Chef's Secrets: Sprout Your Own Beans At Home To Turn Them Into Salads
Cookbook author and food writer Sylvia Tan shares her recipe's secrets and cooking tips
Remember the days back in school when we tried to sprout mung beans in wet cotton wool?
Well, those days are back for me, for I have been sprouting mung and adzuki beans, or what we know as green and red beans, in my kitchen.
I feel like a schoolgirl again, except that the exercise is no longer just for fun, but for dinner.
Sprouted beans are more digestible than dried beans, and are rich in fibre and nutrients. They are also easier to cook, taking only minutes for the dish to be ready.
They make a versatile salad, with onions added for crunch and sweetness and green chillies for bite. You can also add vegetables such as fennel bulbs and cucumber.
And it is easy to sprout beans. You can also sprout seeds and legumes such as lentils and peas, though you can buy ready-sprouted mixed beans at some supermarkets.
You merely soak the beans overnight, wash them well and leave them in a colander, rinsing them a few times a day.
After sprouting, blanch the beans quickly in boiling water, then stop the cooking by plunging them in cold water and they are done.
Do add a strip of kombu to the pot. Kombu, a dried seaweed, helps to soften the beans while cooking. It also helps digestion and is a great source of trace minerals.
For this version, I added raw onions and green chillies. You can also add spring onions, fresh coriander or other green herbs for a more subtle lift.
These are grown-up tastes despite the childish beginnings in sprouting activity and I think they would stand me in good stead into my later years.
Get Sylvia Tan's Adzuki And Mung Beans Salad recipe here.
Sylvia Tan is a freelance writer and cookbook author. Her most recent recipes can be found in two cookbooks, Eat To Live and Taste.
Text: Sylvia Tan/The Straits Times
Love food and cooking? Join our Domestic Diva Circle to get cooking tips, special invitations to culinary events and exclusive giveaways. Sign up here for free now!
Chef’s Secrets: Learn How To Cook This Plate Of Traditional Teochew Steamed Mullet
Learn How To Make Healthy Sushi Mini Rolls At Home
Create This Healthy, Yummy Meal With Recipes From Domestic Diva Cooking Masterclass 2017