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Finger food from Japan- How do you eat edamame?

Finger food from Japan- How do you eat edamame?

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.

Edamame in a delicious Buddha Bowl
Edamame in rice bowl

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

No. of persons2 personsNo. of persons
Total Timeca. 15 minutesTotal Time
Level of difficultyeasyLevel of difficulty
DishAppetizer/SnackDish
Calories300kcalCalories
VeganVegan
VegetarianVegetarian
leicht scharfScharfa little bit spicya little bit spicy
Kitchenware Kitchenware
Edamame mit Chili und Salz
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
Kochende Miss Oryoki
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!

Japanese recipes read in the magazine »
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