Edamame

Edamame, meaning beans on branches, have been part of Japanese eating for more than a thousand years, but their natural home is the summer beer garden, served cold in big bowls with plenty of salt. They are the perfect snack: fun to eat, satisfying to pop, and endlessly moreish. Kids love them as much as adults do, and at home they take all of ten minutes, which makes them the easiest starter you will ever put on the table.

Pop them straight from the pod

Each pod hides three or four bright green beans that are sweet, nutty, and gently salty, with a firm bite that makes you reach for another handful. The ritual of the eating is half the pleasure: squeeze, pop, and repeat until the bowl is empty. Boil them just until tender, shock them briefly in cold water to keep the color brilliant, and rub the salt into the pods while they are still damp so it clings.

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