Mung Bean Porridge in Coconut Milk

This porridge is commonly eaten as breakfast in Malaysia and Indonesia, but its sweetness makes for a fine dessert as well.

By
Chichi Wang
Chichi Wang: Contributing Writer at Serious Eats
Chichi Wang

Chichi Wang wrote a variety of columns for Serious Eats including The Butcher's Cuts, in addition to other stories. Born in Shanghai and raised in New Mexico, Chichi took her degree in philosophy but decided that writing about food would be more fun than writing about Plato.

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Updated September 19, 2023
20100409-semalaysian-mungbeanporridge.jpg

Mung beans, small and dark green, become bean sprouts when left to sprout. This porridge is commonly eaten as breakfast in Malaysia and Indonesia, but its sweetness makes for a fine dessert as well.

April 2010

Recipe Details

Mung Bean Porridge in Coconut Milk Recipe

Prep 5 mins
Cook 55 mins
Total 60 mins
Serves 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup mung beans, about 7 ounces or 200g

  • 4 1/2 cups water

  • 1 cinnamon stick, about 4 inches in length

  • 1 piece ginger, about 2 inches in length

  • 1 cup sugar, or to taste

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk

Directions

  1. Rinse the mung beans in a few changes of cold water, picking through them to remove any stones or grit. Place the beans in a saucepan along with the water, cinnamon stick, and ginger. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 40 minutes, until the beans have cracked open a bit but are not mushy.

  2. Add the sugar, salt, and vanilla extract. Continue to simmer until the sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes.

  3. Stir in the coconut milk. Cook until the coconut milk is just heated through, about 2 minutes. Take care not to simmer for too long, or else the milk will thicken too much. Remove the ginger and cinnamon stick from the pot. Ladle the porridge into bowls and serve warm.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
244Calories
6gFat
42gCarbs
7gProtein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories244
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g8%
Saturated Fat 5g27%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 80mg3%
Total Carbohydrate 42g15%
Dietary Fiber 4g15%
Total Sugars 27g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 2mg8%
Calcium 45mg3%
Iron 3mg15%
Potassium 390mg8%
*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.)

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