Ginisang Monggo — Filipino Mung Bean Stew

Ingredients

• 1¼ cups mung beans or green lentils, rinsed
• 5 cups water
• 1 onion + 4 cloves garlic + 1 tomato, chopped
• 2 cups Spinach
• 1 tbsp fish sauce (or soy for the meatless build)
• 3 tbsp oil
• Optional: crispy fried garlic or pork bits on top
• Rice

Method

1. Simmer the mung beans in the water until they burst and soften, 25–30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile sauté ('ginisa' — the founding move of Filipino cooking) the garlic, onion, and tomato in the oil until saucy.
3. Pour the sauté into the beans and simmer 10 minutes together; season with the fish sauce.
4. Stir in the Spinach until just wilted.
5. Serve over rice with something crispy on top. Filipino Fridays smell like monggo — thrifty, savory, and quietly one of the best things on the national table.