Indian Style Mung Beans Recipes

GREEN MOONG DAL

Steps:

• Rinse 1/2 cup green moong beans for a couple of times and then soak in enough water for an hour. You can also soak them for a couple of hours or overnight. If soaking overnight, then the pressure cooking time will reduce.
• Chop 1 medium onion, 1 large tomato and 1 to 2 green chilies. Crush the ginger and garlic to a paste in the mortar-pestle.
• Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pressure cooker.
• Add the whole spices - 1 medium tej patta/indian bay leaf and 1/2 tsp cumin seeds. Saute till the cumin seeds splutter.
• Then add the chopped onions. Saute the onions till light golden.
• Add 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste and chopped green chilies. Stir and saute till the raw aroma of ginger-garlic goes away.
• Now add the chopped tomatoes and 1/4 tsp turmeric powder, 1/4 tsp red chili powder, 1/2 tsp coriander powder and 1/4 tsp garam masala powder.
• Stir and saute till the tomatoes soften, become pulpy and you see oil releasing from the sides.
• Drain and add the moong beans. Stir very well.
• Add 2.5 to 3 cups water and salt as per taste. Stir very well.
• Cover and pressure cook sabut moong dal for 10 to 12 whistles or 15 to 17 minutes on a medium to high flame till the moong beans are softened thoroughly.
• When the pressure settles down on its own, open the lid and check the moong beans. If they still have slight bite to them, then add some water and pressure cook for some more whistles.
• If the mixture looks dry, then you can add more water. Keep the cooker on the stove top and simmer the moong dal for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring at intervals.
• The consistency of the dal should not be watery. While cooking you can mash a few lentils with the back of the spoon.
• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a small pan or tadka pan. Splutter 1/2 tsp cumin seeds first.
• Switch off the flame and then add a pinch of asafoetida and 1/4 tsp red chili powder. Stir.
• Add this tempering to the dal. Stir well.
• Add 3 tbsp chopped coriander leaves. Stir again.
• Serve green moong dal with steamed rice or chapatis.
• While serving this green gram curry, you can garnish with a few coriander leaves if you want.

MONGO GUISADO (MUNG BEAN SOUP)

Steps:

• Bring the mung beans and the water to a boil in a pot; cook at a boil until the beans are soft, about 40 minutes. Mash the beans; set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a large pot; cook and stir the onion and garlic in the hot oil over medium heat until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the pork; season with salt and pepper. Continue cooking the mixture another 3 minutes. Gently stir the prawns into the mixture; cook 2 minutes more. Add the tomatoes; cook another 3 minutes. Reduce heat, and pour the chicken broth over the mixture; allow the mixture to simmer in the broth for 5 minutes.
• Add the mashed beans to the soup; mix well. Cook another 5 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent any of the mixture from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Add more chicken broth or water if the soup is too thick. Stir the spinach leaves into the soup and cook 2 minutes more before serving hot.

SPLIT GREEN MUNG BEANS, MUMBAI-STYLE

Steps:

• Combine the dal, turmeric, garlic, chili, onions, tomatoes, brown sugar, salt and 4 cups water in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Adjust the heat so the mixture bubbles gently, and cook, covered, for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Partly uncover and continue cooking for another 15 minutes, until the dal is tender; turn off the heat. Use an Indian mathani (see related article) to purée the dal for about 1 minute; the dal should be saucy but not soupy.
• To make the tadka, heat the oil in a small saucepan over high heat. When the oil is hot, add the mustard seeds and cover the pan; let the seeds pop and sizzle. When the popping begins to subside, add the ginger and cook until lightly browned, about 15 seconds, and add the curry leaves, if you're using them. Turn off the heat and stir in the cumin.
• Pour the tadka into the dal; stir gently to combine. Garnish with cilantro and serve.

INDIAN STYLE MUNG BEANS

Steps:

• Wash and soak the mung beans overnight.
• Rinse and drain and then place in a pot with enough water to cover them.
• Bring to boil and then simmer for 45 minutes.
• Heat the oil in a pan and add the tumeric, cumin and coriander and fry until they turn brown.
• Add the mustard.
• Add onion, mushrooms and tomato and cook for 5 minues.
• Add the mixture to the mung beans and cook for 15-20 minutes.