Mung Bean and Butternut Squash Stew
Author Notes: In Ayurveda, recipes for mung bean stew like this one are recommended for restoring the health of the digestive tract. This soup takes advantage of nourishing homemade turkey stock as well as seasonally available butternut squash, but it is easily adapted to accommodate chicken or vegetable stock, as well as many other vegetables. - WinnieAb —WinnieAb
Food52 Review: Everything about this hearty stew is comforting. The texture is thick and creamy, the vegetables make it colorful, and the ginger and chile are very warming. Above all, it's delicious. What's great about this recipe is that it is very easy to prepare and holds up well in the fridge for a few days, so it's a great option to make ahead of time and know you have something healthful on hand in case of a busy day. - VanessaS —VanessaS
Serves 6-8
- 1 cup split and hulled mung beans
- 1 tablespoon organic coconut oil or organic ghee (Indian clarified butter)
- 1 onion, peeled and diced
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
- 1 Serrano or other hot chile pepper (seeded for a less spicy stew)
- 6 cups homemade turkey, chicken or vegetable stock or water
- 2 cups peeled, seeded and cubed butternut squash (or peeled and diced white or sweet potato)
- 1-2 large carrots, chopped
- 2 cups Swiss chard or collard greens, tough stems removed, and then chopped
- 2-3 teaspoons jaggery or brown sugar
- 2-3 teaspoons garam masala
- 1/2 teaspoon tumeric
- 1 can of organic unsweetened whole coconut milk- optional
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste (the amount of salt needed will depend on how salty your stock is)
- Run cold water over mung beans in a colander. Drain and set aside.
- Warm coconut oil or ghee in a large pot. Add onion, garlic, ginger and chile pepper and saute until fragrant. Add stock or water.
- Add the mung beans and the squash, then add the rest of the vegetables and the spices. Stir well to combine all the ingredients and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring occasionally, and adding more liquid if it becomes too thick. Remove from heat when everything is soft and cooked through.
- Add optional coconut milk and stir well to combine and heat through. Add salt, taste, and adjust seasonings before serving.
- This recipe is a Community Pick!
More Great Recipes: Soups|Beans & Legumes|Swiss Chard|Sweet Potatoes|Soup
almost 2 years ago Douglas Boyce
Since I found this recipe it has become a monthly staple in my home.
DIVINITY in a bowl !
over 3 years ago Lee Anh
I blended in a block of tofu at the end to increase the protein content and give a creamier texture. I also cooked it in a pressure cooker in about 20 mins. Easy and delicious.
over 3 years ago Tashipluto
I made this tonight -- delicious! I used kabocha squash because that's what I had. I also subbed cayenne pepper, added with the other spices, because I was out of peppers. I started with half tsp and added another half because we like our food spicy. Also added a tbsp of lime juice because I thought it was too sweet -- probably because of the different squash. Then I decided to use my immersion blender at the end to make it more dal-like and less soup-like. I knew my kids would be leery of the floating chunks of squash and chard, but once it all blended up they gobbled it down. A definite keeper, my daughter even "put it on her list"!
almost 5 years ago Elena J Scribbles
So tasty! I used whole mung beans (soaked overnight) instead of the split beans and subbed a sweet green pepper and some celery for the chopped greens, and it was delicious. Very warming for the winter, but not overly-rich. So, basically perfect for this time of year, when I'm trying to repent from all the Christmas-time indulgences! Thank you for the great recipe!