Ginataang munggo is a Filipino dessert made from mung beans, glutinous rice, coconut milk and sugar. It is known for its creamy texture, sweet taste and basic ingredients. This dish is great for the family who loves Filipino home cooked food. It is usually eaten as an afternoon snack or merienda.
It’s a dessert with ingredients from Filipino kitchens. The mung beans add a hint of nuttiness, and the glutinous rice makes it soft and sticky. The coconut milk adds a nice flavor and that brown sugar adds just the right amount of sweetness. That’s the stuff that makes something warm, and satisfying that people can enjoy at home.”
The best of Filipino comfort food
Ginataang munggo is a Filipino tradition of cooking dishes with gata or coconut milk. Local cuisine relies heavily on coconut milk, which features in both savory dishes and sweet desserts.
Mung beans are usually used in savory dishes but they are also good in sweet dishes. The pair is blended with rice and coconut milk to create a smooth, tasty dessert.
Families can also tweak the recipe to their liking. Some like it thick. Others soft. You can add more sugar and coconut milk to taste.
Ingredients for Ginataang Munggo
The recipe released by Delish Philippines could serve about three people and takes about 45 minutes for preparation and cooking.
The main ingredients are:
- 1/4 cup dried mung beans, toasted and crushed
- 1/2 cup glutinous rice
- 300 milliliters coconut milk
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup water
These simple ingredients are all you need to create a sweet creamy treat.
How to Make Munggo Ginataang
Rinse the mung beans first to remove any dirt or small stones. Rinse thoroughly and dry in a dry pan on low to medium heat. Keep stirring it so it doesn’t burn. Allow the beans to cool, and lightly mash.
Then wash sticky rice and drain the water. Put rice in a pot of water. 1 cup water. Stir often, and cook over low to medium heat until rice is almost tender, 20 to 30 minutes.
When the rice is softening add crushed mung beans. Cook until done. Add some water if too thick.
Stir in the coconut milk. Turn down the heat. stirring frequently until mixture is creamy. Add brown sugar and stir until dissolved Taste the dessert, and adjust the sugar as needed.
Bake until the dessert is as dense as you want it to be. Remember that it will thicken up as it cools. Serve in small bowls, warm.
Tips to Make Sweets Better
For best results, cook mixture over low heat, stirring often. Coconut milk and sticky rice stick to the pan, do not leave the dessert alone.
You can also add some ripe bananas, jackfruit or cooked sago pearls for taste and texture. If you want a lighter dessert, reduce the sugar or add more water.
Ginataang munggo is a good example of how some of the common ingredients can be turned into a delicious Filipino dessert. This creamy dessert is an easy way to have some homegrown Filipino food. It is eaten as a merienda, or after a meal.