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Spicy edamame

Recipe video above. This is a copycat of the spicy edamame you get at modern Japanese restaurants! Every meal starts with a bowl of these! Great pre-dinner snacking.Getting the right balance of flavours in the sauce is key. A bit of mirin and miso paste gave it a nice depth of flavour rather than tasting flat, and I like the colour and spiciness using sambal oelak.

Servings: 4 - 6 as a starter
Calories: 156 kcal
Course: Snacks
Cuisine: Asian

Ingredients

EDAMAME
  • 300g/10oz frozen edamame in the pods (ie not shelled), preferably not brined (Note 1)
  • 2 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt
SPICY GARLIC SAUCE
  • 1 tbsp grapeseed oil (or other plain flavoured oil)
  • 2 tsp garlic , finely minced
  • 1 tbsp sambal oelek , adjust/omit to taste (Note 2)
  • 2 tsp sesame oil , toasted
  • 1 tbsp Japanese soy sauce (sub light soy or all-purpose soy, NOT dark soy - Note 3)
  • 1 tbsp mirin (Note 4)
  • 1/4 tsp Miso paste (any type, not critical if you omit)
  • 1/4 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Spicy garlic sauce - Heat the oil in a small pan over medium low heat. Cook the garlic until very light golden, then add everything else. Stir, then simmer on low for 1 minute. Remove from stove.
  2. Edamame - Bring a large pot of water to the boil and add the salt. Put the frozen edamame in the water. Bring it back up to the boil then cook for 2 minutes (Note 5 - ignore the packet times, they always say too long!). Drain well, shaking off excess water.
  3. Toss - Transfer edamame into a bowl, pour over sauce, toss. Transfer into a serving bowl - scrape out every drop of sauce! Serve warm or at room temperature.
  4. To eat, pick up a sauce-slathered pod. Bite the pod so the soybeans pop out into your mouth, and suck all the sauce off the skin. Discard the skin, repeat and repeat!

Notes

  • Edamame - These days you can find edamame at regular grocery stores, in the frozen vegetables or Asian section. Look for plain rather than brined (pre-salted). If you get brined, skip the salt in both the cooking water and the sauce. Be sure to get the edamame IN the pods, not shelled, because sucking the soybeans out of the pods is the whole point!
  • Asian chilli paste, find it in the Asian section of grocery stores or Asian stores, medium level spiciness. Substitute with another chilli paste or sauce, starting with less and adding more at the end if you can handle the heat.
  • For a non-spicy version, substitute with 1 tbsp and 1 tsp white vinegar for a kid friendly Honey Soy Edamame.
  • Japanese soy is a little more delicate in flavour than Chinese soy but it's fine to use any all-purpose or light soy soy sauce. Don't use dark soy (too strong, it will ruin the dish) or sweet soy (too sweet).
  • Mirin - Japanese cooking wine that is syrupy and sweet, adds depth of flavour into sauces. Find it in the Asian section of grocery stores or Asian stores. Substitute with: 2 teaspoons honey plus 1/4 cup chicken or vegetable stock, and simmer sauce for longer.
  • Cooking edamame - Frozen edamame is pre-cooked so it only takes a couple of minutes. Some packets say 5 minutes which is way too long and dulls the green colour. You can also steam or microwave, per packet directions, but I like to boil to get a little seasoning on the surface (tastier!).
  • Leftovers will keep for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Great snacking! Best at room temperature or slightly warm.
  • Nutrition per serving assuming 4 servings.

Nutrition Information

Calories 156cal (8%) Carbohydrates 14g (5%) Protein 8g (16%) Fat 8g (12%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 3g Monounsaturated Fat 1g Sodium 444mg (19%) Potassium 370mg (11%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 3g (6%) Vitamin A 8IU (0%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 67mg (7%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4- 6 as a starter

Amount Per Serving

Calories 156

% Daily Value*

Calories 156cal 8%
Carbohydrates 14g 5%
Protein 8g 16%
Fat 8g 12%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g 18%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Sodium 444mg 19%
Potassium 370mg 8%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 3g 6%
Vitamin A 8IU 0%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 67mg 7%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.