Stir Fried Edamame with Orange and Chili Flake

I love Downton Abbey*. I just re-watched season one, and there’s a scene when Matthew is explaining how he will be a solicitor and learn how to oversee the house simultaneously. His solution is that he will be at Downton on the weekends. To which Maggie Smith’s character responds, “What’s a weekend?”.

 

I’m starting to understand what it feels like to not know what a weekend is. When you’re unemployed and school isn’t in session it’s easy to forget that most people don’t get to lounge around in the backyard on a Friday, reading classic literature a book People magazine and decidedly not working.

(Before you all decide to hate me, please keep in mind I would much prefer to be working and I'm looking for a job)

(Also, as hard as it may be to believe, I played no part in creating this fabulous "winter" weather)

I hope you all have something simply fabulous planned for your weekend. And if you need a snack to keep you going through the weekend, I’m going to suggest you make edamame. Not just any edamame though. This edamame. Which has the flavor notch set to high.

 

Assuming you eat edamame like I do (like a normal person), you put the whole pod in your mouth. So why on Earth does no one put any flavor on it? If you’re lucky it has been salted. But why not bring some actual flavor to the party? I did, and let me tell you it’s is a very welcome addition. Even the pickiest eater I know loves these. I take edamame that have been cooked just shy of the package’s directions, then pseudo-stir fry them with a sauce made with soy, ginger, garlic, toasted sesame seeds, orange, and chili flakes. Salty, slightly spicy, and very highly addictive, these are the perfect party food. They’re just as good piping hot as they are cold from the fridge and everywhere in between.

Go make a batch...and have a fabulous weekend. (Whatever that may be)

*If you haven't seen Downton Abbey, do yourself a favor and watch it. The edamame are a great snack to have while you watch, even if they are just about as far from British as you can get.

Stir Fried Edamame with Orange and Chili Recipe (printable)
Who doesn’t love to have a quick and impressive snack up their sleeve? If it happens to go really well with a glass of white wine, so be it.

1 bag frozen edamame
1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons grated ginger
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4-1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes (I used closer to 1 teaspoon, but its easier to add more than it is to take it out. If you don’t like spicy food, just leave it out all together)
Zest of one orange
Juice of 1/2 of the orange
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
3 green onions, thinly sliced

Cook the edamame in boiling, salted water for one minute less than the directed cooking time. (Mine were supposed to cook for 5 minutes). While the edamame are cooking, combine all the other ingredients in a small bowl. If you don’t want to do extra dishes, use the bowl you plan to discard the shell in.

Drain the edamame and place the now empty pot they were cooked in back on high heat. Add the soy orange sauce to the pot and bring it to a boil. Add the edamame and stir so all the pods are coated in sauce. Continue to cook until very little of the sauce remains on the bottom of the pot.

Serve hot, room temperature, or cold.

Comments

[Jenny @ Ichigo Shortcake]

I love edamame! I've only ever eaten them how they serve it at Japanese restaurants, never with any other dressing. I'd love to try this recipe out!

[Deanna]

Jenny-I hope you do. I'm eating some straight from the fridge right now.

[Em (Wine and Butter)]

YUM! I love edamame but had sort of forgotten about them recently!

Oh how I wish I was back in Cali weather - and with a TJ's to buy edamame at - its hard to come by here...

[Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella]

I felt that way during the holidays! And I've been recommended Downtown Abbey by a friend, I must get into it! :)

[deana]

Tomorrow I'm doing a whole post on Downton Abbey... isn't just too much fun?? These look awfully good. I usually have a bag in the freezer and defrost a bowl at a time for snacks... love the orange and chili addition... delish!

[Deanna]

Deana-Its my favorite show... and its nice that I don't have to feel embarrassed for liking it, unlike some of the other shows I watch religiously-I'm looking at your Rachel Zoe Project. I'm excited for your post tomorrow! I feel like I will be doing a themed meal for the show after I read it.