EDAMAME AT HOME!

My cousin made me homemade edamame (soy beans) earlier this year and it was fantastic!  Why had I never thought I could make one of my favourite treats from the Japanese restaurants at home, I don't know.

Here is a bit of a gourmet recipe, but following it is a staple (my cousin's Ian's recipe) that lives in my fridge, and is a frequent late night snack (who wouldn't rather this healthy -ish snack at night instead of chips or junk food).

Blistered Bacon and Garlic Edamame:

What you are going to need:

• package of frozen edamame in shell
• 10ish whole cloves of garlic, smashed with the back of a knife
• 4ish tsp sesame oil
• 1/2 cup crumbled cooked bacon pieces (I bake it in large quantities on baking pans covered in aluminum foil in the oven, then freeze it for when you need little bits)
• 3 tsp Japanese 7 spice blend - Shichimi Togarashi (It's at Zehr's and it's President's Choice black label)
• 1/2 tsp sea salt (you really need it to kill the heat in the spice blend)
• juice of 1 lime

How to make it:

• Steam your edamame in the microwave according to package directions on the back of the edamame bag.  
• In a large frying pan, heat the sesame oil over medium heat, and add the smashed garlic and the steamed edamame and cook until blistered, about 20 minutes.
• Toss in crumbled bacon.
• Remove from heat and toss with the Japanese 7 spice, sea salt, and the lime juice.
• Enjoy!     (This microwaves well to reheat!)

Everyday Edamame:

What you are going to need:

• package of frozen edamame in shell
• 4 tsp sesame oil
• 3 tsp Japanese 7 spice blend - Shichimi Togarashi (It's at Zehr's at it's President's Choice black label)
• 1/2 tsp sea salt (you really need it to kill the heat in the spice blend)

How to make it:

• Steam your edamame in the microwave according to package directions on the back of the edamame bag.
• Toss with the sesame oil, Japanese 7 spice and salt.
• Enjoy!
• I reheat it for 1 minute in the microwave when I want to have some more!

They sell edamame in their shell in the freezer section of most high end grocery stores.  They also sell it already shelled which is great tossed in salad or as a roasted snack (I will highlight that recipe some other time).

P.S.  You are only supposed to eat the beans on the inside, and suck the good stuff off the outside.  Put the whole pod in your mouth while holding on to one end, bite down to pop it open so you can eat the beans, and suck the good stuff off the outside.

Bon Appetit!

xo, Alysha