Edamame beans, originally from China but more popular in Japan, are fresh green baby soybeans, available from Woolworths and Asian markets. The name means 'beans on a branch'.

Edamame beans are consumed as a snack, in vegetable dishes, used in soups, or processed into sweets. As a snack, the pods are lightly boiled in salted water, and then the seeds are squeezed directly from the pods into the mouth with the fingers.

The edamame is said to be the only vegetable to contain all nine amino acids. As such, the green wonder is a complete protein source like meat or eggs. It is also high in fibre, vitamin C, folic acid and helps lower cholesterol, while some claim it has aphrodisiac qualities

Try them in:

ASIAN DUCK WITH BULGUR WHEAT AND RED QUINOA SALAD

TERIYAKI SALMON WITH EDAMAME PUREE

SMASHED GREEN PEAS WITH POACHED MUSHROOM AND TOFU