Edamame: The Healthy Beer Snack

If you are not familiar with Edamame, You really should try them out. Edamame or soy bean pods have so much going for them that I don't quite know where to start. I have just finished gorging myself on a huge bowl that was supposed to be an appetizer, but now, I guess it was dinner, as well as inspiration. Instead feeling heavy and guilty over a huge bowl of chips and cheesy bean dip or, my personal favorite, chicken liver pate with crackers and Swedish Mustard Dill Sauce, I feel light on my feet, healthy and very satisfied.

Edamame is not only delicious, but fun to eat. If you have not ever tried them in a Japanese restaurant as a before sushi appetizer, let me tell you how to enjoy them best. Being finger food, take one in your fingers, hold onto the stem part and place the pod in between your teeth and gently maneuver out the beans that are inside. Toss out the pod, after sucking off all of the salt (why good salt does matter, Deli Baru often carries Kosher Salt). It is a bit like eating fresh artichokes. The flavors are of buttery beans with salt, texture is sometimes creamy and at times has a little crunch. Tasty treats, and they also travel well, kind of like green eggs and ham, they can be tossed into a Ziploc and eaten while on hikes, eaten on the patio, in front of the TV.... well, you get the idea.

Edamame is very healthy. Now I love to leave this health info kind of stuff up to Sonia Jones, but you can either trust me that it is low in calories, high in fiber, is a "soy" product in it's most natural state and has all kinds of other this, that and the others that are good for you, or you can "google" or now "bing" it and research it out yourself. The following link is one article that I found to be very informative on the health benefits, check it out if you want.

Medicine.net http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=56288

As far as preparation, nothing is quite as easy as boiling water now is it? That is about all of the necessary cooking skills that you will need to enjoy this taste treat, besides going to the store and buying beer. Speaking of, Liquorita Carlitos in downtown Boquete next to the Accel station carries Kirin Beer from Japan now. Kirin beer is well worth the trip and small splurge for the perfect match up. For a nice non-booze match up, I like ginger ale. Here is the recipe:

Steamed or Boiled Edamame

• 1/2 to 1 pound of fresh Edamame pods, washed.

• Salt, preferably Kosher or Sea Salt.

Bring a largish pot of water to boil.

To Steam: Place pods in steamer and place it in the pot and cover. I like them best steamed.
To Boil: Place pods in boiling water. Add salt to water if you want.

Steam or Boil for about 10 minutes or until soft and tender. Salt to taste and open a cold beer. Put on a good CD or old TV show and eat. They are good hot, warm or chilled.