Where is the Monggo?

    My ate currently resides in the USA, and we communicate via FaceTime nearly every day. I observed her engaging in household tasks like doing laundry, cleaning, and cooking. We both have a passion for cooking, and she frequently seeks advice from our mama on preparing specific Filipino dishes, diligently sourcing the exact ingredients from local grocery stores.

    Our ultimate favorite is Mung Beans Soup topped with crispy chicharrón.

Photo from Kawaling Pinoy

    For some reason, she can't seem to find any Mung Beans unless she travels to an Asian grocery store, which happens to be a couple of miles away from her house. As an alternative, she opted to cook lentils. That was the first time I had ever heard about lentils. 

    What exactly are lentils?  lentils, an edible legume, is recognized for its lens-shaped seeds and is cultivated annually.

So okay, both Mung Beans and Lentils are legumes!

Photo from versus.com

    She cooked the lentils just as she did with the mung beans. And voilà! Now she can enjoy the food and satisfy her cravings.

    My ate loves Filipino food, as it reminds her of her homeland and brings her comfort.

    When life serves up lentils instead of Mung Beans, my ate turns the kitchen into her playground, whipping up dishes that'll make her taste buds dance.