If you don't already have a bag of edamame in your freezer, you should change that as soon as possible. Like a lot of registered dietitians, I always make sure I have one handy. (You can find fresh pods of edamame in some markets, but they're much more widely available in the frozen section, preblanched and out of their pods.) Since the little green things are packed with 17 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber per 1-cup serving, they really add a lot of satiety to a meal. I can always count on edamame to give me an energy boost, whether I'm eating it as a snack or adding it to a meal. Most importantly, it tastes good, too.
Edamame has a mild flavor and fresh texture that makes it a great addition to all different kinds of meals, whether that be a noodle soup, a zesty, slaw-style salad, or a bowl of fried rice. I prefer to buy it frozen because you can trust that it won't go bad before you're ready to use it. You also don't even need to defrost it unless you're adding it to something cold, like a salad—you can throw frozen edamame straight into your stir-fry or soup, and it'll thaw as you cook.
Now that I've convinced you to go out and buy a bag, use the edamame in one of these 17 recipes. Some of them are creative—hello, edamame pesto! Others, like edamame stir-fries, are more traditional. All of them are healthy, satisfying, and totally delicious.
