5 Delicious MTS Recipes to Try at Home

Exploring new cuisines and experimenting with flavors can significantly enhance your culinary skills and bring a delightful variety to your dinner table. MTS, or Mung Bean Thread Salad, is a versatile dish with roots in Southeast Asian cooking, but it has found its way into kitchens around the globe, thanks to its refreshing taste and ease of preparation. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a beginner cook, these five delicious MTS recipes offer something unique and tasty for everyone.

The Classic MTS

This is the quintessential MTS you might find in Vietnamese and Thai restaurants. The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity and the harmony of flavors:

• Base Ingredients: Mung bean threads, carrots, cucumbers, fresh herbs like cilantro and mint, bean sprouts, and peanuts.
• Dressing: A blend of fish sauce, lime juice, garlic, chili, and sugar.
• Preparation:
  1. Soak the mung bean threads in hot water until soft, then drain.
  2. Slice the vegetables into matchstick-like shapes, and chop the herbs.
  3. Combine all ingredients, except the noodles, in a bowl. Whisk the dressing, pour over the salad, and mix well.
  4. Add the softened noodles last to keep them from becoming mushy.
  5. Garnish with crushed peanuts and extra herbs for an appealing presentation.

MTS with Grilled Meat

To give your MTS a hearty twist, add some grilled meat for a satisfying protein boost:

• Meat Options: Choose from beef, pork, or chicken, marinated in a mix of soy sauce, lemongrass, garlic, and sugar.
• Preparation:
  1. Marinate the meat for at least an hour before grilling.
  2. Grill until cooked through, then slice into bite-sized pieces.
  3. Follow the classic MTS recipe, but arrange the grilled meat over the salad for a final touch.

🔥 Note: For indoor cooking, you can also pan-sear or broil the meat for similar results.

Spicy Shrimp MTS

Introduce a spicy element to your MTS with the addition of shrimp:

• Key Ingredients: Large, peeled shrimp, chili flakes, lemongrass, and garlic.
• Preparation:
  1. Marinate shrimp in chili flakes, minced garlic, lemongrass, salt, and pepper.
  2. Sauté until they turn pink and aromatic.
  3. Prepare the Classic MTS and then mix in the cooked shrimp, adding extra chili for more heat if desired.

❗ Note: Adjust the heat level by controlling the amount of chili flakes and fresh chili.

Vegan MTS Delight

A completely plant-based take on MTS, this version caters to vegan and vegetarian diets:

• Alternative Protein: Tofu, tempeh, or edamame.
• Dressing: Use soy sauce or tamari instead of fish sauce for umami flavor.
• Preparation:
  1. Fry or bake the tofu or tempeh until crispy. For edamame, simply boil or steam.
  2. Follow the Classic MTS recipe but replace the meat with the prepared protein alternative.

Asian Fusion MTS Salad

For a contemporary twist, blend elements from various Asian cuisines to create an MTS that’s both familiar and innovative:

• Additional Toppings: Avocado slices, nori strips, pickled ginger, sesame seeds, and even sushi-grade fish if you’re adventurous.
• Preparation:
  1. Prepare the Classic MTS base.
  2. Add avocado and other Asian-inspired toppings. Drizzle with a touch of soy sauce or ponzu.

💡 Note: Be mindful of the balance of flavors when adding multiple toppings, ensuring none overpower the others.

The allure of MTS recipes lies in their adaptability, allowing you to explore flavors from different cuisines or tailor the dish to dietary preferences. These five recipes provide a base from which you can expand, tweak, and customize according to your taste or the ingredients you have at hand. Each dish brings something unique to the table, offering not just a meal, but an experience in flavor fusion. Now that you have these exciting recipes at your fingertips, it's time to invite friends over, set the table, and delve into the culinary world of MTS. Whether it's the classic simplicity or the bold fusion, each version of MTS will bring joy and surprise to your palate.

Can I use other types of noodles for MTS?

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While mung bean threads are traditional, you can experiment with rice vermicelli, glass noodles, or even spaghetti for a fusion twist.

What can I use if I don’t have fish sauce?

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You can use soy sauce or tamari as alternatives for fish sauce, especially in vegetarian or vegan versions.

Is MTS a suitable dish for meal prep?

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Absolutely! MTS can be prepared in advance; just keep the dressing separate until ready to serve to avoid sogginess.