Munggo Guisado (Sautéed Mung Beans)

Your family will love this heart healthy side dish. It is made with vegetables, seafood, lean meat, and a small amount of corn oil. The pork is slowly simmered in moist heat with vegetables and mung beans, creating flavors that will make your taste buds jump for joy!

Munggo or Mung bean (or even green bean to some) is a seed of Vigna radiata, a plant native to India and Pakistan. Since the plant originated in Asia, it was easy to spread along the nearby countries. This seed became a hit when it reached the Philippines.

Mung bean was used as an ingredient in different desserts and main dishes as well. The most famous Mung bean dish is the “Ginisang Munggo” (Sauteed Mung Bean). This dish makes use of Mung beans as the main ingredient complimented by different flavors from meat, seafood, and vegetables. A very healthy and satisfying dish that is friendly on the budget.

Munggo Guisado (Sautéed Mung Beans) Recipe

Makes 8 servings

Serving size: 1 cup

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon corn oil

• 2 cloves fresh garlic, crushed (or 1 tablespoon, minced)

• 1 cup white onions, chopped

• 1 cup ripe tomatoes, chopped

• 1 cup (4 ounces) lean pork, thinly sliced

• 4 cups water

• 3½ cups precooked mung beans (from 1¾ cups dry beans)*

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon ground pepper

• 1 cup (4 ounces) shrimp, peeled and deveined

• 1 cup (about ⅔ of a 10-ounce package) leaf spinach, frozen

* To cook dry, uncooked mung beans: Wash and boil the uncooked mung beans in a large saucepan, using 6 cups of water. Cook until tender, about 1½ to 2 hours. Drain.

Directions

1. In a skillet, heat oil, and sauté crushed garlic until lightly brown.

2. Add onion and tomatoes. Sauté until skin begins to curl.

3. Add pork, and sauté until lightly brown.

4. Add water, and simmer pork for about 15 minutes.

5. Add the sautéed mix to mung beans, and continue to simmer 15 minutes.

6. Season with salt and ground pepper.

7. Add peeled shrimp.

8. Add frozen leaf spinach, and cook 4 minutes until done.

Nutrition Information

Each serving provides:

Calories: 160 Total | Fat: 3.5 g | Saturated Fat: 1 g | Cholesterol: 35 mg | Sodium: 350 mg Total Fiber: 8 g | Protein: 13 g | Carbohydrates: 19 g | Potassium: 370 mg

Source: Filipino American Food Practices, Customs, and Holidays, American Dietetic Association, 1994.