Edamame are young soybeans picked while still green and served in the pod – a simple, vegetarian snack that turns up at many meals in Japan. At Han Kitchen in Zurich-Oerlikon a portion of edamame costs CHF 7.00 and is made for sharing.
What are edamame?
The name is Japanese: ‘eda’ means branch and ‘mame’ means bean – ‘beans on the branch’. They are soybeans harvested before they ripen, while they are still green. At that stage they’re tender, slightly sweet and nutty, nothing like the dried, mature soybeans that become tofu, soy sauce or miso.
Traditionally the pods are boiled in salted water and served warm or at room temperature, often sprinkled with coarse salt. In Japanese izakaya, edamame are usually the first thing to land on the table.
How to eat edamame
You don’t eat the pod. Hold it between your fingers, bring it to your mouth, squeeze the beans out with your teeth and put the empty shell aside. The salt on the outside ends up on your lips and seasons every bean. Edamame are finger food rather than chopstick food – perfect for getting a conversation going while the next dishes are being prepared.
Edamame at Han Kitchen
On our menu, edamame (soybeans) are listed under starters and marked as vegetarian, priced at CHF 7.00. A portion is meant for the middle of the table while you look through the menu.
For a small selection, pair edamame with gyoza (CHF 14.50) and the seaweed salad (CHF 7.00). If you’re keeping it vegetarian, follow up with vegetable bibimbap, japche with vegetables, or avocado and cucumber maki.
Edamame to take away
Edamame travel well – as an office snack or alongside a sushi order. Call us on 077 268 20 80 or come by Baumackerstrasse 46 during opening hours.