Shopping at my local Trader Joes the other day, I came across a frozen package of edamame. I realized it had been a few months since my last purchase, and immediately thought they would make a great addition to the healthy convenience category. Into the cart they went.
There is absolutely nothing simpler than preparing edamame. I pulled it frozen out of my grocery bag and left it on the counter to thaw. Within an hour or so, the pods were ready to eat. There is literally NO preparation involved. I planned to have them available for the boys when they walked in from football practice. I usually have some raw veggies prepped for them to snack on while I finish making dinner.* These would be a refreshing change from the usual carrot sticks, celery sticks, and cucumber rounds.
While waiting, I couldn’t help but start snacking myself. The beans pop right out of their soft pod container, ready to eat. You can steam them and eat them warm, but it’s totally not necessary. They are slightly sweet, a little salty, and really delicious.
The boys happily gobbled up the bowlful when they got home.
Edamame can be enjoyed as is – fresh from the pods – as snack. They are also delicious when shelled and added to salads or cooked dishes such as soups or stir fries. Oh, you can buy them frozen already shelled, too. I like mixing them with fresh cooked corn off the cob, diced red pepper and red onion, and a nice lemony vinaigrette.
Add this to the fact that they have what I consider a perfect nutritional profile. One half cup of shelled edamame has:
- 120 calories
- 5 grams of heart healthy fat
- 10 grams of protein
- 8 grams of carbohydrate
- 5 grams of fiber
Enjoy!
*This is a tip I learned back when they were little. Try to have fresh cut up veggies and/or fruit on hand for when you are preparing lunch or dinner. This is usually a time that the kids are rather hungry, and they tend to eat them up pretty readily!