Simple Bean Sprout Recipes 豆芽食谱

Find bean sprout recipes for soups, salads and stir-fry, wraps, rolls, omelettes, pancakes and more. 

Image source: Felix at https://www.flickr.com/photos/felixchia/6830325202

Bean sprouts feature prominently in popular Asian soup dishes because it is very versatile. Mung bean sprouts are added to laksa, Hokkien prawn noodle, Vietnamese pho soup, Thai rice noodle soup, Japanese ramen and more.  

It isn't really necessary to have a recipe for cooking bean sprouts in soup. They can be added to practically any type of clear soup. Just wash, clean and drain them for use. Drop a bunch into the boiling soup pot and cook for 1 minute before serving. 

Having said that, the Koreans do have a soup made up primarily of soybean sprouts called Kongnamul Guk. It is a very common and popular soup and was touted as a great hangover soup. Take a look at Maangchi’s recipe. 

Bean sprouts cook quickly and are a great way to add bulk, crunch and nutrients. Besides adding them to soups, there are other ways to enjoy it. 

Bean Sprouts Salad

One of the next best ways to enjoy bean sprouts is in refreshing salads. 

Although bean sprouts can be eaten raw, it is not advisable. Firstly, bacteria like E Coli have been found on bean sprouts, which are killed by cooking. Secondly, the taste can be a little raw or green. Both the Chinese and Koreans use bean sprouts in refreshing side dishes and salads and they are all blanched or boiled quickly before use. 

The 2 videos below showcased Korean and Chinese versions of a simple bean sprouts salad. The preparation of the bean sprouts is basically the same. The difference lies in the dressing. 

Thai Bean Sprouts Salad Recipe

The following recipe is a light, refreshing salad with a Thai inspired salad dressing.

Ingredients

  • 1 packet of mung bean sprouts
  • 1/2 carrot
  • 1 stalk coriander leaves
  • 3 tbsp peanuts

Salad dressing

  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp Thai fish sauce
  • 1 tbsp chopped red chili
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2 tsp oyster sauce
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salad oil

Method

  1. Wash, peel and julienne the carrot or cut into long thin strips
  2. Wash the bean sprouts thoroughly and remove any that are not fresh
  3. Sprinkle some salt over the carrot strips and sprouts
  4. Quickly blanch both in hot water for about 30 seconds
  5. Drain, remove and leave aside to cool
  6. Crush the peanuts into small bits in a food processor. You can pound them manually using a mortar and pestle or place them in a ziplock bag and crush them using a rolling pin or something hard.
  7. Mix the ingredients of the salad dressing in a mixing bowl and add the carrots and sprouts
  8. Plate the mixture, sprinkle with crushed peanuts and garnish with the coriander leaves

 You can substitute mung bean sprouts with soybean sprouts. Just lengthen the time needed to blanch the soybean sprouts.

Bean Sprouts and Sukiyaki Pork Salad Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 packet of fresh mung bean sprouts
  • 100g sukiyaki pork (that is, thinly sliced pork)
  • 5 cherry tomatoes
  • 3 fresh lettuce leaves

Blanching mix

  • 1/2 tsp cooking wine
  • 1/2 tsp rice vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Salad dressing

  • 2 tbsp red miso paste
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp mirin
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tsp sesame seed oil
  • Pinch of dijon mustard

Method

  1. Bring a pot of water to a boil, add the blanching mix
  2. Add the bean sprouts and cook for about 1 minute. Remove and drain
  3. Add the sukiyaki pork slices
  4. Cook the pork slices making sure to separate each piece of pork and let it cook through (no longer pink)
  5. Drain and set aside to cool
  6. Cut the cherry tomatoes in half
  7. Mix the ingredients of the salad dressing together
  8. Pour the salad dressing over the cooled sprouts and pork slices
  9. Arrange the lettuce leaves and tomato halves on the serving plate
  10. Plate the salad and serve

Bean Sprouts Stir Fry 

Stir-frying is a very popular Chinese cooking technique. Here is a simple recipe. Many bean sprouts stir fry recipes are vegetarian. Somehow the technique elevates the flavour and makes adding meat unnecessary. See 2 recipes below.

Mung Bean Sprouts, Carrot, and Onion Stir Fry Recipe

Image source: http://petitetish.blogspot.com/2006/03/blog-post_07.html

Ingredients

  • 300g mung bean sprouts
  • 1 small carrot
  • 1 shallot or small red onion
  • Cooking oil
  • Dash of soy sauce and sesame seed oil

Method

  1. Wash and remove the roots of the mung bean sprouts
  2. Peel and julienne the carrot
  3. Peel and chop finely the small red onion
  4. Heat up 1 tbsp of cooking oil in a frying pan and add the chopped onion
  5. Fry till lightly brown and fragrant
  6. Add the carrot and fry till it is slightly soft, add the sprouts
  7. Fry everything till soft. 
  8. Add soy sauce and sesame seed oil to taste
  9. As the sprouts cook, it will release some moisture which should be sufficient for the pan not to be too dry, but if it seems to be drying up and making stirring it a tad difficult, add a splash of soup stock or water.  
  10. Serve with flatbread, spring roll sheets or Vietnamese rice sheets

Here’s another homestyle stir fry that is suitable for both young and old. 

Bean Sprouts Rolls and Wraps

Bean sprouts are popular in fillings for rolls, dumplings and wraps too. Here is a tasty one: 

Bean Sprouts Beef Roll Recipe

Ingredients

  • 200g thinly sliced beef
  • 150g mung bean sprouts
  • 1 tbsp cooking oil

Seasoning

  • 1 tbsp minced ginger
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp cooking wine
  • 1 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 2 tbsp water

Method

  1. Thaw the beef slices if they are frozen
  2. Prepare a clean surface for rolling the beef slices. It can be a cutting board, a big plate or tray
  3. Wash, rinse and drain the mung bean sprouts. Remove the heads and tails (optional)
  4. Lay a beef slice out, take a small bunch of sprouts and place them onto the slice
  5. Roll the beef slice over the sprouts tightly
  6. Repeat until all the slices and sprouts are used up 
  7. Heat up a frying pan, add the cooking oil 
  8. Gently pan fry the beef rolls
  9. Mix all the seasoning ingredients in a small bowl
  10. When the beef rolls are cooked, add the seasoning mixture
  11. Roll the beef rolls in the seasoning mixture to coat
  12. When the liquid is sufficiently reduced, the rolls are ready
  13. Plate them and sprinkle with some toasted white sesame seeds

Below is a video for a bean sprouts pork roll using thinly sliced pork and a plum infused sauce. A hit with the kids. Watch it for the technique for rolling the sprouts in meat slices. 

Vietnamese Rice Paper Roll Recipe

The Vietnamese rice paper roll is the quintessential Vietnamese starter. So fresh, so appetizing with fresh ingredients. All the vegetables used in this roll including the bean sprouts are raw. The peanut dipping sauce looks promising although I prefer the sweet and tangy version.  

Find the full recipe and stey-by-step instructions at https://www.recipetineats.com

Bean Sprouts Omelettes and Pancakes

Besides stir frying bean sprouts with eggs, an omelette can be quite good too. It is cheap and nutritious.

Bean Sprouts Omelette Recipe

Bean Sprouts OmeletteA plate of bean sprouts omelette.

Ingredients

  • 3 eggs
  • 200g bean sprouts
  • Salt and pepper or soy sauce
  • Cooking oil

Method

  1. Beat the eggs, add a little water and season with some salt and pepper. You can use soy sauce as well
  2. Heat 2 to 3 tbsp cooking oil in a flat frying pan
  3. When the oil starts to smoke, pour in the beaten egg
  4. Swirl the egg around to coat the pan a little 
  5. When the edges of the egg start to curl, add the bean sprouts spreading them evenly on top of the egg
  6. When the omelette looks firm enough, flip it over
  7. Fry till golden brown on both sides
  8. Serve hot with steamed rice

Bean Sprouts Okonomiyaki Recipe (Japanese Pizza)

Traditional okonomiyaki uses cabbage. Here it is substituted with bean sprouts. Great for people who are concerned about flatulence caused by cabbage.  

I hope you have find this recipe collection interesting. I'll leave you with this 5-minute video showcasing several more recipes using bean sprouts for even more inspiration.

Happy Souping, Phoebe

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