If you’re concerned about these issues, pick up edamame from your local farmer instead (and ask about his/her growing methods), or try growing your own. They are an easy plant to add to any backyard garden plot.
Edamame Seasonality
Fresh edamame are typically available in late summer through early fall.
Edamame Geography
The US, Brazil, Argentina and China are the top worldwide producers of soybeans.
Eating Edamame
Storing Edamame
Try to cook fresh edamame within a day or two of purchase; the longer they are stored, the starchier they tend to become. As a quick preservation technique, cook up a big batch and store them in the fridge for snacking and to use in recipes; they will keep for up to a week this way.
Cooking with Edamame
Pro tip:Here’s aquick little videothat shows you how to shell fresh edamame: rip it, zip it and open it!
You’ve probably been to a sushi joint where edamame are served up whole, in the pod, with a sprinkling of course salt over top and maybe a lemon wedge. In Japan, edamame steamed or boiled in their pods are commonly served atizakayas, as a snack to go with beer. To prepare this way at home, simply toss the whole pods in the microwave, with a little water and salt, to steam them until the seeds can be easily popped out of the pods. (Compost the pods; they are too tough and fibrous to eat.) For a little more flavor, add in some other elements, such as sriracha or chopped peanuts.
You can add cooked edamame seeds into just about everything; they are fantastic added to stir fries and fried rice (and add extra protein, to boot), tossed into frittatas andpasta dishesand combined with grains like quinoa and faro. I also like to sub edamame for lima beans insuccotashto use up all of that late seasoncorn. Edamame seeds can also beroastedandwok-charred.
In Japan, edamame are even made into a sweetened paste for a dessert calledzunda mochi. Why not try edamame ice creamto cool off during summer?
Preserving Edamame
Edamame freeze beautifully, either shelled or whole in their pods. You can alsopickle edamame seeds, a wonderful addition to salads or grain bowls.
Edamame Nutrition
Edamame are loaded with nutritional goodness. One cup of the veggie provides a whopping 34 percent of your daily protein needs. The beans are also exceptionally high in folate, manganese and Vitamin K, and are a great source of iron, magnesium, thiamin, phosphorous, potassium and copper. They are even decent sources of calcium and Vitamin C, and are positively packed with fiber. Edamame are also rich inplant sterols, which can help lower cholesterol.
