Izakaya Style Japanese Edamame - Soy Beans in Pod

This is so simple, I debated whether to submit this here, but it's something we enjoy with beer, sake, or good ol' soju. There are probably much better recipes out there than this, but this one works for us for now without compromising heart healthy needs versus salt and oil. Izakaya is a Japanese style pub and this is typical of something they would pull out while you are waiting for other orders. You can add anything to this and let your imagination fly! You can add miso, kochujang, tobandjan (hot red chile paste - not Indonesian or Malay), chopped kimchi, etc.

• Ready In: 10 mins
• Serves: 6
• Yields: 1 pound

Ingredients

• 1  lb  frozen edamame (soy beans in pod)
• 6  cups water
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄3 cup water
• 2  tablespoons soy sauce
• 1  tablespoon sake
• 1  tablespoon mirin
• 2  garlic cloves, minced
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  sesame oil
•  salt, to your taste

Directions

1. Boil 6 cups of water and add 1/2 tsp salt in a medium sized saucepan. Add edamame, cover and cook for 6 minutes. Drain and wash in cold water.
2. In the same saucepan, add 1/3 C water, soy sauce, sake, mirin, garlic and rinsed edamame. Over medium heat, gently cook edamame, stirring frequently until liquid is reduced by at least two-thirds. This normally takes 5-6 minutes only. Gently add sesame oil and combine.
3. Place in a serving platter and add salt to your taste. We normally don't add additional salt here, but that's just us.
4. You may additionally add hot chile paste in the saucepan as well.