This edamame recipe is one of my favorite evening snacks! Not only is it ready in just 5 minutes, it also hits the spot whenever I crave something savory, nutty, and earthy. The slight char on the outside also adds a little smokiness that makes sucking on the pods, even more satisfying.

Edamame with soy and sesame oil

I’ve been munching on edamame beans since I was a little girl. My mother liked to serve them as a summer snack or as a side to traditional Japanese dishes like miso ramen, nikujaga, yaki udon, and onigiri. As a kid I loved sucking on the salty edamame pods while chewing on the bright green beans inside. Later, when I lived in Tokyo, edamame became a healthy snack I picked up at Seven Eleven on my way home from work, and something that appeared at the table of most izakayas (Japanese pub) I visited.

These days edamame makes an appearance in many different forms and flavors – from a comforting bean soup to a chilled vichyssoise, in a colorful quinoa salad, or blended to make a green hummus, I like to include them in my recipes as much as I can. This edamame with soy and sesame sauce is a late night snack I like to munch on because it’s low in calories, and it’s also an easy way to to boost my protein intake. This edamame recipe is a simple dish that’s seasoned with soy sauce and toasted sesame oil. What you get are lightly charred pods full of umami and nuttiness.

soybean, sesame oil, soy sauce

Ingredients

  • Edamame: I highly recommend spending a little more money on good frozen edamame. The reason why I say this is that I’ve come across cheaper brands that offer edamame pods that are broken into bits or simply not in good shape or look old. If you live near a Japanese, Korean, or Asian supermarket, or a specialty store, it’s worth a trip just to buy better quality edamame. My favorite brands are Seapoint Farms, Welpac and Nissui.
  • Soy sauce: You will need Japanese soy sauce for this recipe to get a good balance of salty, umami, and earthy. Brands like Kikkoman and Yamasa are good.
  • Toasted sesame oil: You can use regular sesame oil but you will get much more flavor by using toasted sesame oil. Toasted sesame oil is more concentrated in flavor and less is needed to season a dish.

Variations

  • Use premium oyster sauce, such as Lee Kum Kee, instead of soy sauce, for edamame that’s more pungent and salty.
  • Use chili oil instead of toasted sesame oil to add some heat.
  • Top this dish with some furikake to add even more depth of flavor.
  • Make them taste like buffalo wings with my easy edamame with sriracha buffalo sauce recipe.
Edamame boiling in water

Prepping The Edamame

Before adding the edamame pods to the skillet you will need to cook them first. My preferred method is to boil them in a pot of salted water for 3 to 5 minutes. Drain and shock them in cold water. Drain again and they are ready to be served, or in this case, thrown into a hot skillet! I have also recently discover another clever trick to quickly prep these green legumes:

  • Place them in a colander and run hot water over them for about 5 minutes. Drain and serve!

There is also the microwave method, which is to place the edamame pods in a microwave safe bowl with a little water and cover them with a paper towel. But I don’t really like this method because my pods always come out overcooked or deflated. If you would like to give it a shot, start by microwaving them for 1 to 3 minutes and do a taste test. If they need longer, add 1 minute at a time until you are satisfied with the texture.

soybean in skillet

How To Make This Recipe

  1. Cook the edamame pods using one of the methods listed above.
  2. Place a large skillet over medium high and when the skillet is hot, add the toasted sesame oil.
  3. Swirl the oil the coat the bottom surface of the skillet and add the edamame pods.
  4. Stir fry them for 2 to 3 minutes and add the soy sauce.
  5. Quickly toss the pods to evenly coat them and season with a little salt and pepper.
  6. Turn the heat off, transfer them to a serving bowl and enjoy!

Expert Tips

  • A medium hot skillet. Make sure that the skillet is hot but not scalding hot before adding the sesame oil and the pods. Toasted sesame oil can go rancid pretty quickly if it’s cooked for too long at a very high temperature, so it’s important to keep the oil from overheating, and the cooking process short. The trick is to flash fry the edamame so they quickly get a slight golden brown char on them, and absorb the intense clean and nutty taste of the oil.

Storage

Cooked edamame should be refrigerated within 2 hours of cooking them. Save them in an airtight storage container and they should keep in the fridge for about 4 days.

Can I refreeze them? No, it is not recommended to refreeze vegetables and beans that have previously been thawed. Not only will the texture and overall quality of the bean degrade, it can also be unsafe.

Edamame shells

What To Serve With This Dish

I can eat this dish on its own or as part of a meal. It’s so pleasant to the palate that it’s an easy recipe to pair with other dishes. This dish makes a delicious snack or side to serve at a sushi party. But you can also serve it as part of Japanese home style dinner with Japanese classics such as:

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Eat Edamame Raw?

No. Edamame beans are poisonous when eaten raw. They can cause nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and can also lead to long-term damage to organs and tissues if ingested in large amounts. so it’s very important that you cook the beans before eating them.

Are edamame genetically modified?

It depends on the varieties. Some of them can be genetically modified, while others are non-GMO. To avoid GMOs, always look for organic or non-GMO certified edamame products.

My edamame beans came out super crunchy. Why is that?

It could be the actually pods that were packaged or that they needed a little more cooking time. Sometimes the pods harvested might have sat longer than the ideal time, which can result in beans being tougher. But I find that cooking them for a bit longer can help a lot. I recommend adding an extra minute or two in the skillet to soften them.

Did you like this recipe? Are there changes you made that you would like to share? Share your tips and recommendations in the comments section below!

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Edamame

Edamame with Soy and Sesame Sauce

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 17 reviews
  • Author: Caroline Phelps
  • Prep Time: 1 minutes
  • Cook Time: 4 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 servings 1x
  • Category: Snacks
  • Method: Skillet
  • Cuisine: Japanese
  • Diet: Vegan
Save Recipe

Description

A nutty and savory snack of edamame pods lightly fried in toasted sesame oil and tossed in soy sauce. 


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 150 grams edamame in pods
  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Boil them. Boil the edamame pods for 3 to 4 minutes. Drain in cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
  2. Prep the skillet. Place a skillet over medium high heat and wait until it’s hot – about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the toasted sesame oil and swirl to coat the surface.
  3. Cook the pods. Add the edamame pods and saute for about 2 to 3 minutes, until the pods are slightly charred.
  4. Season the pods. Turn the heat off and add the soy sauce. Quickly stir until the sauce has evaporated.
  5. Serve. Season with salt and ground black pepper and serve immediately. 

Notes

This edamame snack is good hot or cold. For leftovers, transfer them to a storage container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.


Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 203
  • Sugar: 1.9g
  • Sodium: 150.1mg
  • Fat: 17.2g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.9g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 5.7g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 5.8g
  • Fiber: 3.6g
  • Protein: 8.6g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg
Recipe Card powered byTasty Recipes

Other Edamame Recipes You Might Like

Caroline Caron Phelps

Meet The Author: Caroline Phelps

Caroline Caron-Phelps is a recipe creator, food blogger, and photographer. She showcases delicious, authentic Asian recipes, especially Japanese, Korean, and Chinese, with beautiful photography, easy-to-follow instructions, videos, and practical recipe variations. Caroline has been featured on Bon Appetit, Shape Magazine, Self, Today Show, and more.

Learn More

Join The Discussion

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

Questions and Reviews

  1. These were absolutely amazing! Your recipe is so simple and completely addictive, I had to stop myself from eating the entire batch! This combination gave the edamame the perfect amount of a salted, toasty, buttery flavor! So good, thank you!!!






  2. Hello, few days ago I posted an interesting comment. Unfortunately,I did not see it with other comments..I am sure that my comment was so nice.May I know why my comment was not published.Thank you






    1. Hi Zouhair! I haven’t seen your comment, so sorry about that. It’s possible it ended up in the spam box as they sometimes do, unfortunately 🙁

  3. Making this for NYE party and want to prep ahead. Can I keep this warm in the oven before guests arrive for about 30 minutes?

    1. Hi Mary! You don’t need to keep the edamame warm, they will just as delicious at room temperature or even cold. Happy New Year! 🙂

  4. Thanks for the proper way to eat edamame! I tried some after some blog said they were like green beans…. And was extremely confused with how difficult it was to chew it up and thought they were overcooked So glad I found your blog I don’t like wasting food.

  5. Howdy !

    Your recipes are so Cool !!!

    I’ll give your recipe a whirl but first need to google how much “150 grams edamame in pods” is in U.S. measurements.

    I’m tempted to doctor the recipe and use the same sauce I use with “Grilled Shishito Peppers” consisting of:
    1 TBSP + 1 Tsp Toasted Sesame Oil
    2 Garlic Cloves, Minced
    2 1/2 Tsp Low Sodium Soy Sauce
    3/4 Tsp Huy Fong Chili Garlic Sauce
    1/2 Tsp Honey
    Garnish: Toasted Sesame Seeds






  6. Thanks Caroline! I’ll be making this along with Ahi Tuna Tartar tonight for dinner! It sounds incredible.
    Cheers,
    Morgan






  7. Super delicious and so easy to make. I have been eating edamame the boring way for all these years. This will be my go-to recipe whenever I prepare edamame! Thank you for this recipe.






  8. I will be making this for the first time!!!!  I’ll serve it with spicy sweet sticky pork with broccoli over jasmine rice!!!!  So excited!!!! 
    Thank you!!!!

  9. I will never prepare Edamame any other way again! I used SteamFresh Edamame – dried it off and the rest is history. The char flavor is to die for, just enough soy, sprinkle of salt and lots of cracked black peppercorn – perfect! Thank you!






  10. The pictures of these pods looked like they have been pan seared and browned? I do not see this in the recipe?

    1. Hi Tim,
      Yes they are pan seared for 2-3 minutes until they are charred. It is mentioned in the recipe which is all the way down, but not in the ‘how to cook edamame’ section 🙂

  11. Hi Caroline, I see from the comments that this recipe was posted some years ago. Well, it is still inspiring people! I fed these edamame beans to my family last night and we have had different versions of them before but this is definitely the most delicious. I am buying lots more beans and this will be a regular dish from now on. I am going to use it as a go-to dish for taking to friends as a snack, too. Thank you and YUM! Julia 🙂






    1. Thank you so much Julia! It’s also my favorite way to eat edamame, I’m happy you enjoyed this recipe as much as I do 🙂

  12. I just came across this post and these look to die for! My only question is, did you use frozen or fresh edamame pods?

  13. This looks delish! But I’m wondering, do you eat the pod too or just the inside? Typically I just pop out the inside and discard the pod but wondering what you recommend.

  14. I just stumbled upon your blog and as soon as I saw this recipe I went out and bought two bags of edamame and sesame oil and tried it right when I got home! Totally worth it!! This was the best edamame that I have ever had! Thank you so much for this amazing recipe!






  15. Tonight will be my first time trying edamame, and you can never go wrong with roasted/slightly charred vegetables. I love this recipe already and haven’t tried it yet. I’ll be back to let you know what I think!

  16. I don’t eat edamame much and def not at home, but when I saw this recipe I dropped off my son at daycare and went straight to the grocery store to buy some edamame. I just tried out your recipe and i absolutely love it! It was the best vegetable recipe i have ever tasted! Thanks so much!






    1. Jessica, you just put a HUGE smile on my face! Thank you so much for leaving such a lovely comment! I’m so happy you liked it, I love it too 🙂

  17. Hi Caroline,
    I’ve been meaning to write you to give thanks for your amazing recipes. This edamame post has my mouth watering and I can barely wait to try it at our next big family gathering, with beer and pickles! Every time I’ve brought one of your recipes to a gathering, friends and family always would ask it’s origin, and I would say “Pickled Plum” or “Caroline.” Now, they don’t even ask, they just say “Oooo, this must be Pickled Plum!” or “Hmmm, so Caroline visited your kitchen this week!”
    Thank you! You are loved!
    All the Best,
    Belinda in Denver