Edamame Recipe

This easy edamame recipe is ready in just 5 minutes — fresh steamed soybeans with a sprinkle of salt make the perfect healthy snack.

Lady Lee’s Note…

I’ve never eaten soybeans growing up. In Israel, we are all about garbanzo beans, ya know… Hummus is everywhere, and I honestly don’t remember many other kinds of beans. But then, during my days in the Navy, we used to go out to drink a beer here and there, mostly in tiny pubs in small villages. I was in my early 20s, and I guess it was time for the famous salted, roasted garbanzo beans — beer’s best friend for years — to finally have some competition.

Suddenly, they started serving salted, steamed soybeans next to the fuzzy drink. They called it edamame. I fell in love right away and started buying it frozen from the store. However, as soon as I had enough space in the garden, I started growing my own soybeans.

Frozen or Fresh Soybeans?

If you’ve never made edamame before, you are going to be so surprised at how easy it is to steam soybeans and serve this delicious, nutritious, protein-packed snack or side. I grow my own soybeans, so you’ll see me using fresh beans in this tutorial; however, you can find frozen soybeans at the grocery store.

The only thing to change here is how long you steam the beans. If you use frozen soybeans, go for 4 minutes or so. If you are using fresh soybeans, go for 5 minutes. If you are using fresh soybeans but you want your beans a little softer, try 6 or 7 minutes. You get my point, yes? Other than that, frozen or fresh, the recipe is the same.

Ingredients…

• Soybeans (fresh or frozen. In the pod)
• Kosher or sea salt
• Soy sauce (optional)
• Lemon juice (optional)
• Lemon pepper seasoning (optional)

Watch Me Make Edamame…

Step-by-Step Instructions…

Step one — Wash the soybeans. If you are using fresh soybeans from the garden, make sure to sift and sort. Choose green pods with mature beans, then give the beans a good rinse under cold water. Nothing fancy here — just make sure they’re clean before they go in the pot. If you are using frozen soybeans, there is no need to wash them.

Step two — Set up your steamer. Add about an inch of water to a pot and place a steaming basket inside. Cover the pot, set it on the stovetop over high heat, and bring the water to a boil.

Step three — Steam the soybeans. Once the water is boiling, add the soybeans to the steaming basket and cover the pot again. Let them steam for 5 minutes. If you like your edamame on the softer side, give them an extra minute or two — they’ll be easier to pop out of the pod.

Step four — Season and enjoy. Remove the soybeans from the pot into a mixing bowl and let them cool for a couple of minutes. Sprinkle with kosher or sea salt and dig in!

How to Serve…

• The classic way is simple — just salt. Grab a pod, bite down, and use your teeth to pull the beans out (can you see how it’s a perfect snack next to a cold beer, huh? huh?). You don’t eat the pod itself, just the beans inside. It takes a second to get the hang of it, but once you do, it’s hard to stop.
• Top a salad – if you feel like peeling a few pods and adding the beans to a salad, they are always a delicious addition. They add a ton of protein to any salad, a beautiful color, and they work really well with many different vegetables. They can easily replace croutons.
• Serve as a side dish – if you ask me, edamame next to a burger is so much better than French fries! Or serve them next to any sandwich or wrap or any fish dish (try this baked tilapia). And, of course, it serves very well with sushi.
• Hot or cold – we like them warm, right after steaming; however, you can also serve them cold. They are a great snack to take to the playground, camping, or a hike.
• Stir-fry – edamame is a great addition to stir-fry! Peel a few pods and add the beans at the end. Don’t cook them more than a minute or so with the rest of the vegetables or meat.

Seasoning Options:

Salt is the easiest way, but if you’d like to add some flavor, you can try the following suggestions…

• Add a drizzle of soy sauce, a squeeze of lemon juice, or both.
• Lemon pepper seasoning is another easy option.
• Chili or cayenne powder or chili flakes can add some heat.
• Heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet with minced garlic or crushed garlic cloves, add the edamame, and toss for just a couple of minutes (you can also add chili flakes, black pepper, salt, and so on). Remove from the heat and enjoy.

How to Store…

On the counter — Edamame is best eaten fresh and warm, right after steaming. I wouldn’t leave them out for more than a couple of hours.

In the refrigerator — Store leftover edamame in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat quickly in the microwave or enjoy them cold.

In the freezer — You can freeze steamed edamame for up to 3 months. Let them cool completely, spread them on a baking sheet to freeze individually, then transfer to a freezer bag. Thaw in the fridge overnight or reheat straight from frozen in the microwave or by steaming for just a minute or so.

Kitchen Notes…

• Don’t eat the pods — Only the beans inside are edible. Bite down on the pod and use your teeth to pull the beans out — it becomes second nature quickly.
• Soft vs. firm — 5 minutes gives you a slightly firm bean if you start with fresh edamame, 4 minutes if you start with frozen. If you prefer them softer, steam for 6–7 minutes.
• Salt timing — Salt (or season) after steaming, not before. It sticks better to the warm beans. Unless you decide to sauté them in a pan for a couple of minutes with oil, in this case, season while sautéing.
• Fresh vs. frozen soybeans — This recipe uses fresh soybeans, but frozen edamame works too. Adjust steaming time slightly — frozen beans may need a tiny bit less time.

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This edamame recipe is proof that the best snacks are often the simplest ones — fresh soy beans, a little salt, and five minutes is all you need. And it’s fun to eat!

More Delicious Recipes…

• Fresh Green Beans With Butter and Garlic
• Simple Roasted Okra
• Roasted Garlic Scapes
• Cooked Fennel With Garlic and Lemon
• Lentil Patties Recipe

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