Air fryer edamame is the perfect quick snack and topping for bowls and salads. Ready in just 15 minutes, think of it like a crunchy, blank slate for your favorite seasonings! This edamame recipe is gluten-free, vegan, and can be made without oil.
First, what is edamame?
Edamame are young, immature soybeans, and if you've had them before you know they're uniquely delicious!
Edamame isn't bland or bean-y like mature soybeans, which are used to make tofu, tempeh, and soy milk. Instead, edamame has a lightly nutty and sweet flavor.
The texture of edamame is also different from other beans. Not too soft, their bite offers some resistance, kind of like a soaked cashew. This makes them a great addition to fried rice, noodles, and salads, like my edamame salad and ramen noodle salad.
Thankfully edamame is easy to find in the freezer section of most grocery stores. And if you shop at Trader Joe's, you may have noticed the ready-to-eat shelled edamame in the refrigerated produce section.
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What type of edamame should I use?
For this recipe you're looking for shelled edamame, as opposed to the ones still in the pod. Although, you can air fry edamame in their pods, too!
Here, you can use frozen edamame or a ready-to-eat variety like the Trader Joe's edamame pictured above in the small bowl.
If using frozen edamame, thaw the beans first. Simply place the edamame in a bowl, cover with water, and let stand for a few minutes. Then rinse and drain well.
How to Season the Edamame
- Oil or lemon/lime juice - I like to use a neutral-tasting cooking oil like grapeseed or avocado oil. If you'd rather not use oil, a squeeze of lemon or lime juice adds nice flavor and helps the seasonings stick to the edamame.
- Dry seasonings - Spice blends like curry powder, togarashi, harissa, and za'atar are some of my personal favorites. A blend of chili powder, cumin, and cayenne also tastes great. Or keep things simple with salt and pepper. A few teaspoons of vegan "chicken" seasoning is also delicious. Have fun experimenting with different flavors!
- Sea salt and black pepper - Sometimes I like to use truffle salt or smoked salt for even more flavor.
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How To Air Fry Edamame
As promised, this recipe is ridiculously quick and easy! Here's the gist (be sure to scroll down for the full recipe):
- Pat the edamame dry with a lint-free towel.
- Toss with oil (or lemon juice), and any seasonings you like. I used curry powder on the batch pictured above.
- Air fry at 375 degrees F (190°C) for about 10 minutes, shaking the basket twice during cooking. Serve immediately while crisp and hot.
Oven Option
Don't have an air fryer? No problem! You can also roast edamame in the oven. Here's how to do it:
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and spread the seasoned edamame in a single layer. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for about 25 minutes. Stir the edamame every 10 minutes so it doesn't burn.
Related Recipe: Next check out this Air Fryer Tempeh with smoky maple marinade. We can't stop eating it!
FAQ
Similar to other types of roasted beans, like white beans and chickpeas, as the edamame cools it loses its crispness. But you can easily crisp them up again by air frying for 3-5 minutes.
Store leftover edamame in a container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If desired, reheat the edamame in the air fryer or oven.
Top Tips
- Air fryers vary, so you may find that you need to adjust the cook time for your appliance.
- Air fryer edamame is best served immediately, so having leftovers isn't the goal here. If you're only serving one or two people, you might even want to make a half batch.
- For a flavor boost, as soon as the edamame are done, spritz them with oil and add another pinch of salt. Think of it like popcorn.
- If cooked long enough, some of the edamame beans will puff up and pop open. This is normal and adds even more variety to the texture!
I hope you enjoy this Air Fryer Edamame. If you try the recipe, be sure to comment below and let us know!
Recipe
Air Fryer Edamame
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces shelled edamame - (2 cups); frozen or refrigerated/ready-to-eat
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil - or 2 teaspoons lemon or lime juice
- 2½ teaspoons curry powder or other seasoning blend - See Notes for ideas
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt - adjust to taste
Instructions
- If using frozen edamame, quick-thaw by placing in a bowl and covering with water. Let stand for a few minutes, then drain.
- Place edamame on a lint-free towel and pat dry. Trasfer to a bowl and toss with the oil (or lemon/lime juice). Add the seasonings and salt, and stir well.
- Transfer the edamame to the air fryer basket. No need to preheat the air fryer. Set the air fryer to 375 degrees F (190°C), and cook for about 10 minutes. If the air fryer instructs you to "add food" after a few minutes, shake the basket to toss the edamame. Continue cooking, and shake the basket again during the last few minutes to make sure it doesn't burn.
- Once the edamame is golden and crisp, transfer to a paper towel-lined plate or bowl. If desired, spritz with oil and add a pinch of salt. Serve immediately while hot and crisp.
Notes
- We enjoy a little kick with our edamame. Both harissa and curry powder taste great here. Za'atar is another favorite, though not spicy.
- For Tex-Mex vibes, we also like chili powder, cumin, and cayenne.
- Or keep it plain with salt and pepper.
- A few teaspoons of this Vegan "Chicken" Broth Powder & Seasoning is also tasty for a cheesy/savory vibe.
Estimated Nutrition (per serving)
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific products and ingredients used.
Marna says
My air fryer is in my oven. Would it still be set at 375 and would I still not preheat it? CANT WAIT to try!!!
Lori says
Hi Marna, I would preheat the oven, and yes, same temperature. If it has a convection setting you can experiment with that to help crisp them up and make it even more like an air fryer. Enjoy!
Marna says
WoW!!! You respond fast! I meant that I have an air fryer setting built into my oven....so I still preheat...right? Also, I am going to experiment, make some with oil and some with the lemon...we are trying to be as oil free as possible....uggh...but so far your recipes that are oil free have won out, lemme tell ya!
Dee says
Made this with the Vegan Chicken Broth Powder. It turned out so yummy! I had to make a second batch because my non-vegan husband ate them all!
M says
So hard to find healthy, non sweet snacks. Love these! Thank you for sharing.