Ginisang Munggo Recipe – To know what exactly ginisang munggo is, understand it as a mung bean stew. If you are not familiar with mung bean, it is a part of the legume family and is mostly grown in East, Southeast, and South Asia. It is also referred to as green gram, maash, mūng, monggo, or munggo in different parts of the world.
Mung beans are a well-liked ingredient in numerous Asian cuisines, often found in soups, curries, savory pancakes, and even desserts. These small, olive-green beans have a characteristic white speck at the center.
Some people compare the mild taste of mung beans to that of potatoes. An example of it being used for sweet dishes is them being turned into mung bean paste. Mung bean paste is commonly used as a filling for pastries such as bakpia in Indonesia, hopia in the Philippines, and even in pan de monggo, a Filipino bread.
What to Know About Ginisang Munggo
In the Philippines, ginisang munggo is the most popular way to cook munngo beans. Ginisang munggo is a delicious Filipino soup made from mung beans, vegetables, and savory seasonings like garlic, onions, and fish sauce. The dish is is traditionally served on Fridays of Lent, when the majority of Catholic Filipinos traditionally abstain from meat. For a general meal, you can add your choice of meat, such as pork, tinapa, or dried fish. Chicharon is one option you can have sprinkled on top for an extra crunch.
The name refers to the first step of sauteeing the ingredients before adding water and the beans to create a flavorful soup. You can also make a variation of the dish called ginisang munggo sa gata by adding coconut milk. Just remember not to confuse it with ginataang munggo, a dessert made from glutinous rice and mung beans. So to avoid the confusion, here’s a ginisang munggo recipe for you to try:
Ginisang Munggo
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried mung beans
- 6 cups water
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 onion peeled and sliced thinly
- 3 cloves garlic peeled and minced
- 1 large tomato chopped
- 2 cups chicharon pork cracklings with attached meat
- 1 bunch fresh spinach stems trimmed
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
Instructions
- Start by sorting through the mung beans, tossing out any discolored or shriveled ones. Rinse the beans under cold water until the water runs clear, and then let them drain.
- In a large pot, add the mung beans and water. Bring them to a boil over medium heat, and then skim off any froth that floats to the top.
- Lower the heat, cover the pot, and continue cooking for around 45 to 50 minutes until the beans have softened and their skins have burst. If needed, add more water to maintain about 4 cups.
- While the mung beans are cooking, heat oil in another pot over medium heat.
- Add the onions and garlic, and cook until they're tender and aromatic. Then, add the chopped tomatoes, cooking and mashing them with the back of the spoon until they've softened. Add the fish sauce and cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes.
- Next, add the cooked mung beans (with the liquid) to the pot with the onion and tomato mixture. Bring everything to a boil, and then add the pork cracklings.
- Cook until they've softened, and then season the stew with salt and pepper to your liking.
- Finally, add in the fresh spinach, turn off the heat, and cover the pot for 1 to 2 minutes until the spinach is just wilted.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Other Notes and Options for a Ginisang Munggo Recipe
When making ginisang munggo, there are different tips and tricks to elevate it. To add more nutrients, you can put seeded and sliced ampalaya 5 minutes before the dish is done. You can use malunggay or chili leaves instead of spinach. . You can also use lechon kawali instead of chicharon, or try flaked tinapa or crispy dilis for a less fatty version.
To store the dish for later, you should put the remaining food in a container with a cover and keep it in the fridge for up to three days. To reheat, use a saucepan over medium heat until it’s fully heated. Add some water to make it less thick and modify the taste as required.
Generally, ginisang munggo is just one of the many stew dishes that is available in Filipino cuisine. If you want to try another vegetable stew, you should try out Ginataang Gulay or Suam na Mais. Another dish that comes with a variety of options in its mix is Chicken Menudo and Dinengdeng. Aside from these stew dishes, you can try out other classic Filipino dishes with a vegan twist like Vegan Kare Kare and Vegan Arroz Caldo. Should these not appeal to you, you can go for another stew dish like Bicol Express or Mechado.
If you didn’t know mung beans can also be found in sweet dishes as well. One example of this is Ginataang Munggo. And if you’re interested, there is a comparable dish called Ginataang Mais.
