This Rainbow Edamame Slaw is bright and colorful, and packed with lots of nutrients and protein, plus a delicious honey sesame dressing!
Today I am celebrating one of my favorites: edamame! Most of my life I didn’t really know what edamame was, but once the sushi craze hit after I graduated college, it became a pretty well-known food.
In case you didn’t know, edamame are young soybeans that are picked green before they are fully matured. You’ll find them (in the pod) on every sushi menu you come across. But you can also find them (both in the pod and shelled) in the freezer aisle of your grocery store.
The thing I love most about edamame is that it adds lots of great protein to dishes. Since I’m not a huge meat eater, I definitely love finding good alternative sources of protein.
Soy protein is the only plant protein equivalent to animal protein with all nine essential amino acids in ratios needed for muscle growth and recovery. Plus it’s lean and has no cholesterol. Not to mention totally delicious!
In the spirit of being extra healthy, I’m adding my edamame to a super colorful Asian salad. Generally the more colorful a dish, the more nutrient packed it is (we’re talking plant foods here, not so much with the Froot Loops…).
This slaw definitely hits the full rainbow of health. Colorful things are more fun to eat too, don’t you think? This slaw is so fresh, and I love adding the edamame for a boost of protein.
This slaw is great as a side dish, but also works well as a vegetarian meal. It’s been my dinner a few times this week!
The dressing is a little sweet, a little spicy and pairs perfectly with the crunchy veggies. And the best thing about this salad is the longer it sits in the fridge (with all that yummy dressing soaking in), the tastier it gets.
- For the dressing:
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp honey
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- For the salad:
- ½ head purple cabbage, shredded
- 1 red bell pepper, finely sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, finely sliced
- 3 large carrots, shredded
- 5 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 cup frozen shelled edamame (steamed according to package directions and cooled)
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- Place all of the dressing ingredients in a jar with a lid and shake vigorously to combine. (You can also whisk together in a bowl.)
- In a large bowl, toss together cabbage, peppers, carrots, onions and edamame.
- Pour dressing over top and toss to coat.
- Season to taste with salt & pepper.
- Let sit at least 15 minutes to let flavors soak into veggies. Toss the slaw again before serving.
What are your favorite ways to use edamame?!
Edamame is one of my favorites too! This slaw looks amazing, I love how colorful it is. So stunning!
This slaw is so pretty. The colors are great. I’ve never had edamame in a slaw before. That’s a great idea!
I love edamame — it’s delicious and it adds such a pretty color to dishes! I’m a huge slaw fan, so this looks like the perfect side to me!
This slaw is so pretty, Jess! And yay for being edamame twins today! 🙂 I had no idea what edamame was until I started eating sushi, either, and now I can’t live without it! I love the flavors in this dish, sounds SO good!
Jess I love eating edamame!! They are one of those things I can eat for snacks without craving chips or cookies! I love this salad and all these colors make it so much more appealing!!
This slaw is so colorful and festive, Jess! I love edamame too and that dressing sounds amazing!
I’m a little ashamed that I’ve never tried edamame before, but I think that needs to change asap. This dish looks so bright and colorful, I could easily eat all of it!
WHAAAAAT!?!? This news hurts my sushi-loving heart. LOL! Edamame is great, you’ve definitely got to try it!
I absolutely love colorful food, so this salad looks perfect to me! We don’t eat meat everyday either, so I’m always looking for new ways to eat veggie protein sources.
Colorful food definitely just makes you feel good! 🙂 Thanks, Nora!
I love vibrant, colorful dishes like this! I wish I had this slaw for lunch!
Thanks, Jessica!! It’s definitely a perfect, healthy lunch!
The colors in this slaw are so gorgeous. I never thought to add soy beans to slaw, but what a wonderful addition!
Thanks, Christin! Colorful food is so much more fun. 🙂
This is so lovely and my little one eats the most colorful food on his plate so this would be such a fun meal!
Aww, yay for color! So much better than fake-dyed kids foods!