4 Simple Edamame Recipes to Master at Home

Edamame, or fresh soybeans, make for a quick, easy, and protein-packed snack or appetizer. Regardless of whether you prefer fresh or frozen, you can prepare them in no time according to your taste preferences. In fact, it’s difficult to differentiate between the two.

When it comes to cooking in-shell soybeans, you have various options, such as boiling, steaming, microwaving, and pan-searing. The cooking time is roughly the same; however, the choice of equipment plays a role. No matter what method you choose, make sure to season it with flaky sea salt, red pepper flakes, togarashi, and/or sesame seeds.

Boiling is an ideal cooking choice, as all you require is a pot and some water. Bring a pot of water to a boil and add enough salt to make it taste like seawater. Add in-shell edamame, cook for around five minutes or until the beans inside the pods are tender, and then drain and rinse with cold water. Once cooled, season to taste and serve.

Another stovetop cooking option is steaming, which requires a steamer basket. Bring an inch of water to a boil in a pot and steam the edamame in a colander for five to ten minutes until heated through and tender. Remove the insert from the pot, and then rinse with cold water once cooled. Season to taste and serve.

Microwaving is a quicker option that requires edamame in a microwave-safe bowl. For fresh edamame, splash it with a few drops of water before microwaving it on high for around three minutes. Cool it off before seasoning to taste and serving.

Pan-searing is less common but delicious. Heat a large cast-iron frying pan over high heat and add wet edamame to it. Cook undisturbed until lightly charred on the bottom, turn over, and repeat. Season to taste and serve hot. Keep in mind that this method is not ideal for serving at a cooler temperature.