Edamame Cucumber Sesame Salad (Printable)

Chilled edamame and cucumber tossed in a savory sesame dressing offers a fresh and vibrant dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 cups shelled edamame (fresh or frozen)
02 - 1 large cucumber, diced
03 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
04 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced (optional)

→ Dressing

05 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
06 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
07 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari (for gluten-free)
08 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
09 - 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
10 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
11 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

→ Garnish

12 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
13 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

# Step-by-step Directions:

01 - Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the shelled edamame and cook for 3 to 5 minutes until tender. Drain and rinse under cold water to chill.
02 - In a large bowl, combine the chilled edamame, diced cucumber, sliced green onions, and diced red bell pepper if using.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce or tamari, honey or maple syrup, grated ginger, minced garlic, and 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds until emulsified.
04 - Pour the dressing over the vegetable mixture and toss gently to combine evenly.
05 - Sprinkle the salad with additional toasted sesame seeds and chopped cilantro if desired.
06 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The way the sesame dressing clings to each edamame bean means you get flavor in every single bite
  • You can make it ahead and it actually tastes better after the flavors hang out together for a while
02 -
  • I learned the hard way that you really need to shock the cooked edamame in cold water or they keep cooking and turn into sad mushy beans
  • The dressing might taste too strong when you first make it but once it coats all the vegetables it mellows out perfectly
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant and they will taste infinitely better
  • Grate the ginger on a microplane so it practically dissolves into the dressing instead of leaving stringy bits
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