Air fryer edamame is a quick, healthy, and irresistible snack. Lightly salty and seasoned and ready in 15 minutes! Use fresh or frozen edamame and your favorite seasonings (see ideas below). This edamame recipe is rich in protein and fiber, gluten-free, and can even be made without oil.
What is edamame?
Edamame are young, immature soybeans, and if you've eaten them before you know how deliciously unique and mild they are.
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. And texture-wise, they're different from other beans. Not too soft, they have a bit of bite, similar to a soaked cashew.
These beautiful green soybeans are nutritious, too. They're rich in protein, fiber, and iron, and fairly low in fat and calories.
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 fresh, ready-to-eat shelled edamame in the refrigerated produce section.
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.
You can start with 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.
Ingredient Notes
You only need a few ingredients to make this tasty air fryer snack:
Edamame - as mentioned above, you want shelled edamame for this recipe, either "ready-to-eat" or frozen.
Seasoning - we enjoy a little kick with our edamame! Both harissa and curry powder are really good here. Also try chili powder, cumin, and cayenne, or keep it plain with salt and pepper. A few teaspoons of this DIY Vegan "Chicken" Broth Powder & Seasoning is also great. Get creative!
Oil or Lemon/Lime Juice - I like to use a neutral-tasting cooking oil like grapeseed or sunflower; for oil-free diets, a small amount of lemon or lime juice adds nice flavor and helps the seasonings stick to the edamame.
...and Sea Salt
How To Make It
As promised, this air fryer edamame 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 juice) and seasonings.
- Air fry at 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 C) for about 10 minutes, shaking the basket twice during cooking.
Isn't that easy? Serve immediately while crisp and hot.
Related: check out this Air Fryer Tempeh with smoky maple marinade. We can't stop eating it!
Preparation Tips and Storing
- Don't be afraid to experiment with seasonings and cook time. For extra flavor spritz with oil and add another pinch of salt when the edamame are piping hot from the air fryer (think of it like popcorn).
- If cooked long enough some of the edamame will puff up and pop open. That's fun!
- As the edamame cools it will lose its crispness. Reheat for about 5 minutes in the air fryer to bring back the texture.
- Edamame is best eaten immediately after air frying, so having a lot leftover isn't the goal here. If only serving one or two people, feel free to cut the recipe in half.
- Store leftovers in a container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
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If you try this Air Fryer Edamame be sure to comment below. Let us know what seasonings you used and how you enjoyed it!
Air Fryer Edamame
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces shelled edamame (2 cups), frozen or fresh/refrigerated
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil, optional - For oil-free option use 2 teaspoons lemon or lime juice.
- 2 to 3 teaspoons curry powder or other seasoning - See Notes for ideas.
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon fine sea salt - Use less if edamame is already salted.
Instructions
- If using frozen edamame, place in a bowl and cover 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 oil (or lemon/lime juice for oil-free). Add seasonings and salt, and toss to coat.
- Transfer 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 of cooking.
- When the edamame is as golden and crisp as you like, carefully pour onto a paper towel-lined plate or bowl. Add another pinch of salt, if desired. Serve immediately while hot and crisp.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition (per serving)
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific products and ingredients used. We calculate this information using the online calculator cronometer.com.
Dee
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
So hard to find healthy, non sweet snacks. Love these! Thank you for sharing.