I normally keep my edamame simple. I like them boiled and salted as a healthy accompaniment to drinks.

However, this charming book by Wataru Yokota has provided a reliable, easy and exceptionally tasty recipe which I’ve also served with martinis.

The Real Japanese Izakaya Cookbook has a range of simple recipes with beautiful photography for making very tasty drinking food.

Izakaya are Japanese drinking dens which serve food, normally small bites that go well with booze. They are popular with after-work crowds and are relaxed, informal and a thoroughly pleasant way to transition from the working day to time off.

Yokota’s belief, however, is that you can create the best Izakaya experience at home.

Here is one of the recipes from the book for you to try out.

Steam fried Edamame

Edamame or soy beans are a pretty healthy snack. They also just happen to taste really good, either on their own but especially when accompanying booze.

Ingredients

• 140g / 7 oz edamame
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon of sake (I’ve used white wine, Shaohsing, and both sweet and dry vermouth as substitutes as well)
• 1/2 teaspoon of good quality sea salt

This recipe assumes, like me, that you are using frozen, raw edamame. I have not seen fresh edamame for sale in the UK.

Method

Add the sesame oil to a frying pan and bring to a medium-high heat.

Add the edamame beans and stir fry for around three minutes.

When the pods are lightly browned, spread them evenly around the pan, sprinkle over the sake (or wine, Shaohsing or vermouth) and salt.

Cover the pan and steam-fry over a low heat for about 3 minutes.

At this point, I also pour the martinis, so everything is ready to serve at the same time.

Remove the lid from the pan, raise the heat to medium and shake the pan to evaporate the moisture.

Serve in a bowl next to your martinis, with a secondary bowl for the uneaten edamame pods.

Delicious!

There are loads of other recipes in the book that would be eminently suitable to accompany a martini, ranging from sea bream carpaccio and grilled octopus to refreshingly simple salads and grilled chicken.

You can buy The Real Japanese Izakaya Cookbook from Amazon here.

Arigato Wataru-San!