Shio Edamame (Salt-Boiled Edamame)

Ingredients

• 400g frozen or fresh edamame pods
• 2 liters water
• 3 tablespoons coarse sea salt, divided
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt for finishing

Instructions

1. Place the edamame pods in a large colander and rinse thoroughly under cold running water. If using fresh edamame, trim both ends of each pod with scissors to allow the salt water to penetrate the beans inside.
2. Bring 2 liters of water to a rolling boil in a large pot over high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the coarse sea salt and stir until dissolved — the water should taste noticeably salty, similar to mild seawater.
3. Add the edamame pods to the boiling salted water and cook uncovered for 4 to 5 minutes for frozen pods, or 6 to 7 minutes for fresh pods, until the beans inside are tender but still have a slight bite when squeezed from the pod.
4. Drain the edamame immediately in the colander and do not rinse — preserving the residual starch helps the salt adhere. Shake the colander vigorously to remove excess water.
5. Transfer the hot edamame to a large bowl and immediately sprinkle over the remaining 1 tablespoon of coarse sea salt and the fine sea salt. Toss well to coat every pod evenly.
6. Serve immediately in a communal bowl while still steaming hot, with an empty bowl alongside for the discarded pods. To eat, place a pod between your lips and squeeze the beans directly into your mouth.