Edamame

No, it's not a comestible maternal figure (although it wouldn't surprise me, the Indonesians certainly do love their 'singkatan', or short-forms, and this could easily become the short form for edible mammy!) It is, in fact, something edible: edamame is another yummy Asian delicacy. It is a preparation of baby soybeans in the pod. I think it is more common in Japan, China and Korea, but I first tried it here in Indonesia.

The best part: Preparation is simple! The pods are boiled (or steamed) in lightly-salted water and served whole. They are consumed by using one's fingers and teeth to squeeze them out of the pod, which is then discarded.



The name itself is Japanese. Edamame literally means "twig bean" (eda = "twig" + mame = "bean"), supposedly a reference to the short stem attached to the pod.

In Chinese, young soybeans in the pod are known as maodoujia, literally "hairy bean pod". I find this more descriptive, and appropriate!

It seems edamame is usually served almost as an appetizer, but I'm also loving it as a healthy, nutritional snack!