Look! Fresh, Just-Picked Edamame

This is by far the most interesting and surprising thing we've picked up from our CSA this season — stalks of fuzzy, fresh edamame. Now the question is what to do with them...

We think of soybeans as a crop grown on huge, commercial farms and weren't really expecting these baby soybean pods. We also think of them as coming already cooked, frozen in bags, in the grocery store.

We assume we'll remove the pods and boil them, then pop out and eat the beans as we would at a Japanese restaurant. Anyone have any tips?

(Images: Elizabeth Passarella)

Comments (11)

DON'T peel them before boiling; way too tedious and time consuming! Just rinse, boil pod in salted water ~8-10 min (fresh usually takes less time), pop open and eat! Delish!

For all you Urban Farmers out there, Seed Savers Exchange has a couple good varieties: http://www.seedsavers.org/products.asp?dept=57

We got ours from a friendly Asian community gardener, don't know the variety, but they're very good.

posted by kibitzknitz on September 3rd 2008 at 5:02am
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I like to blanch them in the pods.

Then wok sear them and sprinkle with smoked sea salt.

posted by art on September 3rd 2008 at 5:17am
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Are you in my CSA? I was so jealous of the full share members who got bunches of edamame yesterday. *Sulk*

posted by katef on September 3rd 2008 at 5:22am
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Blanch them quickly first (skip this if they're really fresh) then just toss them around a wok with some sesame oil, chilli flakes, salt and pepper.

Pop those babies in your mouth while you neck a few beers, ideal!

posted by mathewbmx on September 3rd 2008 at 5:31am
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There is a great French/Asian fusion recipe for edamame and french green beans in Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything Vegetarian. We made this last week with our CSA veggies and it was gone very quickly.

posted by jojippitydrum on September 3rd 2008 at 5:45am
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We don't have fresh, but get them frozen at TJs and boil slightly, add a touch of soy sauce. The kids love them in their lunches.

posted by jen_g on September 3rd 2008 at 6:59am
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Elizabeth Andoh's Washoku has an amazing fresh edamame soup. You boil and shell them, then puree them with dashi and a couple other ingredients. So simple and tastes like the essence of fresh edamame. Yum!

Another great way to eat them (you can also do this with frozen beans) is to boil, shell and puree them with soy sauce, mirin and a little sugar, then use as a sauce for fried Japanese eggplant or just as a dip for raw veggies.

posted by Anjali on September 3rd 2008 at 9:07am
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I like to add them to vegetable soup.

posted by ah-ha on September 3rd 2008 at 10:00am
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Make edamame guacamole! Pure 1 lb of the cooked beans with olive oil, lime juice, garlic, salt & pepper. Great on chips or as a sandwich spread.
I love to add the beans to a nice asian noodle salad as well...

posted by Sisero on September 3rd 2008 at 11:19am
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I grow edamame for their nitrogen fixating properties in my garden. My tomatoes have done much better when grown with soybeans, and the home grown edamame is delicious as well.

posted by crazykj on September 4th 2008 at 5:20am
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Use them in place of garbanzo beans in fresh hummus. Yummy!

posted by zhasmene on September 6th 2008 at 10:34am
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