Known as ‘Mung’ in English, which derives from the Hindi word moong, this little green bean is a storehouse of nutrients. It is good for all age groups, and if used imaginatively in cooking, will tempt even fussy eaters. Kids will benefit from its goodness, as will senior citizens; not only is it light and easy to digest, it provides a lot of energy, and is particularly good for vegetarians. A healthy option is Sprouted-and-Boiled-Moong and Sukha Moong.
Sukha Moong, Gujarati Dry Moong
Since moong contains little fat and is full of nutrients, it can be used in a range of innovative recipes for breakfast and other meals. Being high on protein scale, it boosts metabolism and can be added to a weight watchers’ diet. The high potassium in mung is suitable for heart patients as well as high blood pressure. It is also one of the good vegetarian sources of zinc, which build immunity and adds on that necessary glow to your skin. Read 13 Benefits of mung.
Best Mung, Moong Indian Recipes
1. The simplest mung recipe is Khatta Moong. A Gujarati sabzi served with rotlis. It features cooked moong simmered in a curd based gravy which is made more interesting with the regular spices from te ‘masala dabba’.
Khatta Moong ( Gujarati Recipe)
2. How about a Moong Dahi Misal? Have you ever tried it? Topped with dahi, onions, tomatoes, chutneys and a spinkle of jeera and chilli powder, it is irresistible. Everyone is sure to enjoy it.
Moong Dahi Misal
3. A nourishing low fat, high protein delicacy is Sprouted Moong Salad. The process of sprouting makes them easier to digest and increases their nutrient count by manifold. This refreshing salad needs only onion, tomatoes, coriander and green chillies along with black and salt for taste. Enjoy it in between meals and avoid that urge to reach out for fried snacks. Remember if your stomach is full, you would not think of eating unhealthy foods. Also read Benefits of Sprouting.
Sprouted Moong Salad
4. Dosa with whole mung is also turns out to be yummy. Here’s a recipe with more moong than rice and urad dal. Stuff this Whole Moong Dosa with onions or mixed grated veggies and make your own version. Serve it with Sambar for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Whole Moong Dosa
5. Mughals were known to name certain dishes after themselves to signify where they were invented. Shahjahani khichdi is a comforting Mughlai one pot dish meal. It is a super easy dish to make. It is a brilliant khichdi made from rice and moong, this preparation is flavoured with whole garam masalas. Serve it with curd, papad and a pickle of your choice.
Shahjahani Khichdi
6. Sprouted Moong Pakoda with spicy green chutney for rainy season – what better can one ask for? If you have some leftover sprouts, add some garlic, ginger, green chillies and mint or coriander for fresh flavours. Use rice flour for binding and drop soonfuls of this mixture in hot oil. The yummy pakodas are sure to get finished in no time.
Sprouted Moong Pakoda, Evening Snack
7. Pesarattu, a South Indian delicacy, is also made with whole mung. Andhra Pradesh is the state most famous for this fare. Sauteed onions, ginger, green chillies, rice and moong are blended to form a batter and then spread on the tava to make pesarattu.
Moong Sprouts Pesarattu
8. The famous Maharashtrian Misal has mung as one of its main ingredient. Some prefer sprouted mung, while others don’t. Combined with matki, chana, vatana and chawli it is cooked with authentic missal masala. It is served topped with mixed farsan, onions and tomatoes along with ladi pav.
Misal Pav
9. Everybody yearns for a treat once in a while! Here is a perfectly enjoyable snack in the form of Moong Sprouts and Spring Onion Tikki. While you can opt to deep-fry these tikkis, but we have cooked them on tava with minimal oil. These are suitable for heart patients and diabetes too.
Moong Sprouts and Spring Onion Tikki
10. Moong Sprouts and Potato Salli Chaat is a party style Indian snack using mung beans. This can be served for kid’s birthday party as well as kitty party. It is very easy to make also. Make and serve them in dainty attractive cups. Remember to make an extra batch, as this is guaranteed to be the top recipe of the party.
Moong Sprouts and Potato Salli Chaat