Garlic Edamame is the perfect appetizer, side or snack to enjoy. Ready in under 15 minutes; this protein rich recipe needs only a handful of ingredients.
Made partially in the Instant Pot; this is full of spice and umami flavors and always loved by everyone!
Easy to make snacks and appetizers are always in demand. When you can put them together in a matter of minutes and it tastes yum, it is always loved. And bonus if it is actually healthy.
Steamed and air fried snacks generally make into this category. From Air Fried Brussels Sprouts and Ragi Idli to Paneer Board and Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries; we love them all.
And when we talk of these recipes, there are quite a few Asian recipes that are perfect. Especially this Chinese seaweed salad and Asian peanut celery salad are favorites. Edamame is a star ingredient to whip up as a snack, appetizer or side dish. With just the pods and a handful of spices, we can make so many different recipes using them.
Plus it is a perfect side for Sushi night, with this Vegan Poke Bowl or just to add some protein content to any meal.
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What is Edamame
Edamame is a Japanese dish that we make from the immature pods of soybeans. The pods are harvested before they mature into the hard and dry beans. They are generally light or deep green depending on how much they have been processed.
Technically, the name edamame comes from the Japanese term stem beans (枝豆). This is because the beans were traditionally sold still attached to the stem. While this is not the case now, it is still called by the same name.
We can enjoy edamame in several ways. It is easy to steam, sauté or air fry these with some spices or without. These make a perfect appetizer, snack or side dish.
Edamame is a seasonal bean and we can see the fresh ones in markets when in season. So it is easier to simply gravitate towards the packets of frozen edamame in the aisles of grocery stores. There again, edamame is available in two types; pods with the beans inside and just the beans.
Benefits if Edamame
Edamame is popularly enjoyed as a snack, appetizer or side dish. It is easy to prep in so many ways and enjoy. It is a powerhouse of nutrition as well. Here is what we can get from it:
- It is rich in vitamins and minerals; especially Vitamin K.
- Edamame is full of fibre.
- A cup of edamame has about 37% of daily value of protein.
- It provides Polyunsaturated fats which gives us omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid.
- Edamame has Isoflavones; this type of antioxidant may help lower the risk of cancer and osteoporosis.
Why this recipe works
- Garlic Edamame is naturally Vegan.
- The recipe is also gluten-free.
- We can make this in zero minutes cooking time in the instant pot.
- It is easy to flavor the recipe with garlic and chili flakes.
- The dish is a perfect side dish, appetizer or snack.
- The recipe is partially hands-free, making it a very easy one.
- We can put this garlic edamame together in under 15 minutes.
- It is a protein rich option, especially for Vegetarians and Vegans.
- This garlic edamame pairs beautifully with sushi, poke bowl or any other meal.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Frozen Edamame: The prime ingredient here is frozen edamame. Available in packets in the frozen aisle of grocery stores, edamame is common to spot in Asian stores too. These are generally inexpensive and perfect to make all at once or in batches. Pick the uncooked and unflavored ones for the recipe.
- Garlic: A lot of minced garlic is perfect for the recipe. I like to use fresh garlic but packaged garlic works in a pinch too. The flavor differs and is more bold with fresh garlic.
- Spices: The only other spices we need for the recipe are salt and chili flakes. Salt is essential but chili flakes are optional. I like to use flakey salt for the recipe but regular table salt works too. Add some gochugaru if you want the garlic edamame to be super spicy.
- Toasted Sesame Oil: Like most Asian recipes, a little toasted sesame oil goes a long way in the recipe. We need to sauté the garlic and this oil adds a lot nuttiness and warmth to the recipe. We need this to ensure the other ingredients stick well to the edamame. Any neutral oil works in the recipe.
- Soy sauce: A dash of soy sauce is great for an umami kick in the recipe. Dark, light or low sodium soy sauce works. It is also great to add some vinegar to the recipe.
- Water: We need water to steam the edamame. Regular water works fine.
See the recipe card for detailed ingredient information, measurements and nutrition.
How to make this recipe
1- In the insert of the Instant Pot add 1 cup water. Place a trivet in the water.
2- In a steamer basket add the edamame. Place the steamer basket in the Instant Pot and close the lid.
3- Press Pressure Cook and set the mode to Normal. Adjust the time to 0 (ZERO) minutes. Close the lid and move the vent to sealing. Once the Instant Pot beeps, move the vent to venting and let all the steam out. When the valve drops, open the instant pot.
4- In a small pan, heat toasted sesame oil.
5- Once hot, add minced garlic. Let the garlic sauté for a minutes till flavorful.
6- Add the chili flakes and sauté till the flakes are crisp.
7- Then add in the edamame.
8- Season with soy sauce.
9- Add in the flakey salt as well.
10- Mix well and enjoy topped with finely chopped scallions.
How to eat Edamame Pods
If you are new to the legume; here is how to enjoy it. We eat the edamame kernels from within the pods.
To do so, simply place the complete pod between your teeth and squeeze them so the seeds are eaten along with all the seasoning on it. The flavor is perfect to enjoy with the seeds.
Expert Tips and Notes
- Use edamame in the pod: The recipe is designed to works for the edamame thats still in it's pod. Most stores carry these as well as shelled edamame. While the one with shell is best enjoyed as an appetizer, the shelled ones work better for salads and bowls like this Vegan Sushi Bowl or Shirataki Noodles.
- Do not overcook the pods: We only need to quickly steam the edamame pods. They are often blanched before freezing. So just cook them enough to soften but not disintegrate. Overcooked pods are generally difficult to eat as the skin tends to get in the mouth.
- Adjust the spice: This recipe is moderately spicy. However, adjust the chili flakes to make it more or less spicy. Moreover, add some Sambal Oelek or Gochugaru flakes to make the garlic edamame more spicy. Leave out all the flakes to keep it plain.
- Storing leftovers: The leftover garlic edamame is great to cool down to room temperature and then refrigerate as is. Moreover, it is also okay to remove the kernels and store in the refrigerator. To reheat, simply microwave the pods or kernels in the microwave.
Making without Instant Pot
We can make the same recipe without the instant pot as well. To do so, simply bring a pot of water to boil. Then add the frozen edamame and let them cook for 5-6 minutes (or as per the package instructions). Drain the water and use as needed.
Alternatively, some frozen edamame are okay to cook in the microwave as well. If you have that kind of a package, simply microwave as per the instructions on the packing. They generally cook within 4-5 minutes.
Other ways to season Edamame
There are several ways to season the edamame pods to enjoy. From spicy and salty to a slightly sweet salty version, try them all.
- Season the edamame with honey and sriracha for a sweet and spicy kick.
- Some gochugaru flakes or Sambal Oelek gives us a spicy version as well.
- It is easy to serve the steamed edamame with just a sprinkle of sea salt.
- Furikake; a popular Japanese toppin g works well to top the steamed beans.
- Add a dash of everything bagel seasoning along with flakey salt for more flavorful edamame.
- Last, adding some wasabi paste or wasabi powder to the edamame makes them spicy and umami.
Recipe FAQs
Yes indeed. If you do not want to add any garlic or chili, simply open the instant pot, sprinkle flakey salt on it and enjoy!
Yes it does. When you set the instant pot to zero minutes on pressure cook, it builds pressure based on the weight of the edamame inside and once the pressure is built; it immediately releases the pressure. This is just enough to cook the pods but not make it mushy.
Technically edamame is soy beans that have been harvested young and immature. Their fibrous pods are still green and the beans are tender and soft. While we can steam and eat edamame as is, mature soybeans take a long time to cook like other dried beans.
An edamame pod will generally have 2-5 seeds in it. While we do eat the beans or kernels from within, it is important to note that the outer pod skin is not okay to eat. It is fibrous and inedible.
To determine if your edamame beans are properly cooked, squeeze one edamame pod between your fingers. The flesh should break apart, with the beans popping out easily. If it doesn't, cook it for a few more minutes.
Edamame pods are available in the frozen aisles of most American grocery stores and Asian stores. They come in small packs with the pods or shelled. While they are pretty similar in outcome, I buy the ones from Trader Joe's more often.
More Edamame Recipes
Love this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below & if you REALLY like it, consider a review in the comments whilst you are there, thanks!
Instant Pot Garlic Edamame
Ingredients
- 10 oz Frozen Edamame
- 1 cup Water
- ½ teaspoon Coarse Sea Salt
- 2 teaspoon Toasted Sesame Oil
- 3-4 cloves Garlic (minced)
- ½ teaspoon Chili Flakes
- 1½ teaspoon Soy Sauce
Instructions
- In the insert of the Instant Pot add water. Place a trivet in the water.1 cup Water
- In a steamer basket add the edamame. Place the steamer basket in the Instant Pot and close the lid.10 oz Frozen Edamame
- Press Pressure Cook and set the mode to Normal. Adjust the time to 0 (ZERO) minutes. Close the lid and move the vent to sealing.
- Once the Instant Pot beeps, move the vent to venting and let all the steam out.
- When the valve drops, open the instant pot.
- In a small pan, heat toasted sesame oil.2 teaspoon Toasted Sesame Oil
- Once hot, add minced garlic. Let the garlic sauté for a minutes till flavorful.3-4 cloves Garlic
- Add the chili flakes and sauté till the flakes are crisp.½ teaspoon Chili Flakes
- Then add in the edamame.
- Season with soy sauce.1½ teaspoon Soy Sauce
- Add in the flakey salt as well.½ teaspoon Coarse Sea Salt
- Mix well and enjoy topped with finely chopped scallions.
Video
Notes
- Use edamame in the pod: The recipe is designed to works for the edamame thats still in it's pod. Most stores carry these as well as shelled edamame. While the one with shell is best enjoyed as an appetizer, the shelled ones work better for salads and bowls like this Vegan Sushi Bowl or Shirataki Noodles.
- Do not overcook the pods: We only need to quickly steam the edamame pods. They are often blanched before freezing. So just cook them enough to soften but not disintegrate. Overcooked pods are generally difficult to eat as the skin tends to get in the mouth.
- Adjust the spice: This recipe is moderately spicy. However, adjust the chili flakes to make it more or less spicy. Moreover, add some Sambal Oelek or Gochugaru flakes to make the garlic edamame more spicy. Leave out all the flakes to keep it plain.
- Storing leftovers: The leftover garlic edamame is great to cool down to room temperature and then refrigerate as is. Moreover, it is also okay to remove the kernels and store in the refrigerator. To reheat, simply microwave the pods or kernels in the microwave.
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