Edamame & Arugula Spread

Edamame & Arugula Spread is a great alternative to the popular Bruschetta

Edamame & Arugula Spread is a great alternative to the popular Bruschetta

Crostini has always been one of my favorite go to appetizers. They’re easy & quick to make and are a heartier cocktail hour food. If you’re coming over to my house odds are there will be some cocktails or wine involved. I always want to have some appetizers on hand to soak up the alcohol. Don’t judge! I confess that normally I make my heirloom tomato bruschetta but I felt like switching things up. This Edamame & Arugula Spread was the perfect option!

Your edamame should look like this before adding to the food processor. Remember to remove the beans from the shells!

Your edamame should look like this before adding to the food processor. Remember to remove the beans from the shells!

The mint really adds the perfect finish to Edamame & Arugula Spread.

The mint really add the perfect finish to Edamame & Arugula Spread.

Arugula is in season right now and I love it’s peppery, bold taste. It’s part of the cabbage family and contains a HUGE amount of lutein, an antioxidant that helps maintain healthy eyes, skin and heart. Arugula doesn’t keep very well so try to buy it and use it up within 2 days, 3 max

I use arugula on its own in salads or in addition to another greens. I love it in soups, on homemade pizza or in my pasta. My absolute favorite is subbing it for basil to make a spicier pesto! When cooked, arugula wilts like spinach so keep that mind when experimenting in your kitchen.

Try this spread over baked parmesan crisps instead of  baguette for a different approach.

Enjoy this for breakfast and switch up your routine!

Enjoy this for breakfast and switch up your routine!

Edamame & Arugula Spread
 
Prep time
Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: Appetizer
Serves: 8
Ingredients
  • 1 cup shelled fresh or frozen edamame
  • ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus additional for drizzling
  • 1 cup packed baby arugula, divided in 2 piles
  • ¼ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • ½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • ⅛ tsp pepper
  • ¼ cup mint to garnish
  • olive oil for drizzling
  • sliced baguette
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle.
  2. If edamame is still in the pod make sure you take the beans out of the pods before using. Very important!!
  3. Cook edamame beans in salted boiling water, uncovered, until tender, 3 to 4 minutes, then drain and transfer to an ice bath to stop cooking.
  4. Pulse edamame beans in a food processor until very coarsely chopped, then transfer half of mixture to a large bowl.
  5. Add ¼ cup olive oil, ½ cup arugula, parmigiano reggiano, lemon zest & juice, ⅛ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper to edamame in processor and purée until smooth.
  6. Add smooth mixture into the bowl with chunky edamame..
  7. Coarsely chop remaining ½ cup arugula and gently fold into edamame mixture.
  8. Cut bread 16 diagonal slices (1/3 inch thick) from baguette and put in a 4-sided sheet pan. Drizzle with remaining tablespoon oil. Bake until pale golden and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes.
  9. Spoon edamame mixture onto baguette toasts, then drizzle with oil and top with mint.
Notes
It's VERY important that you remember to remove edamame beans from pods. The outer shell is super coarse & stringy and not something you want to eat.
I buy the pre-shelled edamame from Trader Joes. You can find both fresh or frozen edamame beans and they are inexpensive.
Don't skip out on the mint as garnish!! This is not a garnish you want to miss out on. It really brings the recipe all together for me.

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