Edamame with Soy and Sesame Sauce

This edamame recipe is one of my favorite evening snacks! Not only is it ready in just 5 minutes, it also hits the spot whenever I crave something savory, nutty, and earthy. The slight char on the outside also adds a little smokiness that makes sucking on the pods, even more satisfying.

I’ve been munching on edamame beans since I was a little girl. My mother liked to serve them as a summer snack or as a side to traditional Japanese dishes like miso ramen, nikujaga, yaki udon, and onigiri. As a kid I loved sucking on the salty edamame pods while chewing on the bright green beans inside. Later, when I lived in Tokyo, edamame became a healthy snack I picked up at Seven Eleven on my way home from work, and something that appeared at the table of most izakayas (Japanese pub) I visited.

These days edamame makes an appearance in many different forms and flavors - from a comforting bean soup to a chilled vichyssoise, in a colorful quinoa salad, or blended to make a green hummus, I like to include them in my recipes as much as I can. This edamame with soy and sesame sauce is a late night snack I like to munch on because it’s low in calories, and it’s also an easy way to to boost my protein intake. This edamame recipe is a simple dish that’s seasoned with soy sauce and toasted sesame oil. What you get are lightly charred pods full of umami and nuttiness.

Ingredients

• Edamame: I highly recommend spending a little more money on good frozen edamame. The reason why I say this is that I’ve come across cheaper brands that offer edamame pods that are broken into bits or simply not in good shape or look old. If you live near a Japanese, Korean, or Asian supermarket, or a specialty store, it’s worth a trip just to buy better quality edamame. My favorite brands are Seapoint Farms, Welpac and Nissui.
• Soy sauce: You will need Japanese soy sauce for this recipe to get a good balance of salty, umami, and earthy. Brands like Kikkoman and Yamasa are good.
• Toasted sesame oil: You can use regular sesame oil but you will get much more flavor by using toasted sesame oil. Toasted sesame oil is more concentrated in flavor and less is needed to season a dish.

Prepping The Edamame

Before adding the edamame pods to the skillet you will need to cook them first. My preferred method is to boil them in a pot of salted water for 3 to 5 minutes. Drain and shock them in cold water. Drain again and they are ready to be served, or in this case, thrown into a hot skillet! I have also recently discover another clever trick to quickly prep these green legumes:

• Place them in a colander and run hot water over them for about 5 minutes. Drain and serve!

There is also the microwave method, which is to place the edamame pods in a microwave safe bowl with a little water and cover them with a paper towel. But I don’t really like this method because my pods always come out overcooked or deflated. If you would like to give it a shot, start by microwaving them for 1 to 3 minutes and do a taste test. If they need longer, add 1 minute at a time until you are satisfied with the texture.

How To Make This Recipe

1. Cook the edamame pods using one of the methods listed above.
2. Place a large skillet over medium high and when the skillet is hot, add the toasted sesame oil.
3. Swirl the oil the coat the bottom surface of the skillet and add the edamame pods.
4. Stir fry them for 2 to 3 minutes and add the soy sauce.
5. Quickly toss the pods to evenly coat them and season with a little salt and pepper.
6. Turn the heat off, transfer them to a serving bowl and enjoy!

What To Serve With This Dish

I can eat this dish on its own or as part of a meal. It’s so pleasant to the palate that it’s an easy recipe to pair with other dishes. This dish makes a delicious snack or side to serve at a sushi party. But you can also serve it as part of Japanese home style dinner with Japanese classics such as:

• Japanese curry rice
• Agedashi tofu
• Okonomiyaki
• Dashimaki tamago
• Omurice

Frequently Asked Questions

Did you like this recipe? Are there changes you made that you would like to share? Share your tips and recommendations in the comments section below!