Make a Healthy Chinese Mung Bean Sprout Stir-Fry Recipe for Dinner (2024)

  • Chinese Dinner Recipes
  • Main Dishes
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Liv Wan

Liv Wan

Liv Wan is a former professional chef who has published three cookbooks about Chinese and Taiwanese cuisine.

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Updated on 05/17/22

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Make a Healthy Chinese Mung Bean Sprout Stir-Fry Recipe for Dinner (1)

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Mung bean sprouts are one of the most popular vegetables in Chinese and Taiwanese cuisine. These crunchy vegetables are simply the sprout of mung beans, a legume that's widely used in both savory and sweet preparations. As a stir-fry ingredient, they are very versatile and can be combined with other vegetables and all sorts of proteins, from beef to tofu, shrimp, or chicken. These plump, silver-white strands are also visually appealing, and their crunch is irresistible. Our easy vegetarian and vegan-friendly preparation makes for an excellent base for heartier dishes or for a delicious vegetable side.

The crunchy texture of the sprouts and sweet taste allows them tobe cooked in many different ways, such as boiled in noodle soups, blanched and added to salads, fried in spring rolls and egg rolls, or chopped up and steamed into dumpling fillings.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound mung bean sprouts

  • 1 tablespoon neutral oil

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 spring onion, sliced

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Remove the “hair” from the bean sprout tips. This step is optional, but removing it will create a nicer looking dish with better texture. If you do not have time, you can leave the hair on, as it is edible.

    Make a Healthy Chinese Mung Bean Sprout Stir-Fry Recipe for Dinner (3)

  3. Rinse the bean sprouts under cold water and soak them in water for 5 minutes.

    Make a Healthy Chinese Mung Bean Sprout Stir-Fry Recipe for Dinner (4)

  4. Drain, leaving the bean sprouts in the colander for 30 minutes to get rid of most of the water.

    Make a Healthy Chinese Mung Bean Sprout Stir-Fry Recipe for Dinner (5)

  5. In a wok, heat up the oil on medium-high heat and stir-fry the garlic until it becomes aromatic.

    Make a Healthy Chinese Mung Bean Sprout Stir-Fry Recipe for Dinner (6)

  6. Add the bean sprouts and quickly stir-fry for 30 seconds.

    Make a Healthy Chinese Mung Bean Sprout Stir-Fry Recipe for Dinner (7)

  7. Add the spring onion and continue stir-frying for another 30 seconds. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately as a side dish or use it as an ingredient in other stir-fry preparations.

    Make a Healthy Chinese Mung Bean Sprout Stir-Fry Recipe for Dinner (8)

  8. Enjoy.

Why Snip the Tails of the Sprouts?

The brown hairy piece at one end of the sprout is the root. Although edible, it's customary to snip it off when cooking these sprouts. With the tail off, mung bean sprouts look more appetizing and taste a whole lot better. Otherwise, they can be a little straggly, stringy, and musky.

Soy Sauce and Sesame Dressing

Instead of using just salt and pepper as seasoning, try adding 1 tablespoon of soy sauce and 1/2 teaspoon of sugar plus a pinch of salt when stir-frying the sprouts. Add a drizzle of sesame oil a few minutes before you are ready to serve it.

How to Sprout Mung Beans at Home

Sprouting mung beans is fairly easy and requires very little equipment. To sprout your own beans, you need a pound of mung beans, a big bowl, a container with a lid, and a colander:

  • Rinse the dry beans with running water for a few minutes, discarding any odd-colored beans or debris.
  • Place the rinsed beans in a bowl and cover them with clean water.
  • Soak for 12 hours.
  • Drain the beans and rinse with clean water.
  • Allow the beans to sit in a colander for 30 minutes to get rid of most of the moisture.
  • Place the beans in a container with an askew lid.
  • Place the container in a dark corner of your kitchen counter and leave it to sprout for 12 to 16 hours.
  • Check on the sprouts and rinse again. At this point, you might have long enough sprouts to eat.
  • If you want the sprouts to be longer, drain in a colander for 30 minutes before placing them back in the container with the lid askew in a dark corner of your kitchen counter. Allow 12 to 16 more hours of sprouting.
  • Keep the sprouts refrigerated and eat within two days to three days.

A Variety of Chinese Vegetables

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
58Calories
4g Fat
6g Carbs
2g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3to 4
Amount per serving
Calories58
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g5%
Saturated Fat 0g1%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 158mg7%
Total Carbohydrate 6g2%
Dietary Fiber 1g4%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 14mg71%
Calcium 19mg1%
Iron 1mg5%
Potassium 131mg3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

  • stir fry
  • dinner
  • chinese
  • family dinner

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Make a Healthy Chinese Mung Bean Sprout Stir-Fry Recipe for Dinner (2024)

FAQs

Are stir fried bean sprouts healthy? ›

Yes, bean sprouts are generally good for most people. They are an excellent option if you are looking for a low-calorie, low-fat, high-protein, low-carb, nutritional food. Bean sprouts contain fats in traces and the fats present are mostly healthy fats (mono and polyunsaturated).

What is the healthiest way to eat bean sprouts? ›

Sprouted kidney beans are best consumed cooked. You can boil, sauté, or stir-fry them, then add them to dishes like stews and noodles. Kidney bean sprouts are particularly high in antioxidants, such as vitamin C and melatonin. Melatonin is believed to lower your risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

What to eat mung bean sprouts with? ›

Use them wherever you want a pop of fresh vegetal texture. Try them as a crunchy addition in salads like this Crunchy Ramen Noodle Salad With Cabbage, or this Cucumber, Tomato and Green Bean Salad. With such a light flavor of their own, sprouted mung beans will take on the taste of whatever dressing you choose to use.

Are cooked mung bean sprouts healthy? ›

Like many other sprouts, they are packed with vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, B1, B2, C, E and niacin as well as potassium, phosphorus and iron. Mung bean sprouts are also rich in dietary fibre and are relatively high in protein for a vegetable, with about 3g of protein per 100g.

When should you not eat bean sprouts? ›

Always practice food safety for sprouts. Sprouts are a known source of foodborne illness. Children, older adults, pregnant women, and persons with weakened immune systems should avoid eating raw sprouts of any kind (including alfalfa, clover, radish, and mung bean sprouts).

When should you not use bean sprouts? ›

Throw away any sprouts that are past their best-before date or that have lost their crispness, look wilted or smell musty.

How do you cook bean sprouts without losing nutrients? ›

Many people consume raw sprouts daily and yet have never faced any trouble. However, for your safety, put some oil in the pan and saute the sprouts for a while to kill the bacteria or can either boil in salt water for 5-10 minutes. Cooking them is even better for your digestive system and the absorption of nutrients.

How do you make bean sprouts safe to eat? ›

Cook sprouts thoroughly to reduce the risk of illness. Cooking kills the harmful bacteria. Request that raw sprouts not be added to your food. If you purchase a sandwich or salad at a restaurant or delicatessen, check to make sure that raw sprouts have not been added.

Can I eat mung beans for dinner? ›

Mung beans are popular as fresh salads and cooked as lentils or soup. Mung beans are good because they supply protein and fiber and they protect the liver and you can eat them daily.

What is the difference between bean sprouts and mung bean sprouts? ›

Don't confuse mung beans sprouts with soybean sprouts—they have bigger, droopier heads–which are popular in Korea. Because of their high water content, mung bean sprouts get slimy, and inedible, quickly. Store them in the crisper for no more than 2 days after purchasing.

Can I eat mung bean sprouts daily? ›

There is no harm in consuming moong sprouts daily as they are rich source of protein, Vit C, and fiber, but i will recommend you to consume different kind of sprouts like black chana, peas, cow pea in your meal, or you can mix all of them and have it, for better nutritional value.

Can you eat the green part of mung bean sprouts? ›

Mung bean sprouts are not grown to leaves. You can eat the whole sprout, including the thin, greenish hull.

What are mung beans called in America? ›

Mung bean (Vigna radiata) is a plant species of Fabaceae and is also known as green gram.

Are bean sprouts anti-inflammatory? ›

May reduce inflammation

Preliminary studies show that mung bean sprouts contain powerful antioxidants that can stop inflammation in its tracks. Chronic inflammation is a key factor in many diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and arthritis. So keeping it on the down low is good for your health.

Are bean sprouts in Chinese food good for you? ›

Bean sprouts are rich in vitamins and minerals and are a popular ingredient in many Asian dishes. They are easy to grow at home and are a nutritious addition to various dishes.

Does cooking bean sprouts destroy nutrients? ›

Cooking sprouts will kill harmful bacteria, but heat may also destroy some of their added nutritional benefits. People should follow the "use by" date on the packaging, and some sprouted products may require refrigeration.

Are bean sprouts healthy for weight loss? ›

Weight Loss

It's also regarded as a healthy way to lose weight. Bean sprouts come into play in this situation. Because it has no fat, you may eat as much as you like. Mix it into soups and salads to enjoy the benefits of minerals and vitamins while losing weight without jeopardizing your health.

What are the pros and cons of bean sprouts? ›

And they're rich in protein, fiber, and antioxidants. This nutrient-dense legume may help prevent various chronic and degenerative diseases as part of a balanced diet. Raw bean sprouts have a history of outbreaks of foodborne illness. You may be at higher risk if you have a weakened immune system or are pregnant.

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