Bean (Mung or Moong – Green gram) sprouts are usually sold as a premium item in our super-markets here so I was delighted to learn that it is really simple to grow them at home.
The sprouts are highly nutritious and commonly used in Asian cooking, in stir fries, Chinese chow chow, american chopsuey, Veg Chow Mien, as filling for spring rolls, dumplings, wontons, in salads, soups, etc. They have a crunchy texture and mildly sweet taste. To retain its nutrition, avoid over-cooking. Best consumed fresh or lightly cooked.
Wash and soak ½ cup mung beans overnight or for atleast 8 hours. If using a smaller container to grow use 1/4 cup beans.
Dried mung beans 
Wash and soak in water for 8 hours or overnight
Take a sieve or colander or a plastic mesh basket and line it with muslin cloth. Spread the beans on the muslin cloth, preferably in a single layer and fold the cloth over to cover the beans completely. Spray well with water, place the basket in another vessel to catch the excess drained water.
Plastic mesh basket to grow the bean sprouts 
Line the basket with a muslin cloth 
Spread the soaked mung beans in a single layer 
Fold the four ends of the cloth to overlap and cover the beans 
Hold under the tap and water it well 
Place the basket on a container to catch the drained water
Cover the basket with a black cloth or any dark towel as you need to block the sunlight to avoid the leaves becoming green (which gives it a bitter taste). Also we are not growing the moong plants just the sprouts.
Spray water four times a day, while keeping covered with the muslin cloth. This ensures the sprouts grow nice and plump. After watering cover with the black/dark cloth or towel.
Mung sprouts Day 1 
Mung Sprouts Day 2 
Mung Sprouts Day 3 
Mung Sprouts Day 4 
Mung Sprouts Day 5 
Mung Sprouts Day 6 
Mung Sprouts Day 6 grown nice and plump 
Mung Sprouts Day 7 
Mung Sprouts Day 7 – Harvest day
On the 6th or 7th day they should be ready to harvest. Snip off the roots and rinse well to remove the mung bean skins and use as required.
If the sprouts are allowed to grow without covering the beans with the muslin cloth they tend to grow thin and long as shown below. The plump sprouts however are more tender.
You can make a quick bean sprout salad. Blanch the sprouts for 2 minutes in boiling water, drain and rinse with cold water. Season with salt, chopped spring onion, chopped garlic, 1 tsp sesame oil, 2 tsp, soya sauce, pepper powder and chopped green chilli. Mix well and serve immediately.
Blanch in boiling water for 2 minutes 
Mix all the seasoning 
Add to the sprouts and toss well
Check out my post on Growing methi indoors without soil & Sprouting Seeds and Beans
My Cooking Diaries "CooklikeCecilia.com" 