Edamame facts for kids
Boiled green soybeans in the pod
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| Course | Appetizer, side dish |
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| Main ingredients | Soybeans |
Edamame (pronounced eh-dah-MAH-may) is a yummy snack from East Asia. It's made from young, green soybeans that are still in their pods. These pods are usually boiled or steamed. People often enjoy them with a sprinkle of salt or other tasty seasonings.
You can find edamame eaten all over the world! It's a popular side dish in Chinese cuisine and Japanese cuisine. It's also a great appetizer before a meal or with other drinks. Sometimes, edamame beans are taken out of their pods and used in other dishes. These can be sweet or savory, like in takikomi gohan (a Japanese rice dish) or tempura (lightly fried foods).
When the beans are removed from their pods, they are sometimes called mukimame in Japan.
Contents
Where Does the Name Come From?
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In Japanese, the word edamame is used for this dish. It means "stem beans." This is because, a long time ago, these beans were often sold while still connected to their stems.
In Chinese, people often call it maodou. This name means "furry beans" because the pods have a soft, fuzzy texture.
A Look Back in Time: Edamame's History
From Ancient China to Your Plate
Soybeans, which edamame comes from, were first grown in China about 7,000 years ago! People have been enjoying them for a very long time.
The first time the word "edamame" was written down was in Japan in the year 1275. A Japanese monk named Nichiren wrote a thank-you note for some edamame he received. This shows how special this food was, even centuries ago.
Later, in China, during the Ming dynasty around 1406, people ate soybean leaves. During tough times, they were encouraged to eat the whole beans or grind them into flour. By 1620, the beans were called maodou in China.
Edamame eventually made its way to the United States. It was first mentioned in a book called "The Soybean" in 1923. This book even showed pictures of people eating the beans from their pods! It also shared the first facts about how healthy edamame is and included some recipes.
In 1970, a company called Mutual Trading Company started selling frozen edamame in the United States. This made it much easier for everyone to try this delicious snack. By 1999, you could find frozen edamame in many supermarkets. The word "edamame" even became so popular that it was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2003 and the Merriam-Webster dictionary in 2008.
More recently, in 2008, soybeans grown in Europe were sold as edamame. They became a new way for people there to get protein.
Getting Edamame Ready
How Edamame is Harvested
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Edamame is usually picked by hand. This helps protect the plant's stems and leaves. The green soybean pods are harvested before they are fully ripe. This happens about 35 to 40 days after the plant first blooms.
Picking them young makes edamame sweeter. This is because they have more natural sugar at this stage. Other things that make edamame taste good are special natural flavors called amino acids.
Cooking Your Edamame
It's super easy to cook edamame! You can boil, steam, or even microwave the pods. Some people like to snip the ends of the pods before cooking.
The most common way to enjoy edamame is with salt. You can add salt to the water while it boils, or sprinkle it on the pods after they are cooked. In Japan, it's a popular snack at restaurants called izakaya.
Keeping Edamame Fresh
If you buy fresh edamame, it's best to eat it the same day. Its flavor starts to change quickly after harvest. However, you can keep fresh edamame in the refrigerator for up to three days. It helps to wrap the pods in plastic to keep them moist and prevent them from turning brown.
You can also freeze fresh edamame to keep it good for several months. Before freezing, it's a good idea to quickly boil them in hot water, a process called blanching.
How to Eat Edamame
Edamame comes in two main ways: in the pod or as shelled beans.
- Shelled beans are easy to eat. You can cook them like any other bean and add them to salads or stir-fries.
- Pods are a bit more fun! You hold the pod and use your teeth or fingers to slide the yummy beans into your mouth. Then, you discard the empty pod.
Edamame's Healthy Side
| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
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| Energy | 121 kcal (510 kJ) |
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8.9 g
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| Sugars | 2.18 g |
| Dietary fiber | 5.2 g |
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5.2 g
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Protein
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11.9 g
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| Vitamins | Quantity
%DV†
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| Vitamin A equiv. |
2%
15 μg |
| Thiamine (B1) |
17%
0.2 mg |
| Riboflavin (B2) |
13%
0.155 mg |
| Niacin (B3) |
6%
0.915 mg |
| Pantothenic acid (B5) |
8%
0.395 mg |
| Vitamin B6 |
8%
0.1 mg |
| Folate (B9) |
78%
311 μg |
| Vitamin C |
7%
6.1 mg |
| Vitamin E |
5%
0.68 mg |
| Vitamin K |
26%
26.8 μg |
| Minerals | Quantity
%DV†
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| Calcium |
6%
63 mg |
| Iron |
17%
2.27 mg |
| Magnesium |
18%
64 mg |
| Manganese |
49%
1.024 mg |
| Phosphorus |
24%
169 mg |
| Potassium |
15%
436 mg |
| Selenium |
1%
0.8 μg |
| Zinc |
14%
1.37 mg |
| Other constituents | Quantity |
| Water | 72.8 g |
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Link to USDA Database entry
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| †Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults. | |
Edamame is not just tasty; it's also super healthy! The United States Department of Agriculture calls it a "snack with a nutritional punch."
A 100 g (3.5 oz) serving of cooked edamame has about 121 calories of food energy. It's packed with good things like protein, which helps your muscles grow. It also has lots of dietary fiber, which is good for your digestion.
Edamame is a great source of important vitamins and minerals. These include folate, manganese, and vitamin K. These nutrients help your body stay strong and healthy. It also contains healthy fats, including omega−3 fatty acids.
Important: Edamame and Allergies
Edamame is a type of soy. Some people have a soy allergy, which means they cannot eat soy products. If you have a soy allergy, it's very important to avoid edamame. In many places, food labels must clearly state if a product contains soy to keep everyone safe.
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Edamame para niños
