We are giving a new item this year, Edamame, which is the Japanese name for immature soybeans, eaten green from the pods. The name literally means stem beans, as the beans were traditionally sold on the stem (Wikipedia).
Edamame are found in East Asian cuisine. My introduction to edamame was as an appetizer at a Japanese restaurant, which consisted of steamed and salted edamame still in the pods. A delicious snack that goes well with a beer…

Edamame, like dried mature soya beans, are very high in protein. They are also high in fiber and micronutrients, and have a good balance of omega fatty acids (Wikipedia). The nutritional punch- makes this snack equally good as a main course!

To prepare, simply steam or boil the pods until the beans are tender and the pods turn a bright green colour (about 5 minutes). Salt them and eat them right out of the pod, or shell them and put them into salads, soups or as a snack in kids lunches. We’ll report back on our success with the latter…

Recipe Link : Blackened Edamame with Mint >>