Saturday, September 5, 2009

I'm in love with a salad: Edamame Three Bean


I think this must be the salad de jour, or salad de summer. Everywhere I go, from the shore of Long Beach Island to the hills of West Virginia, this salad is whipped up and on the table in no time. The dressings are different, but the beans are pretty much the same.


I love it, nutrition at its prettiest and most simple. It is gorgeous!


Find the recipe for Edamame Three Bean Salad on SBK page 67. It is really easy to throw together and can be made from a well-stocked pantry. The only item you may have to put on your shopping list is shelled soy beans (edamame).


Now, about these soy beans: they are getting cheaper by the week! It used to be that I could only find them in the freezer or Natural section of Wegmans. They were in the pod, and were selling for about $3.99/10 ounces. So, I happily put out the cash, because i knew you got about the same amount at Kampai Japanese Restaurant for twice that. My boys love them and it keeps them busy and satiated while if finish making dinner.


Are soy beans seasonal? What accounts for the drop in price and the variety of forms, in pod, shelled, etc? I think it has to be demand. Did you know that the U.S. exports most of the soy products that it produces? Yup.
Now you can find these cute little greenies ready to use in the freezer section for the low-low price of $1.89-$3.29 depending on where you shop.
SBK has specific amounts of the beanies/legumes and red pepper that they want you to add. Uh-huh, okay, but what happens to the open leftover beans that skulk to the back of my refrigerator and hide in rubbermaid containers until they are unrecognizable gooh? How likely am I to remember to put that 1/2 red pepper into my next sauce or crudete platter? I don't want to find out. So, in went the whole can of corn and the whole bag of shelled edamame and a whole diced red bell pepper along with the legumes. I figured I'm adding about 2 cups of extra goodies, so I compensated by making 1 1/2 the amount of dressing.
Results?: About what can be expected when food looks like beans and is not sitting along side a hot dog and covered in sugar. Boys ate it willingly and 14 year old had seconds. Dad didn't shove it to the side of his plate, and I of course made it the center of my meal.
Variations: If you like a tangier or sweeter dressing, I suggest adding a Tablespoon of Agave Nectar to give it that honey-mustard affect. Otherwise, I liked this savory salad.
$$: It's about a $5.00 salad if red peppers are plentiful and cheap.
Comment and tell me what you think!

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