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2011-12-01

Moyashi bean sprouts

An inexpensive vegetable that is available throughout year. Moyashi literally means the sprouts of grains, beans and vegetables, but it usually refers to mung bean or black gram sprouts. Another common type is soy bean sprouts, usually called daizu moyashi or mame moyashi.












(Mung bean) moyashi











Daizu moyashi

Just like with other sprouts, moyashi is rich in nutrition. In addition to nutrients from seed beans, it has lots of Vitamin C. It also contains amylase and invertase -- digestive enzymes that help the stomach and intestines. Digestion of beans sometimes can be problematic, but bean sprouts have cleared the hurdle.

Moyashi can be eaten raw, but since the sprouts quickly spoil, it is safer to cook as precaution if you don't live in a country where moyashi is part of the routine diet. Daizu moyashi keeps longer and is firmer (especially the beans), and it is always cooked as far as I know. With both types, it's best to remove the skinny roots for better texture. Discolored beans and soft parts should be removed as well.

When buying, select moyashi or daizu moyashi that is firm and whitsh/opaque without discolored ends. In the Pacific Northwest where we live, moyashi is more widely available. Daizu moyashi is found at Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese grocery stores and at other large Asian supermarkets.

Compared to other vegetables, moyashi tends to spoil quickly. To keep it crisp longer, remove skinny root ends and damaged parts (discolored or translucent soft parts), rinse well, and keep in water in a container in the fridge. Change the water at least every other day. This way, moyashi stays crunchy for 5-6 days and is ready to use right out of the fridge. This method works for both daizu moyashi and mung bean moyashi. But keep in mind that nutritional value is said to decline the longer moyashi soaks in water.

Moyashi (mung beans): 14 kcal/100 g; 95.4% water, 1.7% protein, 0.1% fat, 2.6% carbohydrate, 0.2% ash

Moyashi (black gram): 15 kcal/100 g; 95.0% water, 2.0% protein, trace fat, 2.7% carbohydrate, 0.3% ash

Daizu moyashi: 37 kcal/100 g; 92.0% water, 3.7% protein, 1.5% fat, 2.3% carbohydrate, 0.5% ash


Recipes with moyashi

Try moyashi in the following recipes


(Last updated: June 27, 2018)

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