Legumes
Mung Beans
Quick Tips
How to cook mung beans
While I don’t typically cook with mung beans, they are prepared similar to lentils. No soaking is required, and they are tender in under 30 minutes. Mung beans can also be cooked down into a paste, commonly used in Asian cuisine.
How to buy beans
Buy beans out of bulk bins you know have quick turnover or from companies that go through inventory at a quick pace. Two of my favorites: Bob’s Red Mill and Rancho Gordo.
How to store beans
Store dried beans in an airtight container, away from light. I prefer to keep my beans in glass jars, kept in my pantry cupboard. While beans can last for some time, I try to make sure I don’t have any beans older than a year in my pantry.
Sprouting mung beans
I typically purchase mung beans for sprouting. Bean sprouts are a great addition to noodle bowls, summer rolls, and salads.
About
In all honesty, mung beans are rarely used in my kitchen, as I tend to stick to lentils and split peas. They can be used in sweet and savory dishes, most popularly moon cakes. You might find yellow mung beans, which are mung beans that have been hulled and split in half. These hulled beans can be used as a substitute for lentils.
When I do use them, I prefer a sprouted version using dried mung beans, making an excellent base for sprouts and ready to eat in just a few days. Sprouts are great raw on salads, and in stir-fry.