Megamame

It’s hard to believe that, up until 8 or 9 years ago, I had no idea what edamame were. The Japanese name for fresh soy beans, edamame are fantastically versatile and available year-round, thanks to being one of those veggies that freezes really well. They’re available both in the pod (great for steaming and then sprinkling with sea salt as an appetizer) and shelled (used in this recipe and in other soups and stir-fries). If you’ve never had edamame before, the beans are small, bright green and sweet, almost like the crunchier, more verdant cousin of limas. This isn’t a bean that’s going to overpower a dish, so don’t worry if you’re not a big soy person. And, as far as nutrition goes, a half-cup serving of shelled edamame packs 9 grams of fiber and 11 grams of protein—not too shabby.

Chicken Edamame Chowder
Yield 4 to 6 servings.

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 tsp. garlic powder
12 oz. package frozen, shelled edamame
1 large green bell pepper, coarsely chopped
1 large onion, diced
2 fresh jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chipotle chili powder
30 oz. chicken broth or stock
8 oz. sour cream
3 tbsp. all-purpose flour
2 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
salt and freshly ground pepper
sharp cheddar cheese, optional topping

Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken on both sides with salt, pepper and garlic powder and cook until lightly browned. Combine the chicken, soybeans, peppers, onion, cumin, chili powder and salt and pepper in a slow cooker. Pour in chicken broth and stir to combine.

Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 7 to 8 hours or on high-heat setting for 3-1/2 to 4 hours.
If using low-heat setting, turn cooker to high. Combine the sour cream and flour in a small bowl, then whisk the mixture into the cooker, along with the zucchini. Re-cover and cook for 20 to 30 minutes more or until mixture is thickened and zucchini is crisp-tender. Ladle into bowls and top with cheese, if desired.