So there is this asian-fusion restaurant here in Tallahassee called Masa and they have this great appetizer of steamed edamame with a spicy black bean dipping sauce that is so super yummy! I had a craving for some edamame the other day, so I picked some up at the grocery store and saw that I also had a can of black beans in my pantry so I decided to make my own black bean sauce. Though this spicy black bean sauce doesn’t taste exactly like the sauce at Masa, it was still pretty good and I will definitely be making it again!

In case you have never had or heard of edamame, it is not the same as snow peas or sugar snap peas. Edamame is a soybean and you only eat the beans, not the pod itself like you can with peas. Edamame is a Japanese word that refers to how the beans are prepared. Soybeans are picked while they are still immature and are typically boiled in salt or sprinkled with sea salt after being boiled.

This black bean sauce was perfect with the edamame and makes a great appetizer or snack! I think this sauce would also taste great with assorted veggies or tortilla chips!

Edamame with Spicy Black Bean Sauce

Serves 4

Ingredients:

– 1 can black beans

– 1 tsp. red pepper flakes

– 1/2 tsp. chili powder

– 1 tsp. garlic powder

– 1 tsp. ground cumin

– 1/2 tsp. salt

– 1 package edamame and sea salt

Directions:

1. Heat a small saucepan on medium heat. Add black beans (do not drain beans). Fill the can about half-way with water and add to pan. Add in all spices. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.

2. Remove pan from heat and pour into a blender. Remove the cap from the lid of the blender*. Blend sauce together until smooth. Pour into serving bowl and serve.

3. To cook the edamame, I like to boil it in hot water for 2-3 minutes then drain the beans and sprinkle with sea salt!

Notes:
– When blending hot liquids, you must remove the top cap off the lid to allow the steam to escape. If you try to blend hot liquids with the cap on the lid, the lid can pop off and you might have a big mess on your hands! If you are worried about a mess with removing the cap, cover the top with a towel when you initially start up the blender on the lowest setting. Once it starts, you can remove the towel and unless you’ve doubled or tripled this recipe, don’t worry about the sauce shooting out. :)