Soybean Sprouts and Shrimp Stir-fry

Name: Soybean Sprouts and Shrimp Stir-fry
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 oz sweet potato noodles ((dangmyeon) (55g)); 4 oz shrimp ((peeled and deveined) (115g)); 1 red chili ((seeded and finely sliced)); 1 lb soybean sprouts ((trimmed) (450g)); 3 green onions ((sliced into 2-inch lengths)); 2 cloves garlic ((minced)); 1 tbsp + 1 tsp soy sauce; 1 tsp sesame oil; 1 tbsp Vegetable oil; Salt (to taste)

By: 👩‍🦳 Linda · Published: 🖨 May 22, 2012 · Updated: 💻September 25, 2019 · 🗨 34 Comments

Recipe ▼

Easy and tasty Soybean Sprouts and Shrimp Stir-fry with sweet potato noodles. Delicious served with a bowl of steamed rice.

One of the most common vegetables in Malaysia is the humble mung bean sprout known as nga choy in Cantonese and tau geh in Hokkien. Bean sprouts are very inexpensive and easily available. Malaysians love their taugeh. This ubiquitous vegetable is found in fried noodles, soupy noodles, kerabu (salad), and stir-fried dishes. Its cousin the soybean sprout is bigger, firmer, and crunchier. However, bigger does not equal greater popularity but it does have its followers.

I enjoy both kinds of sprouts. Fortunately, bean sprouts very inexpensive and easily available here. Whenever I go to the Asian grocery store, I buy a bag of each type. Always choose plump and white sprouts. Cooked sprouts as soon as possible because they only last a day or two in the refrigerator.

Trimmed Sprouts

I like to trim my mung bean and soybean sprouts. It is not as impossible or as crazy as it sounds. When the sprouts are nice and plump, they can be trimmed very quickly. I remember way back when I was a kid, probably my first kitchen task was trimming bean sprouts. We used to have huge family gatherings and the younger members were often given the task of trimming bean sprouts. It wasn’t bad at all. We chatted while we worked. Much better than sweating it out over the stove. 😉

In Malaysia, mung bean sprouts are usually stir-fried with salted fish when cooked as a side dish while soybean sprouts are chopped and cooked with minced pork. Shrimps are also a good choice as they cook quickly. Mung bean sprouts should be added at the end and cooked for no more than 30 seconds. Soybean sprouts are a little hardier and may stay in the pan for 3 to 4 minutes.

Frying bean sprouts with shrimps and chilies is pretty classic. I added sweet potato noodles to bulk up this Soybean Sprouts and Shrimp Stir-fry. The green onions give the dish a contrast of colors. Sometimes I use Chinese chives instead. For a vegan version, check out Soybean Sprouts and Dried Tofu Stir-fry.

Similar Tools Used in Making This Soybean Sprouts and Shrimp Stir-fry

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