What Are Mung Beans?

What Are Mung Beans?

If you're searching for a bean loaded with health benefits, mung beans are one of the best options available. Valued by nutritionists and health experts for their benefits, mung beans are a small, versatile legume that's easy to work into your diet. And eating more of them is a great way to simultaneously boost your nutritional intake and the flavor of your meals. If you're interested in learning more about mung beans, read on. This article will cover everything there is to know about mung beans and provide you with great-tasting recipes you can easily make at home.

Mung Beans

What are mung beans? Mung beans are a member of the legume family, meaning they are related to beans and lentils. First originating in India, mung beans are mainly cultivated in Asia, South America, Africa and Australia. Mung beans are widely known for the versatile bean sprouts that you enjoy on sandwiches or salads. However, they can be eaten whole and cooked on the stovetop like other dried beans.

The History of Mung Beans

Mung beans are a legume native to India, where they were domesticated as early as 1500 B.C. Once cultivated, mung beans were introduced to Southern and Eastern Asia, Africa, the Americas and more. Now, mung beans are a widely enjoyed food and can be found in dishes around the world.

Growing Mung Beans

Mung beans are fast-growing legumes that grow best in warm, tropical and subtropical conditions. Since mung beans don't require much water, it's easy to grow them when planted in the right conditions. Currently, nearly 90% of mung bean production is in Asia, with India being the largest producer. China and Thailand also produce significant amounts of mung beans yearly. mung beans

What do Mung Beans Look Like?

Wondering what mung beans look like? This legume is hard to miss. Mung beans are small green beans that resemble a mix between soybeans and capers. Their small size makes them easy to work into all types of recipes. Mung bean seeds are commonly sprouted into mung sprouts or green gram sprouts. Not only do mung bean sprouts taste great, but they are also easy to make from scratchand budget-friendly!

What do Mung Beans Taste Like?

Mung beans have an agreeable taste that almost everyone will enjoy. When enjoyed raw, mung beans boast a clean vegetable flavor that's slightly earthy. When cooked, mung beans tend to absorb the flavors of the food surrounding them. Adding just a dash of spices and herbs to your mung beans will create a great-tasting dish loaded with nutritional benefits. Mung bean sprouts taste similar to raw mung beans and have an earthy, crisp and refreshing taste. Their wholesome nature adds a crunch to whatever you combine them with.

Mung Bean Nutrition

Mung beans are among the most nutritious beans, and their list of health benefits is infinite. Dried mung beans are a low-calorie food and contain very little saturated fat and sodium. As a result, they are cholesterol-free, ideal for individuals following low-fat diets, and an excellent source of dietary fiber, making them great for digestive health. With 12 grams of plant-based protein per cup serving, this legume is the preferred protein source for many vegan and vegetarian eaters as it is a quality source of complex carbohydrates, essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals. For a complete nutrition list, review the Nutritional Information & Ingredients information of Mung Beans. mung bean soup

Mung Bean Uses

Mung beans are a staple food item in East Asian and Indian Cuisine. Cooked mung beans are typically prepared alongside grains, greens and vegetables in soup recipes. Ground mung beans are pulsed into flour and used to make flatbreads, oatmeal, kitchari and cracked wheat. Sprouted mung beans are sowed and placed into salads, sandwiches and stir fry. The many uses of mung beans are endless, and their versatility makes it easy to combine them with just about anything.

Cooking with Mung Beans

Mung beans are simple, quick to cook and easy to digest. Cook mung beans with spices and prepare as a soup or curry, or enjoy them as a side dish to your favorite meal. In addition, raw mung beans can be sprouted at home to create mung bean sprouts. Sprouting mung beans in a simple process and sprouting instructions can be found on the back of the package of our Bob's Red Mill Mung Beans.

Mung Bean Substitutes

Mung beans are an essential ingredient in several recipes. So, what do you do if you're making a dish that calls for mung beans and you don't have any on hand? Luckily, there are several beans that you can use as a substitute for mung beans. While the beans below may not be an exact flavor match, they will produce a similar look, taste and texture. Read on to discover three of our favorite mung bean substitutes.

Black Mung Beans

Black mung beans, also known as vigna mungo, are an excellent substitute for traditional mung beans. While they are similar in texture, black mung beans boast a more earthy flavor. However, when paired with other flavorful ingredients, the difference in taste is hardly noticeable. Black mung beans work well in soups, stews and curry recipes. They can also be sprouted like traditional mung beans and used in sandwich and salad recipes. When substituting traditional mung beans for black mung beans, substitute at a 1-to-1 ratio.

Adzuki Beans

Adzuki beans, a.k.a red mung beans, are the perfect substitute for traditional mung beans. Though they may be different in color, adzuki beans offer the same mild, nutty and slightly sweet flavor as mung beans. Use these beans at a 1-to-1 ratio to replace mung beans in soups, curries, dips and even paste. Like black and traditional mung beans, adzuki beans can also be sprouted.

Peeled Split Mung Beans

Another great substitute for traditional mung beans is peeled split mung beans. Their mild and slightly sweet flavor will help you recreate your favorite recipes without changing the dish's taste. That said, these beans do have a soft texture when cooked. However, the difference is minimal, and you can still use them to recreate all of your favorite mung bean dishes. Use peeled split mung beans to replace traditional ones in salads, curries, soup, stew and more!

Mung Bean Recipes

Ready to begin cooking with mung beans? We've got you covered. Check out the mouthwatering recipes below to create a memorable dish that everyone at the table will enjoy.

Mung Bean Hummus

Mung beans are incredibly versatile, making it easy to add them to any recipe. For a tasty and nutritious snack, we love using mung beans in place of garbanzo beans to make hummus. This Mung Bean Hummus is simple and pairs well with fresh pita bread and veggies. You can also use it as a delicious sandwich spread for an added flavor boost. Serve this hummus as a homemade snack, or bring it to your next gathering. Everyone who tries it is sure to love this treat.

Mung Bean Dosas

  A popular street food in India, a dosa is a crispy crepe-like treat famous for its minimal, simple ingredients. Typically made by combining fermented rice with a legume batter, these Mung Bean Dosas use mung beans to create a mild, nutty and slightly sweet base. Enjoy these dosas as a snack, breakfast, or lunch whenever you feel like breaking your routine and trying something new.

Monggo Bean Stew

mung bean stew Mung Bean Stew, or Mongg Guisado as it's referred to in the Philippines, is a warm and comforting stew packed with nutrition. Made with veggies, mung beans and spices, it's prepared in both sweet and savory versions. To recreate everything you love about this traditional dish, whip up a batch of this Monggo Bean Stew. Inspired by Mongg Guisado, it's richly flavored with Mung Beans, vegetable broth, onion, spinach, coconut milk and more. One taste of this soup will earn it a spot in your recipe book. In fact, we loved it so much that we had the recipe printed on our bags of Mung Beans. Now that you know more about mung beans and their many uses, it's time to begin cooking with them. Choose from one of the delicious recipes above, or get creative and make a mung bean dish from scratch. No matter how you choose to cook with this legume, we're confident it will taste incredible. From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, happy cooking! Curious to see how mung beans stack up against other popular legumes? Check out the articles Red Beans vs. Mung Beans and Mung Beans vs. Lentils for side-by-side comparisons. Do you use mung beans in your everyday recipes? Share your favorite mung bean recipes with us in the comments below. We can't wait to hear from you!
Bob's Red Mill
September 03 2022

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