Edamame soy beans are no beauties. The beans wait in a tight-fitting stocking until they will be unwrapped and ready for the great day. But then they will shine like little green semi-precious stones. I love them for aperitif or as snacks. Edamame beans are great in salads as well. Have a try.

Chef’s Handyman, Edamame

Barley salad with edamame

Cook the barley in vegetable stock as written on the wrapping. When cooked through, cool them.

To make the salad, heat olive oil in a non-sticking frying pan. Add chopped onions and the barley. Sprinkle with olive oil, lemon juice and pomegranate juice. Add the pomegranate seeds, peeled edamame beans, chopped parsley, peppermint leaves and lemon rind. Season the salad to taste with chili flakes, salt and black pepper. Garnish with cilantro.

Chef’s Handyman tip for vegetarians: Serve with mozzarella or plain yogurt.

Shopping list for the barley salad with edamame for 4 serves: 1 cup barley, 4 cups edamame, 2 lemons, 1 bunch parsley, 1 bunch peppermint, 1 bunch cilantro, 1 pomegranate, 2 tbsp. pomegranate juice or maple syrup, 1 cup vegetable stock, 1 onion, 6 tbsp. olive oil, salt, black pepper, chili flakes, for vegetarians, mozzarella or plain yogurt.

Bon appetite, yours Chef’s Handyman team.

Chef’s Handyman iPhone/iPad app

A free cooking recipe will be published in the Chef’s Handyman app for iPhone/iPad. The cooking recipe can be downloaded in the e-cookbook ‘Free Trial Recipes’. Click on the update button (next to the shopping cart) on the bottom within the category screen in the free trial e-cookbook. Now the recipe and the book will be updated. Then check the icon salads. There you will find the new recipe. When the app will be downloaded the first time, the free cooking recipe will be already included. The Chef’s Handyman app can be found in the App Store.