Your favourite Japanese sushi restaurant starter - edamame - but made at home. All you need is a bag of frozen edamame & just 15 minutes. There are lot of flavour options (shared below) but the classic Japanese way is simply with salt.
Why you'll love this recipe
- It's really simple to make.
- It's a healthy snack packed full of nutrients.
- Just two ingredients.
Ingredients
You will need:
- Edamame beans - aka soy beans. You can buy them frozen or buy fresh edamame pods from specialty grocery stores.
- Water - preferably filtered water.
- Salt - we use sea salt or celtic sea salt.
Instructions
Step 1 - Boil
Bring a pot of salted water to a rolling boil (must be boiling!).
How many cups of water depends on the size of your pot and how many you want to cook.
You'll need the salt water to fill the pot about ¾ of the way.
Throw the frozen unshelled edamame beans into the boiling water and set a timer for 5 minutes.
Step 2 - Drain & salt
As soon as the timer goes off, tip them into a strainer and shake them around to get rid of the liquid.
You do not want to overcook them.
Add half the salt and give them a good toss.
Step 3 - Plate & salt
Sprinkle the edamame with extra salt to taste.
The amount of salt depends purely on your taste.
I like them quite salty.
Serve straight away.
Serving ideas
Simply served with salt is my favourite way to eat edamame (I think it's the authentic Japanese method too) but here are a few other ideas:
- Combine sesame oil and soy sauce & finish with toasted sesame seeds.
- For a spicy edamame recipe, serve drizzled in sambal oelek.
- Combine brown sugar, soy sauce and rice wine vinegar for a tangy dipping sauce.
- For garlic edamame, toss the cooked edamame in a skillet with minced garlic just long enough for the garlic to start to smell delicious.
- Serve with soy sauce or spicy sauce.
Our favourite Japanese meal to have these with is beef sukiyaki with a side of pork gyoza.
FAQs
You don’t need to (nor should you) defrost them before you cook them so it’s straight from the freezer to the pot.
To eat edamame you pop the beans out of the middle. You don't eat the pod.
Edamame is a Japanese dish made with young green soybeans served in their pods.
Edamame are a nutritious snack with 18.4 grams of protein in one cup of shelled edamame beans. A little side note on soy products/ soy foods and protein. They're not a complete protein as they don't contain the full profile of essential amino acids.
So while there are great health benefits of edamame, they (or any plant-based foods) shouldn't be relied on for a full source of protein (in my opinion and based on my own research).
Recipe
Edamame just like the Japanese restaurants
Ingredients
- 200 g 7oz frozen edamame
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Bring a pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
- Add the frozen edamame and cook for 5 minutes.
- Strain the edamame and sprinkle with salt.
- Serve warm with extra salt if you desire it (only eat the beans inside).
Alastair says
I love these little guys!! I had them at a pub not to long ago they stir fried them with chilli flakes and some other ingredients. They were so good I must have eaten 2 lbs of the stuff. LOL. Tho I would like to get a recipe like that to make at home, any ideas?
Claire says
I'd say cook them like this then into a hot wok for a few minutes with the chili? Sounds delicious!
Sally says
Doesn't the extra salt (hardening your arteries) undo the goodness of the beans?
Claire says
Haha probably Sally but it's so good!
Hotly Spiced says
What a great pre-dinner snack and so good for you too. You have a great mum. She's always there for you and it seems you do so much together. xx
Claire says
Yes I do Charlie! x
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
I wish I loved edamame beans more. They're ok but I don't know, they just don't do it for me really :(
Claire says
I love them!
Maureen @ Orgasmic Chef says
I've never had these at home either but I think I can follow the recipe :)
We're pretty slim in Asian markets up here but I'm crossing my fingers on this one.
Claire says
Apparently you can buy them fresh too but I've never seen them.
Corrie says
I ALWAYS order edamame when I got to Kens sushi bar in Bexley North... Have you seen the little key chain edamames you can buy? The little bean pops in and out of the pod with a cute little face. So kitsch but so cute! :-)
Claire says
Aww cute!