Spicy Edamame—Quick and Easy Healthy Snacks

Edamame is one of my favorite simple appetizers to enjoy before a meal.  Usually, we get a small bowl of these healthy and tasty complimentary beans at the Japanese restaurants before our orders arrive.  Edamame beans are immature soybeans in the pod, which commonly are found in the Japanese and Chinese cuisines.  The pods are usually boiled in water or steamed and served whole.  A while ago, I found some organic edamame from Costco that were packaged in individual bag of 3-ounces each.  The suggested serving instruction was to put them in the microwave for 3 minutes, sprinkle with salt and serve up.  Simple enough right?  Of course I couldn't resist to bring some home.



Of course, if you know me well, I won’t just serve them as is.  It’s fun to add different condiments on them for new flavors.  What did I create this time?  These Spicy Edamame!  With a hint of sea salt, toasted sesame oil, and some Japanese chili powder!  Oh boy, so simple and so good.  Make them, seriously, and you can thank me later.



The package suggested to microwave them, but if you oppose to using a microwave for whatever reason, you can put them in boiling water for 3 minutes for the same result.  Here’s the step-by-step pictorial on how I prepared these Spicy Edamame.

1) Place the edamame in a microwave safe bowl.
2) Cover with a damp paper towel and microwave for 3 minutes.  I stop the microwave half way and give the edamame a toss to ensure they heat through evenly.
3) Sprinkle with sea salt
4) Drizzle with toasted sesame oil
5) Sprinkle with your favorite chili powder
6) Toss, serve up and enjoy



Simple, right?  This is how the packaged edamame looks like (see picture below).  And the picture of the chili powder I used.  This is by far my favorite chili powder and I got it in a Japanese supermarket (you can get this in some Asian market as well).  If you have your own favorite, by all means go for it.



Edamames are low in calories, high in fiber and contain an adequate amount of healthy fats. They are packed with protein and essential amino acids.  They also contain vitamin A, calcium, vitamin K and folate.  Whatever that means, they just translate to tasty goodness to me.  Minus the chili powder, they are also my kids’ favorite snacks.  Come on, what kids don’t like food that they can pick up with their hands, bit into them and squeeze out little gems from inside the pods?  They definitely are fun to eat as well.  The big kid in me say so, at least. 







Spicy Edamame:  (Printable Recipe)

3 ounce frozen Edamame
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon chili powder, to taste

In a microwave safe bowl, cover edamame with a damp paper towel and microwave for 3 minutes.  Stop the microwave half way and give the edamame a toss to ensure they heat through evenly.

Sprinkle with sea salt, drizzle with toasted sesame oil, then, sprinkle with your favorite chili powder.
Toss, serve up and enjoy.

*If you preferred not to use the microwave, simply put the edamame in boiling water for 3 minutes.  Drain well and toss with seasonings.