Description

GREEN GRAM

 

The mung bean (vigna radiate) alternatively known as green gram, Mungo bean, or mango bean, is a plant species in the legume family. The mung bean is mainly cultivated in East Southeast and South Asia. It is used as an ingredient in both savory and sweet dishes. Green gram is considered to be the hardest among all pulse crops. It is a rich source of protein along with fiber and iron.

 

How is green gram cultivated?

 

Sowing should be done behind the local plough or with the help of a seed drill. Sowing is done at the onset of the monsoon in the Kharif season and during the second fortnight of February to the first fortnight of March in the summer season. It is grown in about 4.5 million hectares with a total production of 2.5 million tones with a productivity of 548kg/ha and contributing 10% to the total pulse production.

 

Benefits of green gram

 

A great source of protein.

Good for weight loss

Strength to the immune system

Easily digestible

Promotes hair growth

 

Nutrition facts                                DV

 

Calories                         347                                  

Total fat-                       1.2 g                 1%

Saturated fat-0.3 g       0.3 g                1%

Sodium-                         15 mg             0%

Potassium                   1,246 mg         35%

Carbohydrate                    63 g           21%

Dietary fiber                 16 g                 64%

Sugar                             7 g

Protein                         24 g                 48%

Vitamin C                                               8%

Iron                                                      37%

Vitamin B6                                           20%

Magnesium                                         47%

Calcium                                              13%

Vitamin D                                             0%

Cobalamin                                            0%   

 

How to check the quality?

 

Reject green grams shall be peas that are musty, sour heating, materially weathered, or weevily.

 

Storage

 

Coat the seeds with vegetable oil and store them in an earthen pot. Add neem leaves and dry chilies. Cover the pot with a cotton cloth and a wire mesh to keep out rodents.

 

Whole gram-gram stew

 

Step 1;  Soak and pressure cook whole green gram

 

          Take 250 grams of whole green gram and soak in water, for 15 minutes heat about 750 ml of water in a pressure cooker, and add the soaked green gram to the cooker.

 

         Once the water starts boiling, cover the cooker with the lid and pressure cook for 10 minutes.

       

         After 10 minutes, remove the cooker from the stove and allow the pressure to come down.

 

Step 2; Make onion, ginger, and garlic pasted.

 

        You can prepare the other ingredients required for the stew while the green gram is being cooked.

        

        Take one medium-sized onion and cut it into pieces.

\

        Take one inch-long piece of ginger and cut it into pieces.

 

        Shuck a handful of garlic cloves.

 

       Add all these ingredients to the mixer grinder and it makes a fine paste.

       Transfer the paste to a bowl.

      

Step3 Cut tomatoes

 

      Take 3 medium-sized tomatoes and cut them into pieces and cut tomato pieces in a mixer grinder.

 

Step-4 Make tomato-spice paste

 

      The tomatoes in  the mixer  grinder, add the

 

• One teaspoon of red chillies powder
• One teaspoon of cumin seed powder
• Half a teaspoon of turmeric powder
• Two teaspoons of dry coriander powder
• About ¼ teaspoon of asafoetida powder

      These are in the grinder to mix very well and they have a paste in the bowl. There is no need to add water.     

Step5 –  Preparation

    

       Heat two tablespoons of oil in a pan cut 4 or 5 green chilies in halves and add to the oil in the pan.

      Add the onion ginger garlic paste to the pan and cook till the raw smell flavors.

 

Step-6

 

    You can add 2 or 3 pieces of cloves, a small piece of cinnamon, and a few pieces to the onion paste for added aroma.

 

    Now add the tomato spice paste to the pan and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes.

 

Step-7 

 

    By this time the pressure in the cooker might have come down, you can add the cooked green gram to the other ingredients in the pan and salt to taste. Once all ingredients are blended, you can remove the pan and  from the stove garnish with chopped coriander leaves. We can eat with rice, and bread.

 

Recipes of green gram

 

Mung bean curry

Mung bean dip

Mung bean soup

Mung bean salad

 

Regional Names

 

English- Green gram

Tamil-பச்சைப்பயறு

Malayalam-Cherupayar

Telugu-Pacci pappu

Kanada-Hasiru  gram

Hindi-Moong