This Spicy Garlic Edamame Recipe, an Appetizer that is made in less than ten minutes and is packed with flavor, is one of the best edamame recipes out there! It has no oils and is super healthy. Make it spicy, simply adding chili flakes to the mix.
We are all about hosting dinners and brunches. So, making easy appetizers such as Mexican guacamole or quick hummus are must-haves in our recipe’s repertoire.
This spicy garlic edamame recipe is a favorite, not only because everyone loves it but because it’s put together in 5 to 10 minutes. Also, it is one of those Asian recipes, that is absolutely delicious and also one of the best healthy recipes.
Spicy garlic edamame is commonly found in any Japanese restaurant.
It is really that simple! Also, it caters to most of the people’s diets restrictions ranging from vegan, no-oil, Whole Foods Plant Based to low calorie and clean eating.
We are going to show you How to make Garlic Edamame Appetizer... They are also fun to eat, and kids love them!
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🧾 Ingredients
A small number of ingredients are needed to put together this Spicy Garlic Edamame Recipe.
- Frozen Edamame beans: Edamame beans are the main ingredient and provide a nutty, slightly sweet flavor and a chewy texture to the dish.
- Minced garlic: Garlic adds a pungent, savory flavor to the dish and helps to enhance the other spices and ingredients.
- Reduced sodium soy sauce: Soy sauce adds a savory, umami flavor to the dish and helps to balance out the other flavors. Tamari or liquid aminos can be used as a gluten-free alternative.
- Ginger: Ginger adds a warm, spicy flavor to the dish and helps to balance out the other flavors. It also has anti-inflammatory properties.
Optional ingredients
- Dry chili flakes, chili sauce, or chili paste: These add a spicy kick to the dish, and can be adjusted to taste depending on personal preference.
- Sesame seeds: Sesame seeds are added as a garnish and provide a nutty, slightly sweet flavor and a crunchy texture to the dish.
🔪 Instructions
Prepare garlic
Mince the garlic cloves and ginger knob.
Steam
Briefly steam the frozen edamame beans for 2 minutes
Mince the garlic cloves.
Steam the edamame bean in a large pot using a steamer.
Make spicy garlic sauce
Briefly stir fry the minced garlic, garlic cloves, low sodium soy sauce, and pepperoncino flakes on medium heat. Stir constantly.
Note: if you want a really spicy sauce, add a quarter to half, extra chili sauce, or chili flakes.
Add all the edamame seasonings into the saucepan.
Mix the seasonings.
Mix
Mix the steamed edamame beans and garlic in the same saucepan, and you are ready.
Add Edamame beans and combine with the seasoning mixture.
Stirring Garlic Edamame with Seasonings. Toss until evenly coated with the sauce.
Serve spiced edamame in a bowl, sprinkling with sesame seeds (optional).
Taste and adjust; use more soy sauce for umami and saltiness or garlic powder for intensity.
Eat edamame, remove the edamame shells, and squeeze one end. You can do this with your hands directly, bringing the edamame beans to your mouth; no forks are needed!
🍶 Substitutions
Below are some substitutes to ensure you always make best garlic edamame recipe
- Soy sauce – use tamari sauce or coconut aminos to make it gluten-free.
- Garlic – use one teaspoon of garlic powder or one teaspoon of onion powder
- Ginger – use one tablespoon of ginger powder instead.
- Edamame - you can use shelled edamame beans instead of whole beans. Increase all seasonings by 50%.
📖 Variations
You can easily adjust your spicy garlic edamame recipe with these hints.
Spiciness
This recipe is already spicy as it is. You can add ¼ teaspoon of pepperoncini (chili sauce or chili flakes) to make an extra spicy edamame sauce or reduce it to ⅛ to make it mild.
Sesame oil
Some people like adding some vegetable oil or sesame oil; it tastes great, but I like to keep this recipe super healthy, as it is already packed with flavor. If you are using oil, simply use one tablespoon and add it while you stir-fry the edamame sauce.
For an authentic Asian taste, use sesame oil instead of vegetable oil as it enhances the flavor of the dish.
Sauce
You can also use a teriyaki sauce instead of the soy sauce and garlic and add chili paste to make it spicy.
To make a less spicy version of chili garlic edamame, substitute chili flakes, or Chinese chili sauce for chili paste.
Sweet and spicy
For a delicious and intriguing flavor combination, add a teaspoon of brown sugar to the dish for a sweet and spicy glaze.
Kid-friendly
Omit the pepperoncino (unless you are in Mexico!). Also, you can use garlic powder instead of minced garlic to reduce the spicy garlic sauce's intensity.
🍽 Equipment
Steamer or colander. Any of them work. Just avoid edamame beans coming in contact with water. They are delicate and just need a brief exposure to steam to be ready to eat.
Small saucepan. Use a small saucepan to stir the seasonings. Since we use small quantities, a large one may make it hard to mix well, and the soy sauce may dry up immediately.
💡 Top tips
Try not to overcook the garlic; otherwise, it will be bitter and ruin the marinade. The cooking takes only 2-3 minutes so keep stirring and don’t get away from the saucepan.
Don’t overcook the edamame beans as they will become too soft and will lose their bright color—steam for 2 minutes, no more.
If you are curious to know more about edamame benefits or want more edamame recipes, check out our Vegan Poke bowl, where you can also find shelled edamame in action, making a full meal.
🥢 How to Serve
Edamame beans make a great appetizer for most Japanese and Asian Inspired dishes such as sushi or Chinese dishes, such as teriyaki tofu puffs.
Edamame beans are packed with health benefits, and their nutritional value is outstanding, given their exceptional build of macronutrients: proteins, fats, and complex carbohydrates.
We like serving them with Wakame Seaweed Salad, which you can easily get at an ethnic store; thaw and serve with a splash of soy sauce and sesame seeds.
Another recipe I found deliciously from a sister blogger is this Edamame Soba Noodles, which are worth trying.
❓ FAQ
The answer to this question is yes; it can give you gas when eaten in excess. When we eat, we digest food and end up with byproducts – one of which is flatulence – or, as known in the medical field: gastrointestinal (GI) emissions.
Edamame does cause gas because it contains both raffinose and stachyose, known as prebiotics.
What does that mean? Well, science geeks, to simplify it: the raffinose and stachyose in edamame can't be digested by us because we don't have the enzyme needed to digest these sugars.
As a result, this undigested mixture ends up in your colon, where bacteria do digest it. These unprocessed sugars (food) are what cause flatulence, bloating, and possibly stomach pain.
So does edamame give you gas? Yes, it can! Simply try to eat it in moderate quantities.
Simply hold the tip of the pod with your fingers, bite and open the other end, then gently slide the bean into your mouth. Savor the flavor of the sauce that adheres to the beans and discard the shell.
📚 More Vegan Appetizer Recipes
🌶️ More spicy recipes
If you are like us and indulge in spicy dishes, you might love our Spiced Roasted Cauliflower recipe, the Vegan Chili recipe, and our Thai curries; some of our favorites are the Thai Red Curry and Thai Yellow Curry.
If you like spicy soups, I strongly recommend checking our Curried and Spicy lentil soup and Carrot and Ginger soup as well.
🫛 More Edamame Recipes
If you love edamame beans and hummus... which, seriously, who doesn't? Check out this edamame hummus recipe, a winner for any dinner party!
You will also love our new Quinoa Edamame Dressing with a delicious Asian Dressing, that is put together in minutes!
⭐ If you try this spicy garlic edamame recipe, let us know! 💬 Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag us @ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!
📋 Recipe
Spicy Garlic Edamame
Equipment
Ingredients
- 18 oz edamame
- 4 garlic cloves
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce low sodium, or tamari to make it gluten-free
- 1 knob ginger about 2 tablespoons
- 4 tablespoons water
Optional:
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes or peperoncino
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds to garnish
Directions
- Mince the garlic cloves and ginger knob.1 knob ginger, 4 garlic cloves
- Steam. Bring about ½ inch of water to boil. Place a steamer or metal colander on top, and add the edamame beans. If the edamame benas are frozen, allow for 4 minutes. If they have been thawed, allow 2 minutes.18 oz edamame
- Drain the edamame beans.18 oz edamame
- Stir fry. In a small saucepan, stir fry in low heat, the minced garlic and ginger, soy sauce, water, and pepperoncino flakes. Keep going for 2 minutes and remove from heat.4 garlic cloves, 4 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 knob ginger, 4 tablespoons water, ½ teaspoon chili flakes
- Mix everything. In the same saucepan, add the edamame beans and mix.
- Serve in a bowl sprinkling with sesame seeds (optional).1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Video
Notes
Nutrition Facts
🌡️ Food safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with a high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
Nutritional Disclaimer
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice. See our full Nutritional Disclosure here.
Affiliate Disclaimer
Please note that some of the links here are affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. I recommend all of the products listed because they are companies I have found helpful and trustworthy.
Marcie says
The directions say to mince the ginger. I’ve never minced ginger, would it be okay to microplane the ginger or does it need to be minced? Thank you!
Gus says
Hi there! OH yes! Using a microplane is perfect; any grater works, the idea is to get rid of ginger's large chunks. Let us know how you like the recipe!
Jacqueline Wormington says
Edamame are so awesome, so I was happy to find this easy to make recipe!
Gari says
Looks like a fun mid-day snack & not to mention healthy too.
Lisa says
Love the spices in this healthy appetizer~!
Gus says
simple, easy, and delicious!
Katherine says
Yum! What a great way to make edamame super flavorful!
Toni says
This is really tasty!! Everyone at my house loved this!
Gus says
Thanks for your review, Toni! I am glad the edamame recipe was a hit!
Emily Flint says
I love edamame but I had never tried it flavored before. What a game changer! I will be making this for a snack all the time!
Ieva says
I've only ever had edamame in restaurants but decided to make it at home, following your recipe! Absolutely amazing! So easy and I managed to get the texture just right, after reading about not overcooking them! Great recipe and tips! Thanks!
Gus says
Ieva, I am really glad your edamame bean turn out well. Yes, getting the right texture is key on this recipe!
Susan says
Me encantan los edamame, pero para quien los prueba por primera vez creo que es necesario agregar que la vaina no se come, se extraen los frijoles que hay dentro que han absorbido todos los sabores, pero la vaina en sí es fibrosa e indigerible. El sabor me recuerda un poco al de yema de huevo, son increíbles con estos condimentos.
Gina says
Could snack on these all day long, addicting, delicious and healthy!
Gus says
Oh yeah! They are delicious and put together in minutes! a favorite at home!
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Mmmm nice way to cook them. Pass me a fork! Yum!
Gus says
they are delicious
Claudia Lamascolo says
What fabulous marriage of flavors here and they look super tender too!
Gus says
they truly play well together!
Danielle Wolter says
I love that I can make my own edamame at home. This was a great dish and a new go to snack!
Gus says
I am thrilled you loved it !
Elle @ Spice and Life says
The recipe sounded so tasty and easy to prepare, I had to give it a go and it was the right choice: absolutely delicious!
Gus says
It makes me very happy. It sounds like you enjoyed the dish a lot!
kushigalu says
Love edamame plus how simple and delicious this dish is.thanks for sharing
Gus says
you are welcome! I am very happy you like the dish's simplicity and flavor!