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    You are here: Home / Cooking Times / b) 30 - 60 mins / Mung Bean Salad

    Mung Bean Salad

    21 August 2017 - By Michelle Minnaar
    This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Jump to Recipe

    Have you been looking for a tasty, filling yet light salad this summer? The mung bean salad is a must if you want to lead a healthy lifestyle. Offering a gamut of different flavours and textures, it will also fill you up thanks to mung beans. You’ll experience softness coming from the mung beans, avocado and tomatoes, and crunch from the spring onions and cucumbers. You can eat this mung bean salad on its own but iff you are a meat-lover, simply serve it as a side to some delicious steak. Need a handy recipe for one? Why don’t you serve it as a side with my crying tiger steak?

    Lunch Bowl Salad

    description and profile

    You might have heard of mung beans. However, they also go by different names such as “moong beans” or “green grams”. The term mung beans comes from the Sanskit word “mudga”. Visually, they are green and are rather smaller in size, when you compare them to kidney beans or butter beans. These beans are commonly found across Asian countries such as India, Pakistan, China and other South-Asian countries. You can use them for savoury dishes or desserts, if you prefer.

    What many people fail to realise is that you get bean sprouts from mung beans. Hence, you can add a nice crunch element to your mung bean salad if you sprout them. The mung bean sprouts are generally nutty in taste and they grow really fast. It only takes one or two days for the sprouts to pop up. See? No need to buy the sprouts in the super market!

    history of mung beans

    As with any other type of beans, you can probably already tell that they go way back in time. Some archaeologists argue that mung beans were originally cultivated and grown in Persia, today known as Iran. Others argue that Southern India is the original place where the mung bean was first discovered some 4500 years ago. The cultivation of these beans later spread throughout Asia into areas like Thailand, China and Vietnam. It was a common good sold on the Asian trade routes.

    Salad Mung Bean

    soaking mung beans

    As this mung bean salad calls for dried mung beans, I will talk about how you can get your mung beans soft. Initially, I recommend soaking the mung beans in water for at least 6 hours or overnight in a large bowl. Do you know why people soak beans in water overnight? It helps removing those indigestible sugars which make our tummies bloat and hurt. Generally, it is recommended to leave the beans in cold water for up to eight hours. This ensures that the indigestible sugars are gone and thus the mung beans won’t cause as much flatulence.

    prepping the vegetables

    The way you cut up your vegetables makes a big difference in terms of elevating your salad. Usually, I like to cut the vegetables in roughly the same size. This way the flavours of the veggies are distributed evenly throughout the mung bean salad. In addition to that, no one likes to chew on a big chuck of cucumber!

    more veggies for vegans and vegetarians

    If you are vegan or vegetarian then the mung bean salad is definitely for you! The beauty of preparing such a salad is, that you can literally throw in any vegetables you want and it will still taste delicious. Why don’t you try blanching some broccoli and lightly pan frying some zucchini? If you feel like more of a crunch, then cut up some carrots for some sweetness. Speaking of sweetness, you can also go for pieces of corn. Do you see where I am going with this? You can take any vegetable and throw it in there. The choice is yours! Which ones did you go for? Drop a comment below.

    Recipe Vegan Salad

    substitutes

    Now, since mung beans are the filling element in this mung bean salad, you might want to think of similar substitutes. I also like using butter beans or kidney beans. Butterbeans are larger in size and have a sweeter and nuttier taste profile. I also have an alternative version of making a butterbean salad with avocado, pesto and pumpkin seeds. Broad beans are another alternative.

    more carbs just not beans

    Looking to stock up on carbs so this mung bean salad truly leaves you full? There are so many things you can add to make this salad enjoyable yet filling. First, why don’t you try grains? Try quinoa, which is an excellent gluten-free substitute. I made something similar recently. I added grains and quinoa to a lovely salad and called it a healthy grain bowl. You can check out the original recipe here.

    Print
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    Salad Mung Bean

    Mung Bean Salad


    ★★★★★

    4.9 from 8 reviews

    • Author: Michelle Minnaar
    • Total Time: 45 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings 1x
    Print Recipe
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    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 100g (½ cup) dried green mung beans
    • 1 red pepper
    • 1 tomato
    • 1 avocado
    • ¼ cucumber
    • 5 spring onions
    • 5ml (1 tsp) sea salt
    • 2.5ml (½ tsp) black pepper
    • 2.5ml (½ tsp) ground cumin
    • Pinch of red chilli powder
    • Juice of ½ lime

    Instructions

    1. In a large bowl, soak the mung beans in water for at least 6 hours or overnight. The water should be about 2.5cm (1in) above the beans.
    2. When soaked, drain the water, place the mung beans in a steamer and steam for 30 minutes until soft.
    3. While the mung beans are steaming, chop the rest of the salad ingredients into small cubes and place in a serving dish.
    4. In order to make the salad dressing, mix the salt, pepper, cumin, chilli and lime in a small bowl.
    5. Remove the mung beans from the steamer, leave to cool and then add to the chopped salad.
    6. Add the dressing, toss to combine, and enjoy straight away.

    Notes

    • If you’re looking for a substitute for avocado, check out one of these avocado substitutes.
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 30 minutes
    • Category: Salad
    • Method: Steam
    • Cuisine: indian

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 serving
    • Calories: 158
    • Sugar: 3.6 g
    • Sodium: 544 mg
    • Fat: 10.3 g
    • Saturated Fat: 2.1 g
    • Carbohydrates: 15.7 g
    • Protein: 3.8 g

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    Mung Bean Salad

     

    A special thanks to Kelly Reeve for assisting with the recipe shoot.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kay sale

      August 22, 2017 at 3:40 pm

      My favourite salad is beetroot and goats cheese.

      Reply
    2. frances hopkins

      August 23, 2017 at 8:29 am

      Love Caesar salad x

      Reply
    3. Emily Coates

      August 23, 2017 at 10:31 am

      How colourful! I love the sound of it. Rainbow food is the best. I love a potato salad with added tomatoes, avocado, lemon, chives x

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Tracy Nixon

      August 23, 2017 at 1:10 pm

      Chicken with balsalmic vinegar!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    5. Tracey Peach

      August 23, 2017 at 1:17 pm

      I love beetroot salad’s they look pretty too!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    6. Emma @ Supper in the Suburbs

      August 23, 2017 at 1:53 pm

      You know I’ve heard of mung beans but never actually seen them let alone tasted them. This recipe sounds delicious though so will have to hunt some down!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    7. emma walters

      August 23, 2017 at 3:52 pm

      i love a fresh cous cous salad with lots of coriander

      Reply
    8. Maxine G

      August 23, 2017 at 4:38 pm

      I love a fresh pepper and onion salad with mint, lemon, pomegranate molasses and feta

      Reply
    9. Sam r

      August 23, 2017 at 8:50 pm

      Caeser salad for me 🙂 x

      Reply
    10. Kim Neville

      August 23, 2017 at 10:07 pm

      I am signed up already to your newsletter 🙂

      Reply
    11. Solange

      August 23, 2017 at 11:14 pm

      Chicken Caesar salad.

      Reply
    12. Tracey Belcher

      August 24, 2017 at 6:13 am

      I love salads but if I had to pick a favourite it would be Thai Salad

      Reply
    13. Tracey Belcher

      August 24, 2017 at 6:14 am

      I already subscribe to the newsletter and look forward to receiving the new recipes

      Reply
    14. cheryl hadfield

      August 24, 2017 at 10:55 am

      chicken caeser salad

      Reply
    15. Stephanie Coals

      August 24, 2017 at 9:26 pm

      My favourite has to be chicken caeser salad

      Reply
    16. Jodie A Green

      August 28, 2017 at 12:01 am

      I DO LOVE Caeser salad

      Reply
    17. Jayne Townson

      September 01, 2017 at 8:36 am

      I love my homemade beetroot salad, thanks for this lovely giveaway.

      Reply
    18. laura banks

      September 03, 2017 at 12:43 pm

      Caeser salad for me

      Reply
    19. Fiona

      September 04, 2017 at 9:46 am

      A greek salad is my favourite

      Reply
    20. Debbie Callender

      September 04, 2017 at 9:57 am

      My favourite salad is Kale, Tomato and spiralized cucumber. I always massage the Kale with olive oil, Himalayan pink salt and lemon juice

      Reply
    21. Heather Haigh

      September 04, 2017 at 10:08 am

      Spinach and bacon salad

      Reply
    22. ValB

      September 04, 2017 at 10:19 am

      I love Waldorf salad

      Reply
    23. ValB

      September 04, 2017 at 10:21 am

      signed up to the newsletter

      Reply
    24. David Taylor

      September 04, 2017 at 10:23 am

      Caesar Salad

      Reply
    25. Fiona King

      September 04, 2017 at 10:27 am

      Waldorf Salad

      Reply
    26. Lindsey Jones

      September 04, 2017 at 10:38 am

      Caesar salad

      Reply
    27. Carolyn Heyworth

      September 04, 2017 at 11:02 am

      Like rocket, smoked salmon and cheese, a few cherry tomatoes too.

      Reply
    28. Laura Warwick

      September 04, 2017 at 11:05 am

      greek salad

      Reply
    29. stuart hargreaves

      September 04, 2017 at 11:29 am

      I love anchivies lettuce tomato beetroot and apple with a few peppers

      Reply
    30. Hannah P

      September 04, 2017 at 12:18 pm

      My favourite is anything with avocado and chia seeds! Also loving a bit of violife with my salads at the moment

      Reply
    31. olivia Kirby

      September 04, 2017 at 12:35 pm

      Tuna nicoise is a favourite

      Reply
    32. Emily Hutchinson

      September 04, 2017 at 12:38 pm

      Caesar Salad with blue cheese!

      Reply
    33. Kate Toner

      September 04, 2017 at 12:57 pm

      Greek salad

      Reply
    34. freya knudsen

      September 04, 2017 at 1:54 pm

      Tuna nicoise is good or anything with avocado and mango.

      Reply
    35. amy bondoc

      September 04, 2017 at 2:48 pm

      i love avocado and beetroot salad delicious x

      Reply
    36. Zoe C

      September 04, 2017 at 3:18 pm

      Mine is a sweet salad, grated carrot, sliced bananas, sultanas and a drizzle of lemon juice

      Reply
    37. Kevin Pike

      September 04, 2017 at 4:06 pm

      chicken pesto with pine nut, it’s the best!

      Reply
    38. Ritchie Dee

      September 04, 2017 at 4:24 pm

      Tabbouleh

      Reply
    39. lesley white

      September 04, 2017 at 4:40 pm

      Greek salad

      Reply
    40. Ben Audsley

      September 04, 2017 at 5:14 pm

      i love a wardorf salad – but i keep running out of wardorfs!

      Reply
    41. Laura Jeffs

      September 04, 2017 at 5:42 pm

      My favourite salad is my very own italian bean salad, consisting of red beans, black olives, spring onions, sliced boiled potatoes and sliced boilde egg..it’s so yummy!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    42. Vicky Leigh

      September 04, 2017 at 6:06 pm

      Hot smoked salmon and potato

      Reply
    43. Rebecca Brown

      September 04, 2017 at 6:38 pm

      Goat cheese and olive salad with lots of mixed leaves – yum!

      Reply
    44. Penny H

      September 04, 2017 at 8:21 pm

      I love mixed beans with avocado and some BBQ chicken salad

      Reply
    45. Kat B

      September 04, 2017 at 8:21 pm

      Grilled goats cheese salad, mmmm

      Reply
    46. Becky Duffy

      September 04, 2017 at 8:32 pm

      I love a Greek Salad 🙂

      Reply
    47. Vanessa Cox

      September 04, 2017 at 8:38 pm

      Salade Nicoise

      Reply
    48. Sarah Morris

      September 04, 2017 at 9:51 pm

      I love a Chicken & Bacon salad with lettuce leaves, cucumber, plum tomatoes and red onion, drizzled with a honey & mustard dressing… so tasty, and relatively healthy (at least that’s what I tell myself!!).

      Reply
    49. Louise A

      September 04, 2017 at 10:35 pm

      My favourite has to be a warm goats cheese salad

      Reply
    50. Keshia Esgate

      September 04, 2017 at 10:54 pm

      I love a greek salad with feta

      Reply
    51. Victoria Hemmings

      September 04, 2017 at 11:11 pm

      oh I like Caesar salad

      Reply
    52. Suzanne

      September 05, 2017 at 12:14 am

      Goat’s cheese and cherry tomato

      Reply
    53. rebecca h

      September 05, 2017 at 8:55 am

      I love a greek salad! the combination of fresh sweet tomatoes and cucumbers with salty feta and olives with lots of olive oil is so delicious

      Reply
    54. Suzanne Jackson

      September 05, 2017 at 12:18 pm

      Stilton and walnut

      Reply
    55. Susan Hoggett

      September 05, 2017 at 12:52 pm

      I love a Goats Cheese and beetroot salad

      Reply
    56. Milly Youngman

      September 05, 2017 at 3:42 pm

      I love a Mexican chicken, bacon and avocado salad!

      Reply
    57. Barbara Knight

      September 05, 2017 at 7:38 pm

      I do a lovely 3-bean salad in a spicy dressing.

      Reply
    58. Helen Tovell

      September 07, 2017 at 10:07 am

      A thai chicken noodle salad

      Reply
    59. clair downham

      September 07, 2017 at 2:03 pm

      nicoise or caesar

      Reply
    60. Jo Carroll

      September 08, 2017 at 8:22 pm

      I really enjoy a Mexican bean salad – full of flavour. x

      Reply
    61. Heather Bowie

      September 08, 2017 at 10:11 pm

      a greek salad

      Reply
    62. Mickie Bull

      September 10, 2017 at 1:59 pm

      Waldorf Salad!

      Reply
    63. Elisabeth Ries

      September 11, 2017 at 8:40 pm

      Waldorf Salad – I love walnuts 🙂

      Reply
    64. Ella Langford

      September 13, 2017 at 9:23 pm

      Love 5 bean salad spiced up or greek salad

      Reply
    65. Helen Thurston

      September 16, 2017 at 3:20 pm

      I make a chunky mixed salad with avocado, tomato, cucumber, celery, red onion, sometimes I add beetroot, sweetcorn and/or vegan cheese.

      Reply
    66. Margaret Clarkson

      September 17, 2017 at 10:30 am

      Greek Salad

      Reply
    67. Rich Tyler

      September 19, 2017 at 12:16 pm

      I love a greek salad

      Reply
    68. Iris W

      September 19, 2017 at 1:20 pm

      My favourite salad is lambs lettuce with panchetta a chopped eggs

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    69. Elizabeth Cooke

      September 23, 2017 at 12:27 pm

      I love caesar salad

      Reply
    70. lorraine kirk

      September 24, 2017 at 4:12 pm

      I like a winter salad with halloumi and tangerine.

      Reply
    71. Samantha King

      September 24, 2017 at 7:38 pm

      I love a Kaiso salad.. yum!

      Reply
    72. Natalie Crossan

      September 25, 2017 at 11:14 pm

      Greek salad xxx

      Reply
    73. francis lee

      September 27, 2017 at 11:39 am

      I love avocado salad with lettuce onions tomato and cucumber, with a little honey and mustard dressing

      Reply
    74. Paula Phillips

      September 27, 2017 at 6:44 pm

      I love a beetroot salad.

      Reply
    75. michelle thompson

      September 28, 2017 at 7:34 am

      chicken caeser salad

      Reply
    76. Elizabeth Harbron

      September 28, 2017 at 8:49 am

      Rice salad with cucumber, cashews, yogurt and herbs

      Reply
    77. Patricia Avery

      September 28, 2017 at 11:04 am

      One made from what we grow in our garden:)

      Reply
    78. Krzysia

      September 28, 2017 at 3:30 pm

      I love a cold Japanese noodle salad that has plenty of beansprouts, Japanese veg and sesame flavours.

      Reply
    79. Fiona Mallard

      September 28, 2017 at 4:33 pm

      I don’t have one favourite, I just like to create different salads from whatever veg is ready in my garden that day. I also like experimenting with different dressings, at the moment it’s homemade blueberry vinaigrette.

      Reply
    80. Kelly L

      September 28, 2017 at 6:53 pm

      I love a Feta and Watermelon salad!

      Reply
    81. Alison

      September 28, 2017 at 7:51 pm

      A simple tomato vinagarette

      Reply
    82. Jill Donaldson

      September 28, 2017 at 7:52 pm

      I love feta and smoked mackerel salad lush with pickled beetroot

      Reply
    83. Lisa Wilkinson

      September 28, 2017 at 9:34 pm

      mackerel, beetroot and new potatoes

      Reply
    84. Robyn Clarke

      September 28, 2017 at 10:30 pm

      My mum used to make a curried rice salad with peaches, it doesn’t sound good but it was delicious!

      ★★★★

      Reply
    85. Sam Furniss

      September 28, 2017 at 10:48 pm

      My favourite ever salad is boudin noir, sauteed garlic potatoes and a mixture of batavia, chêne rouge and chêne blonde lettuce

      Reply
    86. Sarah Parker

      September 29, 2017 at 12:02 pm

      buffalo chicken

      Reply
    87. Sarah Wilson

      September 29, 2017 at 12:06 pm

      Greek salad with feta!

      Reply
    88. sharon martin

      September 29, 2017 at 4:21 pm

      a chicken and bacon salad

      Reply
    89. Catherine Gregory

      September 29, 2017 at 4:40 pm

      I love a chicken salad

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    90. Emma Davison

      September 29, 2017 at 7:08 pm

      Tuna salad

      Reply
    91. Rebecca Lis

      September 29, 2017 at 8:25 pm

      Chicken pesto pasta salad

      Reply
    92. Rebecca Lis

      September 29, 2017 at 8:28 pm

      Signed up thank you 🙂

      Reply
    93. angela sandhu

      September 29, 2017 at 8:36 pm

      goats cheese and rocket

      Reply
    94. Claire Little

      September 29, 2017 at 8:49 pm

      caesar salad

      Reply
    95. ellie spider

      September 29, 2017 at 9:04 pm

      I like florida salad with sliced orange and apple, shredded carrot, lettuce, red cabbage, cheese and topped with sunflower seeds

      I’m signed up to the newsletter

      Reply
    96. Diana

      September 29, 2017 at 9:13 pm

      Caesar salad

      Reply
    97. Sarah B

      September 29, 2017 at 10:29 pm

      Greek salad’s my favourite.

      Reply
    98. George Wright

      September 29, 2017 at 11:02 pm

      Mozzarella, sun blush tomatoes, Parma ham, olives & rocket 🙂

      Reply

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