Soybean sprouts

Ingredient guide

Soybean sprouts 콩나물

Kongnamul: sprouted soybeans with a nutty bite, a yellow-white head and a thin tail. They are boiled and seasoned as a side dish, added to soups and piled onto bibimbap. Always cook them with the lid on until done.

Taste

Nutty, crunchy and juicy, sweet once cooked.

What to look for

Bags in the fresh produce section of Korean and Asian groceries. Choose firm, yellow-white sprouts that are not slimy.

Storing it

Refrigerate in a bag with a damp towel and use within 2–3 days. Blanched sprouts keep about 2 days.

How to find Soybean sprouts, anywhere

Works in any country — look for these names, in these kinds of shops.

Names to look for

  • kongnamul
  • soybean sprouts
  • 콩나물
Show this at the shop콩나물

Where to look

  • Korean grocery stores, in the fresh produce or refrigerated section
  • Asian supermarkets

Watch out for

  • Mung bean sprouts are a different, thinner sprout — they work in a pinch but cook faster.
  • Cook soybean sprouts with the lid on to avoid a fishy taste.

Can't find Soybean sprouts? Use this instead

Honest swaps, with amounts per unit of the original and how the dish will change.

Mung bean sprouts

Mung bean sproutsEasy to find

Same amount, blanched as in the recipe

Milder and less nutty than soybean sprouts, but easy to find everywhere.

▼ nutty

Where to buy it near you