crunch. This dessert is light, sweet, tropical, and simply sublime.
17. Chinese Vegan Potstickers
You won’t even miss the meat in these delicious vegan potstickers. They’re filling, savory, salty, and perfectly chewy. Plus, they have a fantastic little crisp on the edges. You’re going to love them! Click on a star to rate it!
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