Ep 12 Edamame Hummus

Edamame, or young soy bean, is an excellent source of protein, iron and calcium. The isoflavones in soy foods have been linked to a decreased risk for osteoporosis, while the calcium and magnesium in soy may help to lessen PMS symptoms, regulate blood sugar and prevent migraine headaches.

If you are buying frozen edamame, check to see if it contains salt. If it doesn’t (or you are using fresh edamame), you will need to add some salt (to taste) to the recipe. Soak frozen edamame in hot water for about five minutes before placing in the food processor.

Unless you are using a very tiny lemon, you are bound to have leftover lemon juice. An easy way to use it up is to add water and ice cubes to create a refreshing drink.

While this recipe uses many green-coloured ingredients, green bell peppers have not been used because they don’t give as nice a flavour.

If you don’t like the raw taste of broccoli, blanch it first, or reduce the amount of broccoli used while increasing that of the edamame.

Ingredients

¾ cup shelled edamame
3 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp tahini
1 tbsp olive oil
2 handfuls of spinach
1 clove garlic
1 bell pepper (red, yellow, or orange), sliced
100 g broccoli florets, roughly chopped

Method

1. Place all ingredients in a food processor.
2. Process for 30 seconds, scraping the sides several times, until ingredients are blended together, not pureed.
3. Place in a bowl and serve with raw salad vegetables such as carrots or cucumber. Can also be used as a spread for crackers or sandwiches.