It cannot be denied that moong is indeed one of India’s most beloved lentils. Moong dal - also known as green gram, mung bean, monggo, or munggo - is cultivated in East, Southeast and South Asia. It also finds mention in ancient Indian texts like Monosollassa, a 12th Century Sanskrit manual compiled by King Someshwara III of present-day Karnataka. To date, you will find moong-based recipes across the country. Here we focus on the southern part of India to find out how this desi superfood is making the cuisines richer with its flavour, versatility, and more.
1. Moong Dal Murukku
Murukku is a popular tea-time snack in many parts of South India. It is as renowned for its crispness as it is for its shape. It resembles a coil and it is so crunchy that you want to gulp it all in a go. Murukku can be made with a variety of flour that is mixed together for a lump-free batter. Here, the batter is made with moong dal and the results are just too good to be true.
2. Sprouted Moong Dosa
Not just moong, but it is the goodness of sprouted moong that makes this dosa so wholesome and healthy. Grind sprouted mung beans and rice flour in a smooth paste, pour it on hot, greased tawa and enjoy delicious, high-protein dosa in the comfort of your home.
3. Moong And Urad Dal Cocktail Vada
Combining the goodness of two of our favourite dals, these vada are tiny nibbles that can go well with your tea as well as your cocktails. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, these vadas are best paired with coconut chutney.
4. Moong Dal Appam
Not a fan of fritters, not a problem. Try appam. Appam or appe are round, steamed balls made of rice flour or lentil, in this case, moong dal. It is soft and spongy, and just too delightful to resist. They are good on their own, but a bit of spicy tomato chutney on the side may not be a bad idea.
5. Adai Idli
Now, how can we round up our list without idlis, right? Idlis are a crown jewel of South Indian cuisine and while the most popular kind of idli is made with rice flour batter, you would be surprised to know that you can experiment endlessly with the batter. For instance, try making this one with a combination of our favourite dals.
