Sautéed Mung Bean and Spinach Stew with Garlic

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A nourishing Filipino vegetable stew featuring tender mung beans and bright spinach leaves simmered with garlic and onion for a wholesome meal. This Filipino-inspired vegetarian recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, pairs mung beans (munggo), rinsed, water, spinach leaves, washed for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 160 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 40 min Serves 4 Filipino cuisine 160 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

The Dutch oven we’d braise this in → Best Dutch Ovens for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup rinsed mung beans and 4 cups water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes until mung beans are soft but not mushy.
  2. Step 2: While mung beans cook, heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 medium chopped onion and sauté for 4 minutes until translucent.
  3. Step 3: Add 5 minced garlic cloves to the skillet and cook for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  4. Step 4: Pour the cooked mung beans with their cooking liquid into the skillet. Stir and simmer for 5 minutes to combine flavors.
  5. Step 5: Add 4 cups spinach leaves, 2 tablespoons fish sauce, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and salt to taste. Stir gently and cook for 3 more minutes until spinach is wilted and tender.
  6. Step 6: Adjust seasoning if needed and serve warm as a side dish or light main course.

Related recipes