What should I do with it?
To cook them in the pods, simply add them to some lightly salted, boiling water for three minutes.
They are delicious served with sea salt, and you can either squeeze the beans out with your hands, or, as we enjoy, salt the pods and suck the beans out with your moosh. The shelled edamame you find in the salad section of supermarkets are ready to eat, but can be warmed in the microwave for a minute or so, if you prefer.
Where can I get it?
These were once a rare find in the West, but you can now find them in most regular supermarkets, as well as health food shops and Asian food retailers. You can buy fresh or frozen, shelled or still in the pod.
What is it?
“Edamame” is Japanese for “young soybeans”. They are a popular Asian food, produced by harvesting soybeans before they start to harden, parboiling, then freezing to retain their fresh flavour. They can be eaten on their own as a snack, or as part of a wide variety of dishes, including stir fries, soups and salads.
Why should I eat it?
• A 100g serving contains 127 calories, 12.6g protein and just 5.8g of fat (plus only 1g of saturated fat). If you’re currently snacking on nuts, it’s worth noting that although unsalted nuts contain slightly more protein, they also pack five times as many calories, around 60g of fat and 10g of saturated fat.
• Edamame contains around 6g of fibre per 100g, which is a quarter of your recommended daily intake. Fibre can help reduce your risk of heart disease, so it’s worth getting your fair share.
• 100g contains half of your daily manganese requirement, which helps the body build and maintain strong bones.
• You will also get around 60 per cent of your daily copper requirement, which boosts your immune system.
