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My family can get through an entire bowl of boiled edamame or steamed edamame in minutes. It is a definite family favorite. We enjoy it so much at Chinese restaurants, I just knew I had to make it at home. Once I found out how to make edamame, it frequents our table as an appetizer or side dish, pairing well with dishes like my Thai Lettuce Wraps.
Table of Contents
What is Edamame?
Edamame is an immature soybean traditionally eaten in Asia. You will most often find them in the freezer section of the grocery store in America. Let’s talk about why I love this easy, protein-packed healthy snack as well as how to make it. A young soybean provides 14 grams of protein per one cup which makes edamame a great high-protein snack recipe.
You can also make edamame to boost protein in my Marinated Celery Salad or even a soup like Minestrone Soup. Try swapping fries with some pods next time you make Portobello Mushroom Burgers. You won’t regret it!
November 9-13, 2026
Jen’s Free Soup Challenge
I’d love for you to soup it up with me! For 5 days, I’ll send you a daily veggie-packed soup that’s easy enough for a busy weeknight and makes enough to freeze and pull out all winter.
Ingredients to Make Edamame
This recipe is only three ingredients, two of which you probably already have on hand! Here’s what I’m putting in my dish:
- Edamame pods: Make sure you buy it in shells, not the shelled version.
- Water: Easy peasy way to boil vegetables is in water. Want to get fancy? Use vegetable broth.
- Coarse sea salt: Why coarse? It’s crunchy and adds a burst of flavor. Feel free to use whatever salt you have on hand, or check the packaging from the frozen beans as they might include a packet of coarse salt in there.
I love adding spices to pretty much everything, yet I kept this recipe simple because this is the way my family eats it, just crunchy sea salt and that’s it! If you want to go the seasoned route then read on.
How to Boil Edamame
Step 1: Boil six cups of water and a pinch of salt in a large saucepan. Add the edamame beans and cook five minutes or until the pods are tender. The beans should be easy to release from their pods, yet don’t release them just yet!
Step 2: Drain thoroughly with a colander then place the cooked beans into a bowl.
Step 3: Top with coarse sea salt and eat once slightly cooled.
Can I microwave edamame?
Yes, you can also cook edamame in the microwave. If you bought a frozen bag, it should have microwave steaming instructions on it. Even if this is the case, I find that boiling it on the stovetop does a slightly better job of making the pods tender but not soggy.
Edamame Sauces + Seasonings
As I said I do love this dish with just a bit of coarse salt yet other flavors do have their place if that’s your style. Here are a few flavoring options:
- Garlic Sesame: The easiest way to jazz up this recipe is to sauté some minced garlic then add to the boiled beans along with toasted sesame oil. It adds a deeper flavor that’s slightly nutty.
- Ginger: Fresh chopped ginger root can be added during the boiling process to flavor the beans.
- Soy Sauce: While this dish uses soybeans, you can also add soy sauce. If I’m using soy sauce or tamari, I will cut back on the amount of salt I sprinkle on.
- Sriracha: I’ll never say no to adding a bit of spicy sriracha to anything, so feel free to use it as a dipping sauce.
- Sweet Chili Sauce: You can find this in the international aisle of the grocery store, and it adds a sweet ‘n spicy taste that pairs well with this bean.
How to Eat Edamame
When eating edamame, you want to think of it like a shelled peanut. You want what’s inside, but not the shell. So once it has been cooked and salted, here’s what you’re gonna do:
- Take the shell (pod) in between your fingers.
- Stick it in your mouth.
- Use your teeth to pop the beans out of the pod and into your mouth to chew on.
- Discard the empty pods in a separate bowl.
What to Eat with Edamame
I love it when I can add a vegetable to a meal is minutes. Here are a few dinner ideas that you can serve with edamame that the whole family will enjoy.
Common Questions
Cooking edamame is super easy. Boil a large pot of water on the stove. Add the bean pods and cook for five minutes, or until the pods are tender. Drain then place in a bowl and top with coarse sea salt.
You can either boil or steam this bean, your choice! Many frozen packages come with steaming instructions, so follow those if you wish, or use my recipe for boiling in less than ten minutes.
All soybeans should be cooked before being eaten, as they are poisonous in their raw form. Yet cooking them is super easy and delicious!
Recipe Card
How to Make Edamame
Ingredients
- 2 cup edamame frozen or fresh, in pods
- 4 cup water
- 1 tbsp sea salt, unrefined coarse, plus more for serving
Instructions
- Bring the water and salt to a boil. Add the edamame and cook until tender and the beans slip easily from their pods, about 5 minutes.
- Drain well, transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle with more coarse salt.
Recipe Notes
- Eating Tip: Eat only the beans inside. Squeeze them out of the pod with your teeth and discard the pods.
- Fresh or Frozen: Both work the same way. Frozen packages sometimes include a packet of coarse salt you can use.
- Serving Ideas: Serve with a little soy sauce mixed with wasabi or grated ginger for dipping, or add the shelled beans to salads and grain bowls.
- Storing: Store cooked edamame in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Enjoy it cold, or reheat briefly in boiling water or the microwave.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 cup | Sodium: 3512 mg | Potassium: 669 mg | Sugar: 4 g | Calcium: 138 mg | Iron: 4 mg
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I still don’t understand why you cook it in the pod and not just cook the beans?
Hi Kellie. Thank you for reaching out. This is really a preference. Jen buys her edamame in the pod, so it is a lot more work shelling them. Hope this helps.
Please explain the point of seasoning edamame pods when you’re just going to discard them. Why not just buy and prepare edamame beans? The process of putting the pod in your mouth, popping out the beans then taking the pods out of your mouth to discard them seems like disgusting table manners.
Hahaha. When you describe it like that, I agree it’s disgusting table manners. Yet that’s exactly how it’s done. At restaurants, they give you a “discard bowl” to put the empty pods in. Yet I do encourage you to try it because they are delicious and seasoning the pod and eating from it is fun.
I love edamame beans and used to eat them on a regular basis. Because of illness and other issues, I usually just pick up what I see in front of me. Next time I go to the store I will definitely get edamames. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
Hi Rashida! You’re so welcome! Glad I could give you some inspiration!
I forgot how much I love edamame and this post prompted me to pick up some from Trader Joes!
So easy and delish! Glad you came across my post and decided to give it a try!