Finger food from Japan- How do you eat edamame? (2024)

Edamame is gaining popularity in Europe. Not only is this brightly green finger food found on the menu in Japanese pubs, but it is also served as an appetizer or snack in upscale restaurants and trendy eateries. Translated from Japanese, Edamame 枝豆 means "beans on the branch" or "stalk beans" (Jap "Eda"= stalk and "Mame"= bean).

What do edamame taste like and how do you eat them correctly?

The still young, immature soybean is not widely known outside Japan and Asian countries. In appearance, they resemble broad beans familiar in Germany, but Edamame has a sweet-mild, slightly nutty flavor and a noticeably crisp texture. Harvested at a ripeness level of about 80 percent, the oval green beans have a milder flavor than mature soybeans. Like other legumes, soybeans are not consumed raw. The antinutrients present in them are difficult-to-digest substances, so they must be cooked before consumption. In Germany, these small beans are usually sold frozen, having been pre-blanched, and before consumption, they only need to be thawed and briefly cooked.

Traditionally, after cooking, they are sprinkled with coarse sea salt and chili and served as a snack. While the pod is not toxic, its fibrous texture makes it unappetizing, so it is not eaten. Instead, the beans are pushed out of the pod with the mouth. This way, the sea salt and chili on the pod combine with the nutty and crisp beans in the mouth.

Delicious and healthy - Edamame beans

In Japanese restaurants, the young soybeans are often served as a snack along with beer. Due to their vibrant color, these beans are also frequently used as "colorful accents" in dishes such as Buddha bowls, curry, or vegetable rice in Japanese cuisine. These healthy soybeans are rich in essential amino acids, protein, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins, making them ideal for vegetarian and vegan edamame recipes. With 125kcal per 100 grams and low fat content, edamame pods are a true secret for those following a low-carb diet.

Chili sea salt edamame - the healthy snack

2 personsNo. of persons

ca. 15 minutesTotal Time

easyLevel of difficulty

Appetizer/SnackDish

300kcalCalories

Vegan

Vegetarian

a little bit spicy

Kitchenware

Pan , Cutting board , Knife , Bowl , Pot

See Also

Is It Okay To Eat Edamame Shells?Edamame/Soybeans: Nutritional Values, Health Benefits, Side Effects, RecipesHow to Cook Frozen Edamame - Bean RecipesEverything You Need to Know about the Humble Edamame Bean - Kobe Jones

List of ingredients

500ml water

2 teaspoons salt

2 Garlic cloves

1 tablespoons Chili oil

1 Chili pepper

1tablespoon Oil

coarse sea salt

Chili flakes

Buddha Bowl Bakuhatsu, Arita porcelain, Ø 17.5 cm

45,00 € *

Buddha Bowl Infinity, black

from

See Also

5 Flavorful Ways to Snack on Edamame

39,90 € *

Buddha Bowl Infinity, white

from

34,90 € *

Buddha Bowl lawn, Arita porcelain, Ø 17.5 cm

45,00 € *

Buddha Bowl Shinogi, Arita porcelain, Ø 17.5 cm

45,00 € *

Soup bowl Kokuyou with lid

45,00 € *

Preparation

Step 1

Preparation is quick and easy. Fill 500ml of water into a pot and add 2 teaspoons of salt. Bring the water to a boil and add 200g of edamame beans to the pot. Reduce the heat a bit and cook the pods for 5 minutes.

Step 2

Meanwhile, peel the two garlic cloves and crush them with a garlic press. Cut the chili pepper into small pieces and put them in a pan with 1 tablespoon of oil and the garlic. Sauté everything together until the garlic turns golden yellow.

Step 3

Afterward, drain the boiled Edamame in a colander and add them to the pan with 1 tablespoon of chili oil. Thoroughly mix everything together over low heat in the pan and let the beans cool for a few minutes.

Step 4

Transfer the still-warm Edamame into a bowl and sprinkle them with coarse sea salt and chili flakes. They are now ready to be served - enjoy your meal!