Crunchy Mung Beans - Tua Seeg Tod ถั่วซีกทอด

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A Thai riddle: what has 2 legs walking but when stops and settles down has 6 legs?

South Asian immigrants in Thailand seem to monopolize the fried bean street food business. When I was growing up, a South Asian man would walk around carrying a small table with long legs on his head. The table had sections, each filled with various fried beans along with chopped green onion, chili pepper and salt. When you'd ask him for some beans and he'd take the table off of his head, set it down and get out a small plastic bag. You could choose from fried mung beans, fried peanuts, fried fava beans and fried peas.

My favorite is the fried mung beans. The crunchiness of the beans mixed with the aroma of the green onion and chili peppers make them addictive. Each bite is a little salty and spicy. I can inhale a little bag of 3-5 teaspoons in no time.

Answer to the riddle: a mung bean vendor

Now in the 21st century, the South Asian immigrants still monopolize the fried bean business. The table, though, is gone, replaced with a plastic basket. The sight of a bean vendor with plastic basket is not as romantic as the table, but the fried beans are as addictive as ever.

2 Servings, Prep Time: 7 Minutes, Total Time: 1 Hours22 Minutes

1 cup hulled mung beans
1/4 - 1/3 cup cooking oil
1 - 5 Thai chili pepper
1 green onion
1 pinch salt

Tips and Techniques

Soaking the beans is a very important step. I've tried without soaking the beans. The result was hard, inedible beans.

Method

Prepping

Soak the hulled mung beans in cold water for 1 hour. Slice green onion and fresh chili peppers.

Cooking

After an hour, the beans will swell up a little bit and turn slightly pale. Drain the beans and let them dry for 15 minutes. You can also use kitchen towel to dry the beans. Wet beans will splatter in hot oil.

Heat up a pan over medium heat. When the pan is hot, pour the oil in. Wait until the oil is hot, add the beans into the pan. Stir to cover the bean in oil. Keep the beans moving to get an even brown.

When the beans are done, you will feel the difference in the beans through the spatula. The beans will move and feel like they are crunchy. It should take about 5 minutes or so. Remove the beans and drain.

In a mixing bowl, add the beans, sliced green onion and chili peppers. Add a pinch of salt. Stir to mix well.

Serve as a snack in place of popcorn or prepare it for a hiking trip.

A picture of a bean vendor and more on street food in Thailand.