One of my favorite snacks in the evening is this edamame recipe. It only takes 5 minutes to make and tastes great when I want something salty, crunchy, and earthy. It’s even more satisfying to smoke the pods because the outside is a little charred and smokey.
I’ve been munching on edamame beans since I was a little girl. They were a favorite summer snack of mine, and my mom liked to serve them with miso ramen, nikujaga, yaki udon, and onigiri. When I was a kid, I loved to chew on the bright green beans inside the salty edamame pods. Later, when I lived in Tokyo, I picked up edamame at Seven Eleven on my way home from work as a healthy snack. I also saw it on the menu at most of the Japanese pubs I went to.
These days, edamame comes in a lot of different flavors and forms. You can find it in a hearty bean soup, a cool vichyssoise, a colorful quinoa salad, or blended to make green hummus. I like to use them in as many of my recipes as I can. I like to eat this edamame with soy and sesame sauce as a late-night snack because it’s low in calories and a simple way to get more protein. This edamame recipe is a simple dish that’s seasoned with soy sauce and toasted sesame oil. What you get are lightly charred pods full of umami and nuttiness.
Before adding the edamame pods to the skillet you will need to cook them first. My preferred method is to boil them in a pot of salted water for 3 to 5 minutes. Drain and shock them in cold water. Drain them again, and they’re ready to be served, or in this case, thrown into a hot skillet! I also just learned another quick way to prepare these green beans:
You can also use the microwave. Put the edamame pods in a bowl that is safe for the microwave with a little water in it. Cover the pods with a paper towel. But I don’t really like this method because my pods always come out overcooked or deflated. If you want to try it, heat them in the microwave for one to three minutes and then taste them. If they need longer, add 1 minute at a time until you are satisfied with the texture.
Edamame beans, also known as soybeans, are nutritious green legumes packed with protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Their mild, nutty flavor and crunchy texture make them a versatile ingredient that pairs well with many foods and flavors. Here are 18 delicious ideas for what to serve with edamame beans.
Savory Pairings
1. Rice
Edamame beans go great with rice The colors and textures complement each other beautifully Try stirring some shelled edamame into a bowl of white or brown rice. The beans add protein and texture contrast.
2. Noodles
Toss shelled edamame into your favorite noodle dish like pad thai, lo mein or pasta primavera The beans add protein and texture to noodles
3. Stir-Fries
Add some shelled edamame to your next veggie or protein stir-fry. They’ll soak up the delicious flavors of the sauce or seasoning.
4. Salads
Throw some thawed, shelled edamame onto any salad for an extra boost of plant-based protein They work well in grain bowls too
5. Soups
Add frozen or thawed shelled edamame to soups for texture. They work great in miso, ramen, vegetable and lentil soups.
6. Tacos
Sprinkle some shelled edamame onto tacos for extra nutrition and crunch. They work well with fish, chicken or veggie fillings.
7. Pizza
Scatter shelled edamame over homemade or frozen pizza. The beans taste delicious baked under the cheese.
8. Burgers/Sandwiches
Pile some edamame onto your favorite burger or sandwich. They add protein and crunch to any filling.
9. Sushi
Edamame are commonly served alongside sushi. Try rolling some into sushi rolls too for extra nutrition.
10. Snacks
Enjoy shelled, boiled or roasted edamame beans on their own as a grab-and-go high protein snack.
11. Dips
Purée edamame with tahini, lemon and garlic for a tasty, protein-packed edamame hummus dip.
12. Curries
Stir shelled, cooked edamame into any curry dish. They’ll soak up the sauce and add texture.
Sweet Pairings
13. Smoothies
Add some shelled edamame to your next fruit smoothie. The beans add protein, fiber and creaminess.
14. Yogurt
Mix thawed, shelled edamame into yogurt parfaits or bowls. They add nutrition and contrast nicely with the cool yogurt.
15. Oatmeal
Stir a handful of thawed, shelled edamame into your morning oatmeal for extra protein and texture.
16. Salads
Toss edamame with sweet ingredients like dried cranberries, apples, beets or citrus segments for a nutritious salad.
17. Trail Mix
Combine roasted edamame with dried fruit, nuts and seeds for a healthy, protein-packed homemade trail mix.
18. Bars
Add some chopped edamame when making homemade granola bars, bliss balls or energy bites for extra nutrition.
Edamame beans are endlessly versatile. Their mild flavor allows them to be paired with countless ingredients, from Asian noodle dishes to Tex-Mex tacos. Both the whole pods and shelled beans can be used to add nutrition, texture and visual appeal to savory and sweet dishes alike. Keep a bag in the freezer so you always have these nutritious legumes on hand to incorporate into meals and snacks.
How To Make This Recipe
- Use one of the above ways to cook the edamame pods.
- Heat a big pan over medium-high heat. When it’s hot, add the toasted sesame oil.
- Stir the oil around to cover the pan’s bottom, then add the edamame pods.
- Add the soy sauce and stir-fry for two to three minutes.
- Add a little salt and pepper and quickly toss the pods to coat them all over.
- Take them off the heat, put them in a bowl to serve, and enjoy!
- A medium hot skillet. Before adding the pods and sesame oil, make sure the pan is hot but not flame-hot. Too much time spent cooking toasted sesame oil at a high temperature can make it go bad quickly, so it’s important to remove the oil from the heat quickly and cook it for a short time. The key is to quickly fry the edamame so they get a light golden brown char and soak up the oil’s strong clean and nutty flavor.
Cooked edamame should be refrigerated within 2 hours of cooking them. Save them in an airtight storage container and they should keep in the fridge for about 4 days.
Can I put them back in the freezer? No, vegetables and beans that have already been thawed shouldn’t be put back in the freezer. Not only will the texture and overall quality of the bean degrade, it can also be unsafe.
What To Serve With This Dish
I can eat this dish on its own or as part of a meal. It’s so pleasant to the palate that it’s an easy recipe to pair with other dishes. This dish makes a delicious snack or side to serve at a sushi party. But you can also serve it as part of Japanese home style dinner with Japanese classics such as:
No. Edamame beans are poisonous when eaten raw. If you eat a lot of them, they can make you sick, make you throw up, and damage your organs and tissues over time. so it’s very important that you cook the beans before eating them.
It depends on the varieties. Some of them can be genetically modified, while others are non-GMO. To avoid GMOs, always look for organic or non-GMO certified edamame products.
It could be the actually pods that were packaged or that they needed a little more cooking time. Sometimes the pods that were picked have been sitting for longer than they should have, which can make the beans tougher. But I find that cooking them for a bit longer can help a lot. I recommend adding an extra minute or two in the skillet to soften them.
Did you like this recipe? If so, what changes did you make that you’d like to share? Leave your thoughts and suggestions below.
2 Easy Edamame Recipes
FAQ
How to eat edamame beans as a snack?
What protein to pair with edamame?
Are edamame beans healthy or unhealthy?