Easiest Steamed Edamame

The flavor-packed pop of perfectly cooked edamame is easy to achieve with a simple technique – in about 5 minutes. A crowd-pleasing appetizer, for sure, but the quick prep makes them a convenient side dish and snack as well.

A bag or two of edamame is a freezer standby in our house. Often enjoyed as an appetizer at Japanese restaurants, the vibrant green pods have gone mainstream thanks to their flavor, fun factor, and healthy appeal.

A short, simple technique will get them on your table in mere minutes while assuring tender-yet-toothsome appeal and perfect seasoning.

So, while well-suited to a pre-dinner nibble or last-minute appetizer when guests appear, by all means think of edamame as a side dish on your dinner plate and serve it just as you would a side of broccoli or green beans.

Or serve edamame in addition to those vegetables. Though the pods look like a typical green vegetable (and taste much like one too), they are actually legumes–young soybeans harvested before they ripen or harden. As such, they offer a hearty dose of protein and their own set of nutrients.

The flavor-packed pop of perfectly cooked edamame is easy to achieve with a simple technique – in about 5 minutes. A crowd-pleasing appetizer, for sure, but the quick prep makes them a convenient side dish and snack as well.

The simplest technique is the secret to achieving just the right saltiness and just the right bite.

Convenience, versatility, great taste, and wholesome appeal…

Think of edamame as cooking from the hip–no recipe is needed. Prepare it once, and you may be hooked!

Don’t have time to cook rice or potatoes to round out a meal? Steam edamame. Though totally different, it will fill the space on your plate and in your stomach.

It feels like a shortcut but is by no means a compromise.

Are the kids ravenous after school or need a hearty snack before or after a sports practice? Or do you need something filling to tide you over to dinner? Edamame may be the snack that shakes up the cookie/granola bar/chip routine. My family always called it fun food, which helps in light of the many sweet and salty processed options that are easy and rather tasty grabs.

Edamame is also packable, and it can be eaten cold or at room temperature. So, think of the tasty green pods as a worthy lunch box addition for adults and kids alike.

A few things to know:

How do you eat edamame? If you’re new to this legume, the beans are eaten directly from the pod, which is squeezed between your teeth to release the beans. The pod is then discarded as it is somewhat tough and fibrous.
There are two varieties in the freezer section of the store. For this, make sure to purchase edamame that’s still in the pod, not shelled. That said, the shelled variety offers convenience when looking for a protein addition to green salads, grain-based bowls (great in Budget Sushi Bowls), and soups. Shelled edamame can also be used in place of lima and other beans in dishes like succotash (including my favorite Succotash Salad) and this easy bean salad.
How long does edamame keep? Properly frozen edamame will retain its flavor and quality for up to 12 months. Once cooked, edamame will keep in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days.
The flavor and texture: Edamame tastes similar to peas, except peas are sweeter and edamame is nuttier. When steamed properly, edamame is tender yet still carries an appealing toothsome texture. The pod is seasoned, and you get the flavor as you run it through your teeth.
Edamame is a complete protein source, meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids. It’s also high in fiber and a variety of other nutrients including folate, vitamins A, C K, and magnesium.
Leftover steamed edamame may be reheated or enjoyed cold.
For convenience sake, keep a bag or two in your freezer.

With this technique, edamame is as flavor-packed as it is quick and easy. And it's so much fun to eat. Enjoy it as a regular side dish and snack rather than saving it for appetizer use only!

You could use a steamer basket, but you don’t need one because you’re using just enough water to create steam without submerging the edamame.

After steaming for 3 to 5 minutes, drain well—but don’t rinse—and then immediately return the edamame to the hot pot. Any remaining moisture will quickly evaporate.

A few tricks make for the best edamame...and it's so quick and easy!

Lightly mist with olive or avocado oil spray and then toss. The oil spray works well because you want just enough oil to make the salt stick without making your fingers greasy.

Coarse salt, like kosher salt or a coarse sea salt, supplies more flavor with less overall use of salt along with a modest hint of crunch.

The flavor-packed pop of perfectly cooked edamame is easy to achieve with a simple technique. A crowd-pleasing appetizer, for sure, but because they're so quick and easy, consider elevating the fun-to-eat pods to main meal status. Protein- and fiber-rich edamame makes a filling snack too!

Sushi is a natural pairing, but use steamed edamame in other ways, too–like as a side dish instead of your favorite green veggie or simply to bolster a light meal. Or serve it as a satiating snack.

A nutrition fact from our dietitian Emily:
As part of the soy family, edamame has often been criticized for its isoflavones. The theory is that these compounds can act like estrogen and therefore increase risk of estrogen-dependent breast cancer or other estrogen-reactive medical conditions.

But human studies have shown soy to be protective against breast cancer, and other cancers for that matter, especially when consumption begins at a young age. For more on this topic, read Emily’s Soy & Breast Cancer – a short story!

In terms of medical conditions which are either reactive to estrogen or require specific dietary restrictions, it’s always best to consult with your physician and/or dietitian before making changes to your diet.