Mongo or mung bean stew is a common fixture in many Filipino meals. It is a delicious dish, and I can affirm, it is a hearty and healthy one. It is rich in fibers, vitamin C, protein, potassium and other beneficial nutrients.
Mongo is an ingredient can easily be found in the kitchen, and it is easy to pair it with any kind of vegetables and meat. Some cooks prepare it with pork, fish, shrimp, chicharon, hebe, or vegetables for vegetarian folks. Very tasty, savory and budget-friendly dish, too.
Ingredients
- 350 g mongo (mung beans)
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 medium tomato chopped
- 2 stalks of lemongrass crushed
- 1 small ginger crushed
- 1 medium size of upo (bottle gourd)
- 1 medium size of carrots
- 1/4 sliced round cabbage
- Spring onion
- Cooking oil
- A portion of squash as much as you want
Seasoning:
- Salt and ground pepper
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 packed of Ginisa mix for flavoring
Cooking method
- I normally soak mongo beans for at least 30 minutes in salt water. Wash and drain thoroughly.
- In a pot, boil water and add munggo. Simmer for 30-50 minutes until it becomes soft.
- In a pan, add cooking oil to saute garlic, onion, tomato, lemon grass, and ginger.
- Pour cooked mongo, and add seasoning mix. Let it boil. Add carrots and squash. Simmer for 3-5 minutes, then add upo and sliced cabbage. Cover and simmer for another minute until the vegetables are cooked enough. Add seasoning if necessary.
Preparation and Cooking Tips
- Soak your green vegetables in salt water and wash them properly.
- Adjust seasoning for your taste and preference.
- You can add meat, shrimp, fish, hebe, or any source of protein you like.
- For your seasoning, you have a lot of options: chicken powder/ cube, pork cube, beef cube, Knorr seasoning, msg, shrimp cube, or any as you like.
- For vegetables, Alugbati, morning glory, malunggay, string beans, eggplant, okra, or anything you add on, I think still tasty.
- You can also use coconut milk for ginataang mongo variation.
Ginisang Mongo with Vegetables
Ingredients
- 350 g mongo beans
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 pc medium onion chopped
- 1 pc medium tomato chopped
- 2 stalks lemongrass crushed
- 1 pc small ginger crushed
- 1 pc medium size of upo (bottle gourd)
- 1 pc medium sized carrots
- 1/4 pc sliced round cabbage
- 1 stalk spring onion
- 3 tbsp cooking oil
- 1 portion squash as much as you want
Seasoning
- 1 pinch salt and ground pepper
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 pack Ginisa mix for flavoring
Instructions
- I normally soak mung beans for at least 30 minutes in salt water. Wash and drain thoroughly.
- In a pot, boiled water and add munggo. Simmer for 30-50 minutes until becomes soft.
- In a pan, add cooking oil to saute garlic, onion, tomato, lemon grass, and ginger.
- Pour cooked mongo, and add seasoning. Let it boil. Add carrots and squash. Simmer for 3-5 minutes, then add upo and sliced cabbage. Cover and simmer for another minute until the vegetables are cooked enough. Seasoned if necessary.
Notes
- Soak your green vegetables in salt water and wash them properly.
- Adjust seasoning for your taste and preference.
- You can add meat, shrimp, fish, hebe, or any source of protein you like.
- For your seasoning, you have a lot of options: chicken powder/ cube, pork cube, beef cube, Knorr seasoning, msg, shrimp cube, or many as you like.
- For vegetables, Alugbati, morning glory, malunggay, string beans, eggplant, okra, or anything you add on, I think still tasty.
- You can also use coconut milk for ginataang mongo variation.
FAQ: Ginisang Mongo with Vegetables
1. How do I soften mung beans faster?
Soak the mung beans for at least 30 minutes before cooking. Using a pressure cooker also speeds up the process significantly.
2. Why are my mung beans still hard after boiling?
Old or stale mung beans take longer to soften. Hard water and acidic ingredients (like tomatoes) added too early can also slow down softening.
3. What vegetables can I add to ginisang mongo?
Common additions include malunggay, ampalaya leaves, spinach, kalabasa, and talong. These vegetables complement the earthy flavor of mung beans.
4. Can I use canned mung beans?
Yes. Canned mung beans are pre-cooked and reduce cooking time, but the flavor may be slightly different from freshly boiled beans.
5. What protein works best with mongo?
Pork, shrimp, tinapa flakes, or chicharon are classic choices. You can also keep it vegetarian by omitting meat.
6. How do I make the soup thicker?
Mash some of the cooked mung beans with a spoon before adding the vegetables. This naturally thickens the broth.
7. Can I cook mongo without sautéing?
Yes. You can boil everything directly, but sautéing garlic, onion, and tomatoes adds deeper flavor.
8. What dishes pair well with ginisang mongo?
It pairs well with fried fish, grilled pork, dried fish, or simple steamed rice. It’s a classic Filipino comfort meal.
