A happy accident last week. I ordered mung beans from Hummingbird Wholesale in Eugene, OR, but didn’t specify “whole”. I received split mung beans. I didn’t even know split mung beans existed. Well, they do. And they’re delicious.
Split mung beans are mung beans that have been stripped of their hull and then cleaned and split. They are small, yellow, and are quick cooking like split yellow or split green peas.
After browsing the web and finding inspirational recipes (such as Punjabi Dhal and Southwestern Yellow Split Pea Soup), here’s how I made our delicious Split Mung Bean Soup. We ate it with sprouted spelt bread.
- 2-1/2 cups split mung beans
- 7 to 8 cups of water
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 3/4 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon dried ginger
- 3/4 teaspoon dried garlic
- 2-1/2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 tomato, diced
Put split mung beans in soup pot with water, turmeric, cumin, ginger and garlic. Let come to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer.
Meanwhile, heat oil in another pan. Add onions and tomatoes and saute until soft.
Check the split mung beans. They are done when the mixture in the pot is thick, soupy and the individual beans have begun falling apart so that you just see bits and pieces of the beans.
Add salt, to taste. Serve.
© Copyright 2008 by Wardeh Harmon.
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Looks really good on a cold day like today!
Wow – I didn’t know split mung beans existed either. The soup looks delicious! Your snow impressive. Your pipe thawing incredible. Your new bed -glorious! What a week.
Oh, Mary, you’re so funny! How’s your Kombucha doing?
hi wardeh!
that is so funny because i cooked my split mungs in a VERY similar way! mine was a recipe from my indian cookbook and was supposed to be more dhal-like than soup, but i made the mistake of soaking them (i think the recipe meant me to use whole means) and so they didnt absorb much cooking water and it looked just like your photo. everyone really liked it, so i may need to buy some more!
Hey, that’s cool that we were practically enjoying the same soup! I have plenty of the beans if you want more.
I’ll be in town on the 7th, should we meet up then? Have a Merry Christmas! Love, Wardeh
My kombucha is alive and well. I keep 4 gallons going on rotation. I am sharing scoby, too, just like you shared with me! I was in the checkout line with an older lady in a store who was buying Kombucha in a bottle. I always talk with people because I’m overly friendly, probably annoying. I said “you like kombucha” and she said she did and she was hoping to grow her own from the little bottle she was buying. That she used to make her own. I said “I make my own.” She said “Would you share some scoby with me?” I said I’d be happy too and she wrote down her name and phone number so we could meet. I put it in my wallet without looking at it. She then asked me my name. She said “I know you! My grandchildren played soccer with your children! You are friends with my daughter Mary Margaret, my son Mike and my son Joe!” I took a closer look at her and remembered her too! What a small world. The employees at the health food store got a huge kick out of the conversation.
That is kind of similiar to the way I make split moong daal. Boil it with turmeric and salt and tomato (half of one). Then in a little bit of oil I fry some mustard or cumin seeds, onion and sometimes garlic or ginger and half a tomato. I then add this “baghaar” to the lentils (daal).
I use whole moong to make sprouts or daal. For the latter, cook them in a pressure cooker as above. For the baghaar, I fry some mustard seeds, onion and ginger and then add it to the lentils (daal). I cannot get my older son to eat sprouts, though!
Sangeeta, how long do you cook in the pressure cooker? I don’t have one but am curious for if I ever do (I would like to). Those fried mustard seeds would be delicious! Thank you for sharing your heritage recipe. {{hugs}}
Mary, you’re such a dear! I can just picture you in line — striking up the conversation and ending up finding out that you knew her! God bless you for your kindness. I am very, very blessed to know that the scoby (given to me from a friend) is spreading health and happiness far and wide. {{hugs}} P.S. I doubt you’re annoying.
Love, Wardeh