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Mung bean soup with pickled cabbage and hand holding a silver spoon

Mung Bean Soup

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Author: Nico Pallotta

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 2 carrots cut into discs
  • 3 cloves garlic grated
  • 1 inch (2½ centimeters) ginger grated
  • 2 teaspoons curry powder
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin optional
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes add more or less to taste
  • 6 cups (1½ liters) vegetable broth or more if needed
  • 1 can (15 ounces) (400 grams) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 cup (200 grams) mung beans whole, dry, uncooked
  • 1 pound (450 grams) potatoes peeled and cut into bite-size chunks
  • 1 teaspoon salt or more to taste
  • 2 twists black pepper
  • 1 lemon the juice. Optional: top with fresh cilantro, Greek or non-dairy yogurt, pickled cabbage or pickled red onion.

  • Heat 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil in a large pot, add 1 large onion (chopped) and 2 carrots (sliced into discs) and sauté on medium heat for 5 minutes.
    carrots and onions in a blue casserole and hands holding a wooden spoon
  • Add 3 cloves garlic, 1 inch ginger (both grated), 2 teaspoons curry powder, ½ teaspoon turmeric powder, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes and sauté 1 more minute until fragrant.
    vegetables and spice mix in a blue Dutch oven
  • Add 6 cups vegetable broth, 1 can (15 ounces) crushed tomatoes, 1 cup mung beans (rinsed), 1 teaspoon salt, and 2 twists black pepper.
    Cover with a lid, bring to a boil, then crack the top open, lower the heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.
    Mung beans and canned tomatoes with broth in a blue casserole
  • Add 1 pound potatoes peeled and cut into bite-size chunks, and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, or until potatoes and mung beans are tender. Stir occasionally.
    Mung beans and potatoes in a soup with hand holding a wooden spoon
  • Taste and adjust for salt and spices.
    Optionally, you can add 5 ounces/150 grams of spinach 5 minutes before the soup is done simmering.
    Mung bean soup with a silver spoon and fresh cilantro

MAKE IT A MEAL

  • You can top with a squeeze of lemon, cilantro, yogurt, and pickled red onion or cabbage. Serve with naan or pita bread.
    Mung bean soup with pickled cabbage and a hand holding a silver spoon
Nutrition information is an estimate for 1 serving of mung bean soup out of 4 without bread and toppings.
STORAGE & MAKE AHEAD
Make ahead: curry lentil soup is an excellent recipe for meal prep, as its flavor gets better a day after it’s cooked. Also, it keeps well for days.
Refrigerator: let the soup cool down, then transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freezer: this recipe is perfect for freezing. Let it cool down completely, transfer it to a freezer-friendly container, and freeze for up to 3 months.
Thaw: defrost curry lentil soup in the fridge over several hours or in the microwave with a thawing function.
Reheat: warm the soup in the microwave for a couple of minutes or in a saucepan. Add a dash of water if necessary.
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