Have you ever had mung beans before? These small green beans are quick-cooking, nutritious, and can be used as an ingredient in both savory and sweet dishes.
Other Names
- Vigna radiata (scientific name)
- Green gram
- Kacang hijau (Indonesian)
- Đậu xanh (Vietnamese)
- Munggo (Philippines)
- 绿豆 / lǜdòu (Chinese)
- मूँग / mūng (Hindi)
What are Mung Beans?
Mung beans are small legumes, in the same family as beans and lentils. They have a small and oval shape. They can be recognized by their olive-green color and a small white line. The mung bean is likely native to the Indian subcontinent and is widely cultivated in Asia for use in a variety of sweet and savory dishes.
How Do Mung Beans Taste Like?
Mung beans are popular in many Asian cuisines, where they’re used in soups, curries, savory pancakes, and even desserts. These small, olive green beans are soft and tender when fully cooked. They have a creamy texture and a mild, slightly sweet, nutty flavor with an earthy undertone.
Mung Beans vs Split Mung Beans
Mung beans refer to the whole, intact beans that are encased in green husks. You can also find mung beans split in half with the skin or husk removed. Split mung beans have slightly less dietary fiber and will cook faster than whole mung beans.
Do You Need To Soak Mung Beans?
Mung beans are small and quick to cook compared to other beans like black beans or chickpeas. No soaking is required before cooking.
Of course, you can soak your mung beans if you prefer. Whole cooked mung beans are generally prepared from dried beans by boiling until they are soft. Soaking them before cooking will help shorten the cooking time.
Are Mung Beans Healthy?
Mung beans are an excellent source of dietary fiber and one of the best plant-based sources of protein. One cup serving of mung beans contains around 15g of fiber (over half of the daily recommended intake), and 15g of protein. Much of the fiber is indigestible, which supports digestive health, particularly in the lower part of our digestive tract.
The protein-fiber combination is also key in stabilizing blood sugar levels, as both protein and fiber move through our digestive systems at a moderate pace. Beans are also rich in soluble fiber, which is helpful for lowering blood cholesterol levels and supporting cardiovascular health.
Where to Buy
Natural food stores and some conventional grocery stores may carry dried mung beans, either packaged or in bulk bins. You can find them in the bulk-dried food section or pantry section of your grocery store. If you can’t find any at your nearby grocery store, you can buy mung beans online.
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