Edamame for Grown-ups

Edamame – it rolls on the tongue and bounces off the lips in a fun way.

Exactly what is it? Edamame_label Immature soybeans. That sounds so judgmental. Let’s call them “baby” soybeans. They are a whole food, full of fiber, as well as an excellent source of vegetarian protein. One cup shelled edamame has 10 grams dietary fiber and 33 grams protein. I choose to buy organic or non-GMO. Trader Joe’s has frozen shelled edamame which saves the time of popping them out of their pods. Any item with the Trader Joe’s label is guaranteed to be free of GMO’s.

http://www.traderjoes.com/faqs/product-information#gmo

Here’s a simple way to serve edamame as a side dish. I like it mixed with tuna or alongside baked chicken. It’s incredibly tasty, healthy and satisfying.

EDAMAME SALAD

INGREDIENTS
1 bag 12 oz fresh or frozen shelled edamame
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced or pressed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

DIRECTIONS
1. Steam frozen edamame in a steamer basket and place in a pot of water, making sure the water is under and not touching the steamer basket. Bring the water to a low boil and steam the edamame for 6-8 minutes. Transfer the edamame to a medium serving bowl.

2. To make the dressing, combine the lemon juice, mustard, garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Whisk in the olive oil until emulsified. Pour the dressing over the beans and toss to coat. Serve at once, or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 2 days.