What is edamame?
Edamame are unripened soybeans that are whole green beans and come in a similarly colored pod. Once cooked, the beans are soft like al dente peas and have a slightly sweet and nutty flavor. These beans were first cultivated in China more than 7,000 years ago for medicinal purposes. Today, they are commonly known for their popularized dishes from Japanese cuisine, like spicy edamame.
Types of edamame to use
This recipe calls for shelled edamame that is typically in the refrigerator section or the frozen aisle. In some Asian grocery stores, they sell them fresh in the produce section. I recommend frozen or refrigerated edamame because they are typically already cooked; this makes for faster prep at home.
Best method to cook frozen edamame
The best way to cook (or reheat) frozen edamame is to boil it in a salted water bath. Even though you can easily put it in the microwave, I like seasoning the edamame by boiling it with salt for only one to two minutes. You can also use a microwave to reheat the edamame, but be careful not to overcook the beans. I want al dente edamame and not mushy beans.
Sauce ingredients
While plenty of recipes online include butter and red chili flakes, I prefer using our version of homemade spicy seasoning because it’s got full of garlicky flavor from the chili garlic paste. This recipe consists of a combination of fresh garlic and ginger, chili paste, soy sauce, mirin, white miso, sugar, and sesame oil. You can easily adjust the spice level for this sauce by reducing the spicy chili paste.
Tips to make spicy edamame
Here are some tips to make the easiest spicy edamame.
How do you eat spicy edamame?
It’s really easy to eat spicy edamame. You can use chopsticks, but I just like using my hands to pick up an edamame pod, place it in my mouth, and use my teeth to slide out the beans as I pull the pods through. This lets you get some of the seasonings with each bite. You can also use your fingers to pop out the shelled edamame onto your plate, but this can be a bit tricky if they end up on someone else’s plate or the table. I love serving spicy edamame with some of our favorite Japanese dishes like chicken karaage, yakitori, and sushi rolls or handrolls. But don’t let these suggestions fool you because this spicy edamame is also perfect for a midday snack if you need a spicy pick-me-up.
What does edamame mean in Japanese?
In Japanese, edamame means “stem beans” because they grow on the stem. In Asian grocery stores, you can also find them sold fresh in the produce department with stems still attached.
Is edamame healthy?
Eating edamame has a lot of health benefits and is great for those who want more vitamins and fiber in their diet. Edamame is also full of many antioxidants, low on the glycemic index, and contains a lot of protein–making it a good option for those on food restrictions. However, keep in mind these are based on plain edamame beans, so the ingredients in this spicy edamame could also change its nutritional benefits.
