Up until recently, I had no idea how to sprout mung beans—I thought that it was too much preparation to sprout the beans for a particular dish. But, after I tried it, I can say it’s absolutely worth it. It’s simple and so healthy.
In this article, I’ll take you through the steps to sprout mung beans at home. Plus, I also have an amazing, healthy recipe that’s easy to make.
Without a doubt, this recipe is so good! It has a high nutritional value and it’s also the perfect dish if you want to lose weight and clean your digestive system.
First things first, what are mung beans?
Mung beans are little green beans that belong to the legume family.
They are full of healthy nutrients and are rich in minerals and vitamins, and high in antioxidants that can help prevent diseases. Additionally, mung beans can help promote weight loss by raising the levels of the hormone that makes you feel full. As a result, you’ll eat less because you don’t feel hungry.
There are a number of health benefits to sprouting:
- Sprouting increases the B-vitamin content of the bean.
- When a bean sprouts, it creates all kinds of good-for-you enzymes.
- Sprouting makes nutrients in the bean more bio-available, so they are better absorbed by your body.
- Sprouts contain even more fiber than the beans do.
- Sprouts are a good source of essential fatty acids.
- The quality of the bean’s protein improves when it sprouts, improving its nutritional value.
How to sprout mung beans
Start by soaking the mung beans overnight in water. Then, drain and rinse the beans well.
Next, place the strainer above a wide bowl. Cover the bowl with a tea towel, but make sure air can get in and out. Store in a dark place.
The mung beans need to be moist all the time, so make sure to wash the beans by rinsing them well then draining them about 3 times a day.
How long the beans take to sprout depends on the room temperature. Some mung beans sprout after 2 days, and some after 5 days. I recommend stopping the sprout after it forms 2 cms of white “tail.”
Then wash the beans by rinsing them well and draining. Place them in a closed container in the fridge. The cold will stop the germination process.
How long can you keep mung beans in the fridge?
To get the best texture and freshness, it’s better to use them within 3-4 days max.
Tips and tricks
- Choose fresh mung beans from the store.
- Organic mung beans need more time to soak.
- Use room temperature, filtered water to soak the mung beans.
- Place the germinating mung beans in a warm room.
To learn more about mung beans + a video go here:
More info on mung bean sprouts health benefits
How to Grow Mung Bean Sprouts – video
How to cook mung bean sprouts
In a medium-sized pot, place 1 cup mung beans and 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until tender, about 20 minutes.
And now, as I promised, here’s an amazing recipe of mung bean sprout falafel.
For more amazing recipes using mung bean sprouts, go to:
Mung Bean Sprout Falafel
Materials
- 4 cups mung bean sprouts
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 leek
- 3 tbsp whole sesame tahini
- 1 pack herbs (dill, parsley or coriander)
- 2 stalks celery
- 2 tbsp ground cumin
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 160°C.
- Place all the ingredients in a mixer and blend until you get a smooth texture.
- Roll the mixture into ping-pong-sized balls and place them on a tray lined with baking paper (oil the tray before you put the balls on it).
- Bake until the falafel is a golden color. Be careful not to dry it out.
!Enjoy
