Spicy Edamame

Do you love snacking but maybe want something a bit healthier than chips and dip? This Spicy Edamame recipe will have you loving a whole new snack! Did you know that edamame is in the freezer section of your grocery store? They are very accessible and so easy to prepare. 

I have now whipped up a few batches of these delicious edamame in the pods. My daughter has been the biggest fan of these growing up and edamame was the first thing she would order in a Japanese restaurant as a child. 

They make a great appetizer or side dish with sushi. They also are quick and easy to make, fun to eat and are a healthy snack. 

How To Make Spicy Edamame?

I have almost always had them plain after being boiled in salted water or just simply salted. But to add garlic and red pepper flakes brings these spicy edamame to a whole new level. The method to cook them is simple. 

Just add them to boiling salted water and cook for about 5 min. from frozen. Immediately drain and then shock them in an ice water bath to lock in the lovely green color. If you omit this step they will still be okay but will lose their lovely green when heated again in the saucepan. 

Add olive oil to a large saucepan and saute up the garlic for 1-2 min. Add the red pepper flakes and the edamame. Saute them quickly to heat back up and toss to coat. Edamame are best served warm. Lightly salt with Kosher salt and a fresh squeeze of lime and serve immediately. 

What is Edamame?

What is edamame? Edamame is a preparation of immature soybeans and is found in a lot of cuisines of East Asia. As mentioned before the pods are boiled or steamed and served with salt.

Soybeans have been used in Asian cuisine for hundreds of years and Edamame in particular dates back to 1275 as the first known mention of them. 

Soybeans originated in Southeast Asia and were first domesticated by Chinese farmers around 1100 BC.

Where are soybeans grown? Are they just in Asian countries? This may suprise you as Canada is among the top ten countries yielding a harvest of 6 million metric tons a year according to World Atlas. 

• Ukraine (3.9 million metric tons) …
• Canada (6.0 million metric tons) …
• Paraguay (10.0 million metric tons) …
• India (10.5 million metric tons) …
• China (12.2 million metric tons) …
• Argentina (53.4 million metric tons) …
• Brazil (86.8 million metric tons) …
• USA (108.0 million metric tons)

Nutritional facts according to Wikipedia. 

The United States Department of Agriculture states that edamame beans are a “soybean that can be eaten fresh and are best known as a snack with a nutritional punch”.^[13]

Edamame and other preparations of soybeans are rich in protein, dietary fiber, and micronutrients, particularly folate, manganese, phosphorus and vitamin K (table).^[14]

The balance of fatty acids in 100 grams of edamame is 361 mg of omega-3 fatty acids to 1794 mg of omega-6 fatty acids.^[15]

As a significant source of plant protein, edamame beans are under research to establish whether a relationship exists between soy consumption and reduction of disease risk.^[16]

Pretty interesting facts I would say. I learned something new doing my research. 

Spicy Garlic Edamame

These edamame are perfect when they are simply made, no need for soy sauce, sriracha, sambal oelek, or sesame oil. That would over power the delicate taste of the edamame. The garlic/red chili flakes are just the right touch. 

So are you thinking how do I eat these? You put a section of the pod in your mouth and with your teeth slide the soy bean out of the pod. You then do that with the next one and the next one until the pod is empty. The pod is then discarded and move onto the next one.

The bowls from Amazon that I showed you above are perfect to serve a dish like this in as the top houses the edamame and the bottom allows you to throw away the shell. Very cool and ingenious idea. 

How Many Calories are in Spicy Edamame?

Altough this is a very healthy snack they are not super low in calories as you might think so just be aware of that. They do pack in calories as a full pound would have 880 calories but are loaded with protein, fiber, and good carbs.

So share some with friends if you have 1/4 of a pound done in this recipe they are a resonable at 220 calories. 

Also a lot of soy beans are GMO world wide, if that is something that you are not interested in eating then make sure you get organic soy beans. 

Try this recipe, enjoy them and share with friends. They would make a great game day snack too. 

Spicy Edamame Recipe

Spicy Edamame

Tara Noland

These Spicy Edamame will have you gobbling them down and loving the garlicky heat that will burst in your mouth!

5 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 7 minutes mins

Total Time 12 minutes mins

Course Appetizers

Cuisine Asian

Servings 4 servings

Calories 220 kcal

Ingredients

 

• 1 lb. edamame
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 Tbsp. garlic minced
• 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
• Juice of 1/2 lime
• Kosher salt to taste

Instructions

 

• In a pot of salted boiling water add in the edamame and cook for 5 min. Immediately drain and plunge into ice water. Drain well and pat dry.
• In a large saucepan add in the olive oil and saute the garlic for 1-2 minutes. Add in the red pepper flakes and the edamame. Quickly toss and heat for 1-2 min.
• Add the lime juice and salt to taste with the Kosher salt. Serve immediately.

Equipment

Calphalon Contemporary Hard-Anodized Aluminum Nonstick Cookware, Saucepan with Steamer Insert, 4 1/2-quart, Black

New Heirloom Green Organic Edamame Vegetables, 10+ Seeds

White and Green Double Dish Serving Bowl for Pistachios, Peanuts, Edamame, Cherries, Nuts, Fruits and Candy

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 220kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 14gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gSodium: 189mgFiber: 6gSugar: 10g

Nutrition calculation is an estimation only. If you need nutritional calculations for medical reasons, please use a source that you trust.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!