Edamame is an incredibly nutritious and tasty legume that boasts plenty of fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals. Just one serving per day can do wonders for your diet!
Edamame can be enjoyed raw or cooked. Either way, these beans make for a nutritious and delectable addition to any meal!
Preparation
Edamame is an easily prepared, high-protein food that’s ideal for vegans and vegetarians who want to incorporate more plant-based meals into their diets. Plus, it boasts great amounts of calcium and potassium which make it a great choice for health enthusiasts!
Low in calories and fat, making it a nutritious addition to your diet. Plus, it provides all of the essential amino acids your body requires.
Begin by selecting bright and plump edamame pods. Steer clear of limp or mushy pods with yellowing or black spots on them.
Edamame beans can be purchased fresh at supermarkets, grocery stores and vegetable markets. When selecting your beans for cooking, check their ripeness; if they appear to be turning brown, they’re probably overripe and should not be cooked.
When you’re ready to cook, bring a large pot of water to boil and add the edamame. Cover and simmer for 5-10 minutes or until they are tender. Drain well and serve warm or hot with a sprinkle of salt.
Cooked edamame can be eaten as an appetizer, side dish or part of a salad. It’s especially great for weight loss as it’s very filling and the high protein content helps you feel satisfied longer.
Although fresh edamame is best enjoyed fresh, you can also prepare it using frozen shells and beans. These are typically found in 10- to 16-ounce packages in the freezer section of most supermarkets.
Cooking
Edamame are young soybean pods packed with protein that can be used in many recipes. You can boil, steam or pan-fry them for a quick side dish or snack that everyone loves!
These versatile treats can be enjoyed fresh or frozen, making them a go-to freezer staple for busy families and individuals alike. Not only are they packed full of protein and fiber, but also gluten-free and vegan friendly!
Cooked shelled edamame is an irresistible no-cook alternative to boiled beans or potatoes in salads and grain bowls. Try mixing it up with garlic and sesame oil for a flavorful side dish or serving it with an Asian dressing as an easy appetizer.
To begin this recipe, boil the edamame pods in water for three and a half minutes. Remove them when they feel firm to touch; do not allow them to float on top as this will disrupt their texture.
For softer edamame, cook them for up to four minutes; however, be sure that their structure remains intact. Too soft and the shells will crumble when removed from cooking water, leading to little flavor or texture.
Once baked, you can enjoy them as is or add them to salads, stir-fries, and other dishes. To enhance their flavor further, simply drizzle a bit of sesame oil and some chili garlic sauce for an extra kick.
Another variation is to bake the edamame in a baking dish for an ultra-crisp Parmesan-crusted snack that takes only 15 minutes to prepare.
Add edamame to cooked rice for an irresistible meal. Just be sure to season the rice with salt since the edamame will absorb some of it during preparation.
Storage
Edamame can be stored for an extended period of time when kept properly. Store it in the fridge or freezer to extend its shelf life even further – up to a year! However, be sure to adhere to food safety and hygiene regulations when storing edamame so you can continue enjoying it longer!
Fresh edamame should be consumed within 24 hours of picking or within one to two days after purchase, as the flavor begins to diminish after this point.
To preserve fresh edamame, store them in the refrigerator after patting them dry and placing them inside an airtight container. Doing this will help maintain their freshness and quality for extended storage periods.
While you can store beans at room temperature for a short time, this is not recommended as it could promote bacteria growth on the beans and lead to foodborne illness.
If you need to store edamame in the freezer, blanch them first and freeze them right away. Doing this ensures they remain fresh and not too large.
Once frozen, edamame pods will be easier to handle and prevent splitting when you take them out of the freezer. When ready to consume your edamame, simply take it from the freezer and thaw in your refrigerator.
Another way to store edamame is to freeze it in its shell. This method is convenient and will keep the edamame fresh for extended periods.
To prepare, boil the edamame for two minutes before immersing them in ice water. After several minutes have passed, rinse with cold water and pat them dry with a paper towel.
Finally, place them in a freezer bag and store them away for several months without any issues.
Recipes
Edamame is a nutritious protein food that makes an ideal side dish, appetizer or snack. Not only that, but it’s also packed with vitamins C and K as well as Folate (known as Vitamin B9) plus minerals like iron, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium.
Edamame can be prepared in a variety of ways, but they’re especially delicious when lightly steamed or roasted. They make an excellent addition to soups, salads and stir-fries as well! Edamame are versatile enough to be served warm or cold and require minimal effort when prepping!
They’re great in hummus and other dips too – simply blend them in the same way chickpeas and tahini are blended for an added burst of flavor. Serve this edamame hummus with crackers or veggies for a high-protein snack or app.
This recipe calls for shelled edamame, but you can also use whole beans. The same rules apply: Frozen edamame will stay fresher than canned and there’s no need to defrost unless you plan to incorporate it into something that needs to be thawed, like a stir fry.
For a spicy twist on classic edamame, add some chili garlic sauce or other Asian-style hot sauces you have in the pantry. It’s sure to please everyone’s palate!
Roasted shelled edamame is an irresistibly crunchy and flavorful snack that you can easily whip up in no time. It also makes a great addition to a grain bowl or protein-packed Asian inspired dinner for lunch or dinner.
This edamame summer salad is an easy, healthy and colorful side dish sure to please kids. Packed with protein-rich ingredients like avocado, red pepper and bell peppers, it makes for a quick but tasty side dish perfect for picnics, parties or cookouts!