Mung Beans
Left, dried; right, after soaking overnight
We had snow and more snow and more to come tomorrow. The snow bank is getting higher and higher. It will be a long, long time before any outdoor planting can take place. To help the winter days pass quicker, I am spending more time with my kitchen garden.
Few weeks ago I grew chickpeas sprouts, this past week was growing mung beans sprouts.
Soaked my mung beans on Tuesday night and drained the following morning. Placed in a colander, covered with damp paper towel and set on the warmest area of my kitchen counter. The following days all I did was rinse and drain twice a day (once in the morning and once in the evening). Click here to learn more.
On that same day I also soaked blackeye peas to make comparison with the mung beans sprouts but they did not sprout. Not sure why, will have to try again.
Mung beans sprouts after 2½ days
Getting rid of the bean husks at this stage was a challenge. Did manage to get rid of most.
As you can see from the photo above, my sprouts are much shorter than the ones you see in the food market. Reason is I needed them for an experiment and could not wait.
The experiment involves Brussels sprouts.
I bought some Brussels sprouts from the food market. After trimming I ended up with a pile of outer leaves. Thinking: surely I could do something with those leaves.
Brussels sprouts, untrimmed, trimmed & trimmings
So instead of tossing them out I sorted and discarded the undesirable leaves, stacked the remaining nice looking ones and cut into thin strips (had to do a few stacks but it was easy).
This is what I did:
• Made a stir-fry by combining the shredded Brussels sprouts with the mung beans sprouts, shredded carrots and red onion.
• For flavor I used garlic, ginger, sesame oil, salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste.
• Had some ham in the freezer and cooked sweet potato noodles (see NOTE) in the fridge, tossed those in as well. Enjoyed the results, the shredded Brussels sprouts were delicious. Will definitely make again with other meats, poultry or seafood.
(This is just a basic dish. No recipe required, just add whatever is on hand and season to your liking). Click here to learn about sweet potato noodles.
Sweet potato noodles stir-fry (see NOTE)
The dish could use more noodles but that was all I had
NOTE: I reheated the sweet potato noodles in chicken broth to give them some flavor. If you would like your sweet potato noodles to have some color toss them with soy sauce, tamari or oyster sauce, 1 – 3 teaspoons or as needed.
• Next time I will add toasted black/white sesame seeds, Chinese parsley (cilantro) and sliced scallions to the dish (did not have any at the time I made the dish)
• Curry and/or chili sauce would be good in this dish also
• Substitute egg noodles, rice noodles, pasta or rice for the sweet potato noodles
• Other ideas: wrap the stir-fried vegetables (sans sweet potato noodles) in tortilla, fill a taco shell or pita pocket half …..
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Have this nifty gadget in my kitchen. It was given to me by a friend many years ago.
This shredder makes nice long carrot shreds that look almost like they were shredded with a knife. It is inexpensive (about US$5.00), durable and takes up very little storage space. Much used and much loved.
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Winter wonderland
Balsam Firs
Not sure when I will be able to open the shed door
Hope soon as I need to get my seed starting supplies
My Walkway
(the small black square to the left in the background is my mailbox)
Steps leading to the front door (the dark area to the right is the stonewall)
Behind the snow bank is my neighbor’s house
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Copyright © by Norma Chang. All Rights Reserved. Do not use/repost any photos and/or articles without permission.
Visit Daphne’s Dandelions http://daphnesdandelions.blogspot.com/ for more Harvest Mondays
Garden to Wok 
You all look as snowy as we are. But predictions say we get a thaw at the end of the week so it may all be going away soon. Then maybe I can feel like spring is coming. Your dish looks so colorful. I love dishes that are like that, though recently I’ve been making dishes that look more like my risotto with pureed veggies in them. That really turns the color to mush.
Hello Daphne,
Will need a very long thaw for the piles of snow to go away. I really like your ideas of using pureed vegetables will be copying.
I like Brussels sprouts so much, I still have some at home (used them for yesterday dinner). Nice idea for lunch.
Hello Marta,
Aren’t Brussels sprouts just the cutest looking baby cabbages? Hope you will post recipe of how you use them.
What a colorful stir fry. I like the idea of adding the sprout leaves. We are supposed to be flying home tomorrow but with snow I think it will be a long day.
Hello Karen,
Thanks, I just hated to throw out something that looked good and is edible. Aren’t you glad you missed the big one? That one storm brought us 21 inches of snow. Safe and pleasant trip home tomorrow.
We missed three storms which was a very good thing. 🙂 Thank you for your wish…hopefully our flight won’t be cancelled.
Hello Karen,
Lucky you. Hope your flight is on time.
Oh my Norma, it looks like you have run out of room to put the snow that you have shoveled. Hoping it all melts soon, but as you know well, stay strong as March can be full of unexpected surprises. Your stirfry looks beautiful and love the idea of a little lemon juice just to add some freshness to the dish. Delightful.
Hello Bam,
Definitely running out of room to pile the snow. Well, we do not want all that snow to melt too fast as that may create flooding. Like to add a squeeze of lemon juice to dishes to brighten up a bit.
Excellent stir-fry … it would probably be great cold too! Thank Heavens the Far North doesn’t get near as much snow as the south…. I hate shovelling 😦
Hello Sybaritica,
Thanks, coming from you it means a lot. I always thought you get a whole lot more snow than we do.
No … we essentially live in an Arctic desert. However, what we do get doesn’t frequently melt so it does tend to accumulate. We just don’t get much per snowfall … 20cm is a REALLY big deal here.
Hello Sybaritica,
Thanks for the info, funny how I always thought you get tons and tons of snow every winter.
What a lovely and simple recipe Norma, I love the way you incorporated the Brussels Sprouts into this dish, each bite something new. I’m going to check out your link to the noodles.
Holy cow that’s a lot of snow! We’re supposed to get another fall today, although it’s perfectly sunny this morning.
Hello Eva,
Thanks. After reading your risotto recipe I thought some shredded Chinese mushrooms would be good in my dish too, next time.
The snow in my backyard is so deep the deer have not been visiting recently.
Yes, the snow is rather deep in these parts too, hope it begins to melt very soon.
Hello Eva,
With the volume of snow we do not want it to melt too fast as that may cause flooding.
Yes, we are quite concerned about flooding today as we are being deluged with an inordinate amount of rain, it’s rather unsettling.
Hi Norma, Looks like I missed a huge snowstorm! My son has been sending pics of Pok streets unplowed due to politics of mayor and union and also of the area near his house in town. Wow we haven’t seen that much snow in many years,
We are coming home from Florida next Monday. Maybe it will all be gone:)
It has been beautiful down here and this week again will be 80 plus. Nice pool and sun!
I am always looking forward to coming home.
I am going to grow sprouts again! I could never find the seeds! Whenever I bought sprouts they had a moldy smell so I don’t buy anymore or maybe you cannot get them anymore.
See you soon! Regards, Phyllis
Have a good sunny day!
>
Hello Phyll,
Don’t think all the snow will be gone by Monday when you return home, maybe most but not all. Glad you are enjoying sunny Florida.
What kind of sprouts do you grow? Try the health food store that’s where I get my seeds.
The amount of snow is just incredible this year isn’t it! We’re getting more now as I type this – another 5 to 7 expected today. It’s crazy, but we’re going to make the best of it and head out snow showing. I just hope that when this melts we don’t have floods. Your dish sounds delicious. I haven’t had a good stir fry in a while. I think I’ll have to do something about that!
Hello Kristy,
I too am hoping we do not have a flooding situation from the melting snow. The snow you are having today is heading our way tomorrow, yikes. Bet Mr. N could do a delicious stir-fry for you.
Oh wow. You have been hit hard with snow! I love how you are “gardening” in your kitchen with sprouts. It must be so nice to have a fresh stir fry during all these storms.
Hello TWC,
we sure have been hit hard with lots and lots of snow. The stir-fry with the fresh mung bean sprouts really cheer me up.
That is such a colorful stir-fry dish, and what a great idea to use the Brussels sprouts leaves that way. They usually wind up on the compost pile here. The snow may be pretty, but after a winter like this I am ready for spring!
Hello Dave,
Honestly, during the growing season those Brussels sprouts leaves would have ended on the compost pile, it would never occur to me to salvage them, but this time of year, especially this winter, I am more mindful of not wasting fresh produce.
Oh wow, I don’t envy you having to shuffle your way to the mailbox. Your noodle dish looks delicious, I haven’t sprouted beans in a while, I should get started with the soybeans soon, they are getting old and probably not viable anymore.
Hello Mac,
I do not have luck sprouting soy beans, hope you will write a post about your method.
Norma, I was wondering why I didn’t see you in my reader anymore. Apparently, WP unfollowed you from my list! I swear I didn’t do it. I have been missing many other posts as well. I’m so glad Harvest Monday reminded me to look at your post. And I’m so glad I did b/c I’ve always wanted to make bean sprouts at home. Btw, I’m keeping the Okinawan purple sweet potatoes alive indoors but it hasn’t really grown that much. I’m going to transfer it to a bigger pot and hopefully it’ll respond. I hope to be able to give you cuttings/slips. XOXO
Hello Angie,
You are not the only one having WP reader issues. I too was and still am having problem, read that other bloggers had issues also. Was placed in spam folders on some blogs even though I had commented before, etc.. Hope you Okinawan purple sweet potato grow well for you.
The photos of all the snow are incredible. I had no idea it could be piled so high! You must be so sick of it. I love the look of your stir-fry – that looks very delicious! xx
Hello Charlie,
The snow pile will be getting higher, it is snowing again as I am writing. The stir-fry was delicious. Think I am going to soak some mung beans as soon as I finish replying to my comments.
My sister sent me photos of her place and it looks very similar. Hard to think of that in the summer. 🙂
Your stir-fry looks wonderful and I’m very envious of that grater!
Hello Maureen,
It is snowing again this very moment as I am writing, 3-6 inches is the predicted amount.
That grater is much used for shredding carrots yet remains sharp after all these years.
We got 5″ and everyone freaked out—what you got was real snow, for sure. Love that you found a use for those outer leaves. Genius!
Hello Angela,
Thanks, would not use the work genius though.
A great tasty dish, Norma. What a lot of snow in your part of the World, Waw!!! We haven’t had any snow yet. It is not easy for you surrounded with meters of that snow!! 😃
Hello Sophie,
We do not usually get this much snow, this has been an exceptionally snowy and cold winter.
Those mung beans look so fresh and delicious! Love it 😀
And gorgeous looking stir fry, good to keep your warm in all that snow!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Hello Uru,
Yes they were indeed very fresh and delicious.
I’m feeling slimmer and heathier just by reading your post Norma!!!
Hello Dedy,
HAHAHA! Very funny.
Now THAT is snow. Oh my gosh…how long must it take for that much snow to melt? I can’t imagine getting around in that much snow. It is pretty, though, but the lack of light from having it pile up so next to the windows would make me crazy after a while. Love this stir fry and your use of brussels sprouts in it. I have just come around to loving brussels sprouts and never realized how versatile they could be. Stay warm!
Hello Betsy,
We had more snow on top of what I posted on Tuesday. Brussels sprouts is very versatile and very cute also.
Ha, ha! They are cute. 🙂 That much snow, perhaps not so cute.
Your stir fry looks delicious! Now I’m going to be on the hunt for sweet potato noodles!! I’ve never had them.
Hello Sandra,
Thanks. Where I live sweet potato noodles are available only at the Asian market
Nice and colorful dish Norma…I just tried to sprout mungs beans, but had to discard…maybe it was too cold 😦
Hope you are having a nice week 😀
Hello Juliana,
Thanks. Where did you get your mung beans? If they came from the food market, chances are they were irradiated and will not sprout. I get mine from the health food store.
That’s a crazy snow pile! I love the sprouted mung beans, they always seem a little worn out if you eat them when they are mature. But why trim peel brussel sprouts? I’ve always cut them off the stalks and washed them, but then I just used them as-is. Is it because the outer leaves are a little tougher and sometimes not a pretty perfect green?
Hello GreatZambini.
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment. I like to trim the brown ends of my Brussels sprouts and that always results in some loose leaves. Trimming also makes for a cuter sprouts which I think is so pretty.
Well, I can see that. I might try it next time. It’s a great use for trimmings either way!
I grew up on mung beans!
yummmmm, an excellent combination of natural, fresh, healthy and tasty vegetable and a beautiful colors 🙂
Hello Tana,
Thanks.