11 delicious mung bean recipes from around the world
A traditional Northern Vietnamese square sticky rice cake, essential for Lunar New Year (Tết). It features layers of glutinous rice, savory mung bean paste, and seasoned pork belly, all wrapped in dong leaves and boiled for an extended period. The square shape symbolizes the Earth.
A traditional Southern Vietnamese cylindrical sticky rice cake, filled with savory pork and mung beans, wrapped in fragrant banana leaves and slow-cooked to perfection. Bánh Tét is a staple during the Tết (Lunar New Year) celebrations.
Northern Vietnamese style bánh rán are delightfully crispy, hollow fried sesame balls with a sweet mung bean filling. The key to their signature hollow interior is careful dough preparation and controlled frying temperature.
A comforting and creamy Vietnamese sweet soup made from tender mung beans simmered with fragrant pandan leaves and enriched with coconut milk. This dessert can be enjoyed warm or chilled.
A comforting and nutritious Filipino mung bean stew, often enjoyed as a Friday tradition. This version is enhanced with savory pork and tender greens, finished with a delightful crunch from chicharon.
Chè Trôi Nước are delightful, chewy glutinous rice balls with a sweet mung bean filling, gently simmered in a fragrant ginger-infused syrup and finished with creamy coconut milk. This dessert is a traditional and comforting treat, often enjoyed during special occasions like Tết (Vietnamese New Year).
A beloved traditional Thai dessert, Khanom Mo Kaeng is a baked custard made from mung beans, coconut cream, and eggs, offering a rich, slightly sweet, and custardy texture. It's often topped with crispy fried shallots for a delightful savory contrast.
A traditional Vietnamese dessert symbolizing unity, made from a chewy tapioca and mung bean filling infused with coconut and sugar, all encased in fragrant banana leaves. The name 'husband and wife cake' refers to the two distinct layers that become inseparable when cooked. This is a labor-intensive but rewarding treat.
Onde-onde are delightful Indonesian sweet treats made from glutinous rice flour, filled with sweet mung bean paste, and coated in sesame seeds before being deep-fried to a golden, puffed perfection. They are a popular snack with Chinese-Indonesian heritage.
A comforting and subtly sweet Malaysian dessert soup made from tender green mung beans, infused with aromatic pandan leaves and sweetened with palm sugar. Perfect for a light dessert or a nourishing snack.
A savory and hearty Korean pancake made from ground mung beans, filled with a flavorful mixture of kimchi, bean sprouts, and optional ground pork, pan-fried until golden brown and crispy. A popular street food, especially from Gwangjang Market.
