Edamame boosts protein of dinner-in-a-bowl

Edamame is the Japanese name for green, immature soybeans. The soybean is 35 percent protein, far outstripping anything else in the plant world. It’s rich in heart-healthy isoflavones. And according to nutritionists, a half-cup of shelled edamame contains as much fiber as four slices of whole-wheat bread, no cholesterol and no saturated fat.

If you’re lucky enough to find fresh edamame, boil them in their pods for about 20 minutes in salted water. Traditionally the Japanese eat edamame by pulling the pods through their teeth to remove the beans and enjoy them with a beer, saying they contain an enzyme that helps break down alcohol. Seems like a theory worth testing.