It's that time of the month again... the Secret Recipe Club is back!
I'm really excited because my my assignment this month was none other than our fabulous Group A leader, Jane, whose blog The Heritage Cook is bursting at the seams with all sorts of delicious recipes.
Meet This Month's Blogger
Aside from running the show for Group A, Jane is also a really talented gluten-free cook and has made over many of her favourites to accommodate her gluten intolerance.
She also runs a regular series called Chocolate Mondays, which is a positively genius idea if you ask me.
While it was tempting to choose one of her chocolate recipes, I'm totally obsessed with dips and spreads, so I almost instantly chose the Ginger-Miso Sweet Pea Spread which Jane adapted the recipe from Food and Wine.
I just couldn't resist the bright green colour or the fact that it featured green peas, one of my favourite spring ingredients.
How I Made This Recipe my Own
As you might be able to guess from the title of my post, I may have taken a few liberties with Jane's original recipe along the way.
I honestly meant to play it straight this month and just follow the original recipe for a change, but it seems that the universe had different plans for me.
You see, when I reached into the grocery store freezer to grab a bag of sweet peas, I accidentally grabbed a bag of shelled edamame beans sitting prettily one shelf down instead.
I suppose I could have put the edamame back and grabbed some peas, but I decided that this was the universe telling me I was meant to make this into an edamame dip instead. It was fate. Kismet. Serendipity.
From there, the recipe just kept moving in an ever-more-Asian direction.
The store was out of jalapenos, so I swapped them for a red hot chile instead, and they were also out of yellow miso, so I subbed in its slightly milder counterpart, white miso. And, never being one to take it easy on the ginger, I used double the amount of the original.
Which, to make a long story short, is how I eventually ended up with this Ginger-Miso Edamame Spread instead.
The Final Verdict
Despite all my meddling, I'm pleased to say this one is a winner.
Like apples and cinnamon, strawberries and rhubarb, or tomatoes and basil, edamame and miso are two flavours that are so much better together than they are apart. I suppose it makes sense, since technically they're both soybeans.
The nutty undertone of the edamame is echoed by the slight nuttiness of the miso, while the salty umami of the miso contrasts against the starchy green of the edamame, creating surprisingly complex layers of flavour for a dish with so few ingredients.
And best of all, it's stupidly easy to make, which makes it a perfect spring party appetizer.
You can use it to make crostini by slathering it generously onto thin slices of baguette, as I did here, or simply spoon it into a pretty bowl and surround it with crackers, pita chips or a variety of vegetable for dipping.
More Delicious Spring Appetizers
Obviously, this is my current favourite, but here are a few more delicious starters that make the most of spring's tastiest ingredients:
- Radish Toasts with Chive Butter
- Pickled Fiddlehead Ferns
- Flaky Chinese-Style Ramp Pancakes
- Fresh Easy Sweet Pea Soup
- Fresh Fava Bean Dip
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Ginger-Miso Edamame Spread
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 10 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Asian-inspired spread is perfect for spring entertaining - spread it onto thin slices of baguette to make crostini, or spoon it into a bowl and serve with crackers and vegetables for dipping.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
- 1 red hot chile, seeded and minced
- 3 cups shelled edamame beans (thawed, if frozen)
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup white miso
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the scallions, ginger and chile, and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the edamame and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes or until the edamame are bright green and tender. Set aside to cool for 5 minutes or so.
- Spoon the cooled edamame mixture into the bowl of a food processor. Add miso and water, and process until pureed and smooth.
- Transfer the pea mixture to a food processor and let cool slightly. Add the water and miso, and puree until smooth. Serve immediately, or cover tightly with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve (up to 3 days).
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
LL says
Hi, can I freeze this superb drippings？
Isabelle Boucher says
I've never tried freezing this recipe, mostly because it never lasts more than one day when I make it! Please let me know how it goes if you try.
A Canadian Foodie says
What a delicious, nutritious and wonderful way to welcome Spring! YUMMMERS!
:)
V
shannon @ a periodic table says
beautiful! and i have never been one to take it easy on the ginger, and mostly love anything asian or asian-inspired. I doubt i even need to tell you how much i love dips and spreads...i could go on all day here. i love it. i'll have to make this sometime when other people are coming over, as i could polish this entire thing off myself.
Sylvia @ reelflavor.com says
This sounds great! I recently bought some miso paste to use for chicken recipe of mine and now I want to use it in everything. Putting this recipe on the list... :)
Evelyne@cheapethniceatz says
What a great spread. I love eating edamame but never had it in a spread form, the added flavors are wonderful.
Katrina says
I am pretty sure I've never had or used miso--this sounds delicious. Great photos!
Stephanie says
Gahh, I'm totally obsessed with dips and spreads too. This one looks awesome, something different!
Margaret says
This looks so fresh and flavorful.
Jenna says
I keep seeing edamame in the freezer at the store and keep meaning to find a recipe to use them in. This dish looks delicious. Your pictures are fantastic!
Beth @ Good to be the Cook says
This sounds really easy and healthy. I want to try it now! I love edamame, the flavors sound just perfect. Thanks for sharing for SRC!
Lesa @ Edesia's Notebook says
I just made an edamame-goat cheese dip the other day for lunch. I love the Asian twist you put on this. Definitely trying this next time!
Aly ~ Cooking In Stilettos says
This looks AMAZING! Your photos are stellar. Now I need to add some miso to the shopping list because this needs to be made ASAP!
★★★★★
Ashley Bee (Quarter Life Crisis Cuisine) says
Yum! I can imagine this being super tasty!
cooking rookie says
Looks so simple and yummy! I will be trying this - I love edamame :-)
Sarah K. @ The Pajama Chef says
what a delicious spread!
Mr. & Mrs. P says
This sounds really unique!!! Need to try soon!
Jane Bonacci, The Heritage Cook says
Brilliant changes! I cannot wait to make your version and I'm sure it will be even better than mine. I love that you took it even more toward Asian flavors. So smart!!! Thanks for your kind words and I'm glad you enjoyed my site. Yours is one of my favorites!!
Jane Bonacci, The Heritage Cook says
Also, your photos are exquisite! So inspiring and beautiful!
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
Omg, yes to this recipe! Definitely making this when it's edamame picking time!
Shannon @ Searching For Dessert says
I love the combination of flavors. I bookmarked it and pinned it :)
Elizabeth@ Food Ramblings says
Yum- this looks really interesting and delicious!
Trisha says
No cook recipe - perfect for summer!!! I love the pop of color!
sara says
This looks fantastic - such great color!! :)
PolaM says
That looks great! How did you manage to keep so green!
Sweet as Sugar Cookies says
I am totally addicted to hummus and have always seen edamame spread at Trader Joe's. But the idea of one flavored with both ginger and miso sounds so much better.
Jess says
Both the original and the adaptation sound fantastic, Isabelle! Definitely something I would love to serve and eat. Ginger and miso are hard to beat in my book!
Delishhh says
This looks delicious I am going to save this recipe. Pictures are great!