I have two large bags of frozen edamame in the shell. Two questions:

1) How the heck do you cook it? Do you take it out of the shell first, or do you cook it first and then take it out of the shell?

2) Anyone have a good recipe for them? I've heard of roasting them kind of like chickpeas and they turn into a good snack.

I have always bought them shelled. I steam them, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. They're so good!

Kara

I'm not on South Beach, but I love edamame!

Typically the ones that come in the shell are boiled in salted water (throw them in frozen~no need to thaw.) There should be directions on the bag. I think you boil them for around 5 mins.

You can shell them after cooking, but I like to eat them as is (this is how they are served in Japanese restaurants.) Just use your teeth to pop them out of the shell. Yummy!

I also buy them shelled, and just microwave them, but I have eaten them in restaurants in the pod. They're boiled or steamed in the pod, salted and then you eat them by scraping the pod with your teeth so the little beans pop out into your mouth -and you discard the pod.

Yep, I agree! Steam in shells, sprinkle with salt. Drag pod between teeth, scraping beans into mouth, discard shells in a bowl put out for that purpose. Delish! They are good just like that!

I also buy them shelled - I like those in salads and stir fries.

Whoa, three-way simulmpost with Kaplods and Zenor. Was it good for you guys? I think I need a cigarette

wow, edamame must be really good.
must try some...

I'm definitely going to get that bag of edamame out of the freezer . . .

I like edamame cold in salads (out of the pods) and heated as a side dish or mixed with other veggies or mixed into casseroles, like you might mix in any other bean or pea. I find they have a firmer texture, like garbanzo's are firmer than a kidney bean.
DH bought some in the pods once. We didn't know you couldn't eat the pods. We found out quickly. bleck! I shelled the rest before serving them and now we buy frozen already shelled.

Ha, I discovered the pods were indedible at a fancy dinner at a swanky sushi place in downtown Dallas. Tossed one in my mouth, chewed and chewed and chewed and had to discreetly spit the remnants into a napkin. So embarassing!

ROTFLMAO

I came here to read about edamame and almost died laughing.

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I second the laughing! That was hilarious, Glory!

Great question, Weezle! My dear friend from Japan served us a traditional Japanese dinner one night and she started with edamame in the shells. Same as everyone said, she boiled it in salted water, drained, then sprinkled with a lot more salt. We sat and popped the beans in our mouths by cracking the shell open with our teeth, then squeezing them into our mouth. You throw the shell/pod away (just provide an extra bowl like you would for chicken wings). The beans taste buttery, like popcorn, and are "meaty" in texture, so they really satisfy. My friend says they are served as a snack everywhere in Japan and are especially popular at baseball games! I think it's a great snack to serve at a party.

When I make the shelled edamame as a vegetable side dish, I use a recipe that I think is either in the original SBD book or in the SBD original cookbook. It uses green onions, sesame oil, soy sauce, and garlic/ginger. It's really good. I also get a frozen veggie mix from the grocery store that has broccoli, red peppers, edamame, and carrots. I use the same sauce (sesame oil and soy sauce) on that mix and it works well as an asian side dish.