How Can I Make Spicy Keto Edamame?

If you’ve ever sampled Japanese food, then you’ll know how delicious edamame is.

These are tiny little peas found in pods that are super delicious and very, very good for you.

But the question you might be asking if you are on the keto diet is: are they suitable for you to eat?

This is very high in fiber, but it does not have that much sugar, which makes it more than suitable for the keto diet.

You can serve this one with soy sauce, which adds that extra sour flavor or you can add a dash of ginger for that added piquancy.

But how can you make your own spicy keto edamame? What is edamame made from? How can you cook it properly?

What are the ingredients for the spicy version? Well, we have all the information that you need to make this dish, including ingredients and instructions.

But first, let’s do a deep dive into edamame to find out exactly what it is.

What Is Edamame?

Soybeans are basically unripe beans and do not classify as a nut, but rather a legume.

Edamame is full of great protein and antioxidants, which means that eating more of them will help to boost your immune system.

Edamame is either served as a starter or a side dish at a Japanese restaurant. They are usually steamed lightly and sprinkled with salt.

You must remove the beans inside from the tough green skin on the outside. The skins are then discarded on a separate plate.

You can buy edamame from the store which you then have to microwave.

It usually doesn’t take that long to get ready. Usually, your edamame will be ready in around 10 minutes.

One of the main draws of edamame is that it is very high in protein. You can have around 18 grams of protein per cup.

It is also very high in fiber and doesn’t contain many calories. This is also very low in carbs, which makes it the perfect appetizer for anyone who is on the keto diet.

Fun Edamame Facts

Here are a few quick facts about edamame that you might not have known before:

• There are over 2,000 types of soybeans currently in existence.
• When you are eating fresh edamame, each bean should be vibrant green and very plump. You should almost feel a popping feeling when you put them in your mouth.
• If you have yellow or brownish beans, then this is a sign that they have begun to mature and will not be as sweet as the fresh versions.
• If you are growing edamame, then you can usually experience them sprouting in the late summer or early autumn time.
• The main growers of edamame are the US, Brazil, Argentina and China.
• You can put edamame in the freezer and they will keep well for a few weeks. You can also pickle edamame to preserve them for longer.
• Edamame is high in a lot of nutrients including folate, manganese, vitamin K, iron, magnesium, thiamin, phosphorous, potassium and copper.
• Edamame beans have been demonstrated to lower cholesterol.

Now that you have a few facts about edamame beans, you might be curious about introducing them into your diet. But what is the best way to cook them?

Well, keep reading for our keto-friendly spicy edamame bean recipe!

Spicy Edamame Bean Recipe

There are a few things that you’ll need before you start making your edamame recipe.

Ingredients

• Frozen edamame beans – these are available in most supermarkets. You can either find them in the world foods section or you can get them from the frozen section. Make sure that you follow the instructions on the packet when you are heating them up.
• Avocado oil – Use an oil that does not have any strong flavor, otherwise this will overwhelm the taste of the edamame itself. You can also use extra-virgin olive oil for this same purpose.
• Soy sauce – You can use a variety of sauces in this dish, but if you want it gluten-free then we would suggest that you use tamari sauce. However, you can also use coconut oil sauce.
• Sambal oelek – This will add some spiciness to your dish, you can use as much or as little as you like according to your taste.
• Garlic – you can add fresh garlic to this dish if that’s what you want. You can also get some garlic salt, but we would recommend that you get a few cloves and chop them to use how you want to.

These are all the ingredients that you need in what is a simple recipe. Now we’re going to tell you how to make it.

Recipe

Here are the instructions that you need to follow to make this dish:

1. Take the edamame out of the freezer. You can choose to let it defrost by leaving it on the counter overnight or you can use your microwave’s defrost function. However, whichever one you decide to use, make sure you are doing it according to the instructions on the packaging.
2. You can then cook the edamame on full heat for around 4 minutes. You can take the edamame out halfway through to check if the beans have cooked well enough. They should be soft but not breaking up in your hands.
3. Heat the oil in a frying pan or a skillet. Once the pan is warm enough, add the garlic and sauté for half a minute. The garlic will start to smell after being cooked for a few minutes.
4. Then add the soy sauce with the sambal and keep heating for a while longer.
5. Stir in the edamame and then keep tossing until it is completely coated with the seasoning and the garlic.
6. Once cooked to the right level, you can then dish your beans up, either in a bowl or on a plate. You might want to wait until this has adequately cooled before you start eating it.
7. Finally, you can sprinkle some kosher salt or Himalayan Sea salt.

And there you have it! This recipe is very simple, and you can have it ready in around 15 minutes.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this recipe for edamame has inspired you to try it, particularly if you are not a confident chef, as it is very easy to make.

You can serve it as a side dish or before your main meal. You can even toss a few edamame beans into your salad.

Frequently Asked Questions