Filipino Mung Bean Stew Recipe (Munggo)
Upon hearing that I was making a cheffed-up version of munggo, a rich Filipino mung bean stew, my husband gleefully quoted lines from the Candygram scene in
Blazing Saddles (1974). “Mongo like candy,” he said. The band Mungo Jerry had a song titled In the Summertime, he went on to point out. I didn’t know he was so full of mongo details. He also loves beans.
When I think of munggo, the little beans are top of mind because that is the star ingredient. Years ago, I learned about munggo stew from a Filipino friend’s mom, Mrs. Esperanza. I was intrigued by it. South Asian dals may be made with mung beans. But here was a classic dal-like dish from the Filipino kitchen. Mrs. Esperanza offered a recipe that was good and employed bittermelon leaves picked from the vines. She said the dish was healthy, though as I recall, she included pork in hers. It was delicious, albeit heavy. There are also versions of munggo that include shrimp or shr