Dengu — Print Recipe — The Culinary Codex

A humble and nutritious Kenyan stew of green grams (mung beans) cooked with onions, tomatoes, and coconut milk, one of the most popular everyday meals across Kenya.

Ingredients

2 cups green grams (mung beans), soaked
2 tomatoes, diced
1 onion, diced
1/2 cup coconut milk
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp curry powder
1 tsp cumin
2 tbsp vegetable oil
Salt to taste
Fresh cilantro for garnish

Instructions

1 Boil the soaked green grams in plenty of water for about 30 minutes until tender but not mushy, then drain and set aside.
2 Heat oil in a pot and saute the diced onion until soft, add garlic, curry powder, and cumin, and cook for another minute until fragrant.
3 Add the diced tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes until they form a thick sauce, then pour in the coconut milk and stir to combine.
4 Add the cooked green grams, mix well, simmer for 10 minutes to let the flavors come together, then season with salt, garnish with cilantro, and serve with chapati or ugali.

Did You Know?

Dengu is nicknamed the poor man's protein in Kenya because green grams are affordable and packed with nutrition, making them a staple in school lunch programs across the country.