Ginisang Monggo (Filipino Mung Bean Stew with Pork and Spinach)
Local name: Ginisang monggo
In short: Mung beans simmered into a thick, savory stew with garlic, tomato and pork, finished with spinach and crisp pork bits, an everyday Filipino staple. It takes about 1 h 15 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 1 h
- Total
- 1 h 15 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 260 kcal
Ginisang monggo is the mung bean stew that many Filipino families cook through the week, because the beans are cheap, filling and need no overnight soaking. They are boiled until they break down into a thick, earthy soup, then mixed with a sauteed base of garlic, onion, tomato and pork and finished with leafy greens. It is salted with fish sauce, topped with crunchy fried garlic or pork rinds, and eaten over steamed rice.
Instructions
- Put the mung beans and water in a pot and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover partly and simmer for 35 to 45 minutes, until the beans are very soft and many have burst. Add hot water if the pot gets dry.
- Meanwhile, heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Fry the pork for 6 to 8 minutes, until browned and the fat has rendered.
- Add the onion and garlic and cook for 3 minutes, then add the tomatoes and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until they break down into a jammy base.
- Tip this mixture into the beans, add the fish sauce and simmer for 10 minutes. Mash some of the beans against the side of the pot to thicken the stew.
- Stir in the spinach and pepper and cook for 2 minutes, until the leaves wilt. Taste and add fish sauce as needed.
- Serve in bowls over steamed rice, topped with fried garlic and crushed pork rinds.
Tips
- For a creamier stew, mash a ladleful of beans against the pot and stir it back in. Thin it with hot water if it turns too thick.
- Whole green mung beans keep some texture. Split yellow mung beans cook faster, in about 20 minutes, and give a smoother, more porridge-like stew.
Questions and answers
Do I need to soak mung beans for ginisang monggo?
Not necessarily. Whole mung beans cook in 35 to 45 minutes without soaking. Soaking for 2 hours shortens the cooking time slightly.
Can I make ginisang monggo without pork?
Yes. Many families use shrimp or fried fish flakes, or leave out the meat and season with salt for a vegetarian dish.
What greens go in ginisang monggo?
Spinach, moringa leaves (malunggay) and chili leaves are the usual choices. Bitter melon leaves and sweet potato tops also work.
How long does it take to make Ginisang Monggo (Filipino Mung Bean Stew with Pork and Spinach)?
About 1 h 15 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 1 h of cooking.
How many calories are in Ginisang Monggo (Filipino Mung Bean Stew with Pork and Spinach)?
About 260 kcal per serving, with 15 g of protein, 28 g of carbohydrates and 10 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 260 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 15 g |
| Carbohydrates | 28 g |
| Fat | 10 g |
| Fiber | 9 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 800 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
