Garlic Edamame

Garlic Edamame has two stories that go along with it; the first about an organic farmer, and the second about a country club in Lanikai, Hawaii.  Consider this a bonus post, two stories for the price of one! 

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For the longest time I bought shelled edamame, in frozen brick-like form, thawed it and either roasted them or added them to rice and soup dishes.  I knew edamame beans were soybeans….I thought they were a specific type, a certain variety of soybeans.  I didn’t realize that edamame beans are simply soybeans in the early developmental stage - small tender beans in the pod.

I first learned this several years ago from an organic farmer in Skowhegan, Maine.  We rented an old farmhouse from “Fammah Bob”; he lived and farmed on +/- 175 acres….and he farmed all those acres ORGANICALLY!!  Fammah Bob grew soy, corn, and hay, again, all organic and allGMO-free.  So not only was he a rockstar in our eyes for making the conscience decision and exerting the effort to do so, but in turn, his crops also helped sustain an organic beef operation, Caldwell Farms in somewhere, ME, as they purchased Bob’s crops to feed their cow herd.  However, farming is only a part of Bob’s job/life…he is also an on-call Emergency Surgical Nurse.  Many a times have we driven down our road to find his tractor, and various farming implements, parked in odd positions out in in the field.  At these times, either during haying, plowing, harrowing, or harvesting, Bob had gotten “the call” from the hospital that there was an emergency and he needed to “scrub in”.  Quickly abandoning his farming duties, he rushed to assist in the ER when needed.  When finished, he got right back to business in the fields, hopping on the tractor and continuing on with the farm duties.   So that’s like, triple-bonus karma points for Fammah Bob, not only for growing and supporting the organic industry, but for helping save the lives of the ER patients, and for helping saving the planets, one little organic edamame at a time.

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The first time I ever had garlic edamame was in Hawaii.  S had a business dinner scheduled during our vacation.  Come to find out, we were meeting at the Mid Pack Country Club in Lanikai, Hawaii.  I have never been to a country club before…I had visions of grandeur, for I had watched Caddyshack, Dirty Dancing, and the Karate Kid far too many times (all having scenes taking place in a country club – this was my benchmark).  The grounds were beautiful; the course is fantastic (I’m told – not a golfer).  It was very…low key. 

There was no Rodney Dangerfield. 

No taffeta dresses. 

No dancing to a live orchestra. 

No putting Baby in the corner.

(!!!!!!)

Our drinks arrived served with two massive bowls of edamame; one bowl of steamed, plain pods (which I have had before, and always enjoy), one bowl of garlic edamame.  I was in love!!  Granted, probably not ideal for a first date, or something of that nature, because there was a metric ton (!) of garlic on those pods...but great for fending off vampires (if you are into that sort of thing...and, Twilight-mania says you are!).  The garlic was sauteed with the pods, it browned and caramelized to a delicious state.  It was wicked!

Great for summer entertaining, alongside cocktails, or as an appetizer…you gotta try it!

Print THIS Recipe!

Garlic Edamame
makes 4-6 servings

16 oz Frozen Edamame Pods

1 Tbs  EV Olive Oil

3-4 Cloves Of Fresh Garlic, minced

salt & pepper to taste

In a large saute pan, heat the olive oil and garlic over medium-high heat.  As the oil heats up the garlic will start to sizzle and bubble, when this happens stir to prevent it from sticking to the pan.
When garlic has turned from opaque to translucent, then to a slightly golden color, add the frozen pods.  Stir well to coat the edamame. As the edamame cooks it releases a little moisture preventing the garlic from burning.

Continue to cook for another 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally until the edamame is no longer frozen and begins to brown.

Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.

To eat:  Crack open the pod with your teeth and squeeze the beans directly from the pod into your mouth.  Alternatively, open the pods with your fingers and eat the beans...but you won't get the full flavor of the garlic.  Discard the pods.

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