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Years ago, I bought a bag of frozen shelled edamame as an easy protein to toss into salads and bowls. Since then, it’s become a staple in our house. To my surprise, my kids now request edamame, and my husband snacks on it while I’m cooking, so I’ve started buying two bags at a time! I especially like the Season’s Choice Shelled Edamame at Aldi, where a 16-ounce bag is a mere $2.75.
Season’s Choice Shelled Edamame
Price: $2.75 for one 16-ounce bag
Why I Love It: It’s a quick, cheap way to add protein and texture to just about any meal with almost no effort.
Credit: Simply Recipes / Aldi
Why I Love Aldi’s Frozen Edamame
What I appreciate most is how easy shelled edamame is to prep. Since they’re already shelled, there’s nothing to do but open the bag and warm them. I scoop what I need into a microwave-safe bowl with a splash of water and microwave for a few minutes.
After draining, and while they’re still warm, I sometimes finish them with a little flaky salt, a squeeze of lemon, or a drizzle of sesame oil. But if I’m tossing them into a cold salad, I’ll let them chill first. They’re great for meal prep for this exact purpose. Most of the time, I toss them into whatever quick meal or snack I’m making.
Because they’re high in protein and fiber, my salads are more filling, which means I’m not reaching for a snack an hour later. They’re naturally a little sweet, with a tender bite and what I like to call a “Goldilocks” texture for whatever I’m making—not too hard, but not too soft.
I love them in crunchy salads with romaine, snap peas, cucumbers, and sesame dressing; tossed with cabbage, radishes, and cilantro with a soy-lime vinaigrette; or sprinkled over mixed greens with carrots, green onion, and avocado. They’re also one of my favorite additions to any dense bean salad.
Beyond salads, they’re great in grain bowls, pasta salads, and stir-fries. I like to add them to things like fried rice and noodle bowls, mix them into pasta salad for extra protein, and even turn them into an edamame dip.
Because they’re frozen, they’re easy to keep on hand, so I never run out.
They may not be the most exciting grocery purchase, but for less than $3 and about a minute of effort, edamame can turn a less substantial meal into something colorful, filling, and delicious. And in my house, that’s more than enough reason to keep a bag (or two) in the freezer at all times!
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Dining and Cooking