Day 103: Carrot & Edamame Salad

Would you rather eat exotic edamame (ed-uh-MAH-may) or spartan SOY?

Take your pick becuase they're the same thing, fresh soy beans. And they're delicious! Now that they come shelled and frozen, they're easy to cook and easy to find year-round.

This is an okaaaaaay salad. But if you don't yet know how good edamame beans taste, don't make this your introduction: you might not return.

As it turns out, the recipe seemed familiar. Sure enough, when I waded through its reviews on Epicurious, I made it a year ago and had the same reaction: good enough but just okay. The carrot flavor and texture overwhelm the delicacy of the beans.

Looks great, though, doesn't it? You don't often get such great color on your plate!

Leftover Update: This either grew on me or improved with a day in the frig. So I'd now recommend it even though it doesn't pay edamame their due.

Buying Tip: At my grocery, the produce section at my grocery sells 10-ounce packages of edamame beans for $4 while the freezer section has 16-ounce bags for $2.

CARROT & EDAMAME SALAD
Active time: 20 minutes (not including cooking the beans which takes maybe 2 minutes active/20 minutes total)
Time to table: 20 minutes
Makes 7 cups

7 carrots (about 24 ounces)
3 cups frozen shelled edamame, cooked in well-salted water (important!) and chilled
8 green onions, chopped (about 2/3 cup)
1/4 cup chopped cilantro (a must, don't skip)
1/4 cup rice vinegar (seasoned rice vinegar might help?)
Zest and juice from two lemons (about 1/4 cup juice)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (next time I'll try 1 tablespoons, even none)
2 cloves garlic, minced (I forgot this, it would help, I think)
Salt & pepper to taste

Peel and grate the carrots in the food processor and transfer to a large bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and combine well.

NUTRITION ESTIMATE
Per Serving: 168 Cal (36% from Fat, 19% from Protein, 45% from Carb); 8 g Protein; 7 g Tot Fat; 1 g Sat Fat; 19 g Carb; 7 g Fiber; 43 mg Calcium; 1 mg Iron; 96 mg Sodium; 0 mg Cholesterol, Weight Watchers 3 points

ALANNA's TIPS

• St Louisans: Schnuck's (at least Kirkwood) carries frozen edamame beans, both shelled and in the pod but Dierberg's (at least Rock Hill) does not.
  

SOURCE
Bon Appetit January 2001