recipes
Endless summer days invariably mean long hours in the sun, late nights and possibly a little bit too much fun, if there is such a thing. So, sometimes we need to take time out for ourselves and recharge. A simple, restorative green mung bean soup can really do the trick.
The tiny mung bean is considered the god of all ingredients in many cultures – it’s potassium-, magnesium-, folate-, fibre- and vitamin B6-rich and it’s great for detoxing the system, particularly the liver, and balancing the body and skin. A cherished ingredient in Ayurveda, as it’s tri-doshic when teamed with the right spices, the mung bean is really a legume and can be used whole, in its split form or sprouted. In this case, this simple and easy soup mixes the beans with turmeric, ginger and cumin, all great for the digestion. This is not just a tasty, nourishing and healing soup, but is also a great way to have that seasonal detox between late summer and autumn.
Ingredients
500g dried green mung beans, soaked overnight
1 tsp coconut oil
1 x tbsp turmeric powder
1 x tsp dried chilli flakes
1 pinch asafoetida
½ tsp ginger
½ tsp cumin
1 x cinnamon stick
A handful of fresh coriander
750ml of good vegetable stock
Himalayan salt/crushed black peppercorns, to taste
Method
1. Soak the mung beans overnight in twice their quantity of water.
2. Drain and rinse the mung beans.
3. In a saucepan, heat the dried ingredients through the coconut oil for a few minutes until coated and fragrant.
4. Mix in the mung beans, the stock and coriander and leave to simmer for about 45–60 minutes, or until the beans are tender to the touch.
Season to taste before serving. Then, enjoy the benefits.
A version of this article appeared in HIP, August 2018 issue (print and online) as ‘Mung bean magic, a healing green soup’.
Also of interest: ‘Eat, drink and make merry – tasting summer‘; ‘The unprepossessing Hunza apricot‘; ‘Fava me with love – breaking bread with friends‘; ‘A little bit of cheese, please, my dear‘; ‘Soup love – all about my mother’; ‘The not-so-humble pancake‘; ‘Cooking lesson – Master of Hammer Vincent Price makes a daring curry‘; ‘Venison requires a strong arm: Nero Wolfe knows how to cook‘
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