Edamame Hummus with Wonton Wrapper Chips (and a May Day menu teaser)

Guac and corn chips it is not. Plain-old hummus and pita it’s neither. Just as munchable as either of the above, I’d say definitely, as well as easy to prepare. It’s edamame, or soy beans, cooked and mashed up just like chickpea hummus (minus the tahini), and eggy wonton wrappers baked with a coating of oil and sesame seeds. And — with a little modification — it’s one of the four canapés that will precede the five-course dinner on May 1st, at Queens County Farm Museum.

First of all, I should point out that I really didn’t intend for this to come out looking so much like guac and chips. The aim was certainly to make a smooth, tasty dip with the edamame, and crisp, savory chips with the wonton wrappers. It seems that great foods just look alike, sometimes.

store-bought wonton wrappers (or “skins”)

oil and sesame seeds coat the cut-in-half squares

once baked, they bubble and curl into thin chips

It took me a little while of backtracking to figure out how the dish came about. It was Akiko, my good friend and Hapa Kitchen collaborator, who suggested edamame hummus in one of the dishes. Deep-fried wonton “crackers” of some sort were proposed at some point as the spreading canvas for a lamb pâté. Then, after the menu got shaken up and mixed around a few times, I went home and cut some wonton wrappers into triangular halves. I brushed them with oil and sprinkled toasted sesame seeds on top — just for kicks. A few minutes in a 350-degree oven, and I was pretty flabbergasted when they came out looking and tasting like… chips. It was like the oven had handed them over to an entirely new cuisine, rendered them something they entirely didn’t expect. It made all the more sense then to reach into the freezer and grab a bag of frozen, shelled edamame. After steaming them I dumped the pale green beads into the food processor with some smashed garlic, lemon juice and olive oil. And the rest is history.

It was collaborative thinking, mostly, with a little creativity. I can’t wait for more of those Eureka-like food moments to happen by the same means, as I’m sure there will be plenty to come.

edamame straight from the steamer

So, I’ve already blabbed about the May Day benefit dinner last week. But the menu’s been shaping up, and this past weekend, has made its first forays into actual physical form during a recipe-testing session with the gang. I’m delighted to be cooking with such tasty, humanely meat for this dinner from Apple Pond Farm as well as the Queens County Farm Museum, using some of their pork. Here are some of the things we’re going to do with it:

First course:
Skewered lamb belly and pork belly lettuce wraps

Second course:
Lamb gyoza with apples, honey and yogurt sauce

Third course:
Taiwanese-style “Three Cup” braised lamb with turnip-apple puree

Fourth course:
Lamb neck and baby kale salad with bacon vinaigrette

Fifth course:
Curry carrot ice cream with cinnamon-sugar dosa

As for the canapés (not including the one that inspired the recipe below), I’ll leave that a surprise. Please note the above menu is completely susceptible to changes both big and small, but since so many were asking what we’re cookin’, that’s what we’re looking at right now. Tickets are still on sale for the dinner if you’re curious!

These wonton chips and edamame hummus are probably the simplest offering of the night, and they make a great snack, a refreshing alternative to blah-brown chickpea hummus. Plus, fresh edamame’s in season! It’s spring, so you should be able to find just-plucked pods at many Greenmarket produce tents soon — which is where we’re sourcing our fresh edamame for the dinner. No idea yet how it will differ from the frozen kind I made here. If you’re searching, frozen bags of edamame are very cheap and ubiquitous in the freezer aisles of Asian grocery stores. Same for the wonton wrappers, in the refrigerated section, however. I chose the square wonton wrappers made with egg yolks, which is virtually the same thing as fresh Italian pasta dough. You can tell them apart from the non-egg because of their yellowish hue. Then again, this recipe could be 100% vegan if you opt for the basic noodle dough variety, which are white.

Welcome to the world of chip and dips, Asian ingredients. (And no, those deep-fried noodles dipped in packets of “duck sauce” doesn’t count.)

Edamame Hummus with Wonton Wrapper Chips
(makes about 1 cup of hummus and 24 chips)

1 cup frozen edamame
juice of half a lemon
1 garlic clove, chopped
4 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup water
12 square wonton wrappers, sliced in half diagonally to 24 triangles
toasted sesame seeds (optional)
salt

To make the chips: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat the bottom of a cookie sheet with about 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Place the wonton triangles in a single layer on top, and brush the tops with another tablespoon or so of the oil just so that each side is entirely moistened. Sprinkle with the optional sesame seeds. Bake for 5-6 minutes, or until the wonton wrappers have curled at the edges and are just lightly browned. Sprinkle with salt.

To make the edamame: Place the edamame in a steamer rack (or build a steamer by putting them inside a bowl; place the bowl inside a pot with 1-2 inches of water on the bottom and a lid to hold in the steam). Steam edamame for 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.

Combine edamame, lemon juice, garlic, and a sprinkle of salt in a blender and pulse several minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula occasionally. Add the water to help bring it to a smoother consistency as needed — adding more or less. Taste for seasoning.

Cost Calculator
(for 4-5 appetizer servings)

1 cup frozen edamame (from a 1 lb bag/$1.99): $0.50
12 wonton wrappers (from a packaged stack of 50 at $1.49): $0.35
4 tablespoons olive oil: $0.50
garlic clove, salt, optional sesame seeds: $0.10

$1.45 (whoa)

Health Factor

Four brownie points: This “other” version of hummus and chips is not only refreshing in flavor, but it’s so healthy it kind of defies our definition of chips with dip. Compared to chickpeas, edamame carries less calories, being less starchy. But it’s still a good source of protein and fiber. Then, I didn’t add any tahini (sesame paste) that’s usually found in large quantities in chickpea hummus, and is a naturally saturated-fatty food. So the edamame hummus above has only heart-healthy olive oil fats in addition to those naturally found in the bean. Finally, the crisped wonton chips are “baked, not fried,” and in my opinion, all the better for it. You can really taste the toasted, noodle-like flavor of them, and won’t get your hands covered in grease while eating.

Green Factor

Two maple leaves: Terrible! I have only my excuse that this recipe was a test-run for what will be a really, really green dish at the May Day dinner, with locally grown fresh edamame. The frozen kind I bought are actually not bad in quality, the beans freeze nicely, just like peas, but where they were grown, I have no idea. Maybe Japan. I suppose I could have also made the wonton wrappers from scratch, using local eggs, but these New Jersey-manufactured, Chinatown grocery-purchased premade ones are just so cheap and easy, plus sort of iconic, right?

31 Responses

  1. Jackie
    |

    Yum, sounds delicious. Definitely want to try some of this.
    The May Day menu is sounding scrumptious! Definitely let me know if I can lend a hand with recipe testing or anything else.
    Loving the sound of those pork belly lettuce wraps…yum 😉

  2. Nora
    |

    Oooh! The menu looks crazy good.

  3. Kerstin
    |

    I love the idea of an edamame hummus, how creative! Edamame are so addicting, so I know it would be super delicious!

  4. Mary
    |

    I’ve been wanting to make edamame hummus ever since I saw it on Good Eats, but this just motivates me even more – the wonton chip idea is awesome! Now I know what to bring to my next party.

  5. sea urchin
    |

    Where can I find edamame that are not from China? All the frozen edamame I’ve ever seen come from China even though the U.S. grows tons of soy.

  6. Adam
    |

    Really like this idea and all the great things you post on this blog.

  7. […] I baked them at the same time as when I was making my breakfast baskets! Ideal for dips, as noted here in the original recipe, I ate them plain and was very pleased with the taste and […]

  8. Johnnie
    |

    Wishing you and yours a very happy and prosperous new year !

  9. Matthew Perry
    |

    Tried it last night – Guac and corn chips it is not !!

    You are so right.

    Great menu idea

  10. Norberto Coaster
    |

    Hi,this apple is really a nice ,I like the elegant ability and the price,hope I can have one,Lee

  11. Lisa
    |

    This looks wonderful! Have to try it real soon, but I’ll have to look for a chip that has no wheat (mild sensitivity) or corn (no-no). Has anyone tried Beanitos? Aaaaaahhhhh….heaven! http://www.beanitos.com/

  12. low tsh
    |

    low tsh…

    […]Edamame Hummus with Wonton Wrapper Chips (and a May Day menu teaser) » Not Eating Out in New York[…]…

  13. how much gold should you invest in…

    […]Edamame Hummus with Wonton Wrapper Chips (and a May Day menu teaser) » Not Eating Out in New York[…]…

  14. What Is The HCG Diet
    |

    What Is The HCG Diet…

    […]Edamame Hummus with Wonton Wrapper Chips (and a May Day menu teaser) » Not Eating Out in New York[…]…

  15. movers san diego
    |

    What’s up, after reading this awesome paragraph i am also delighted to share my know-how here with colleagues.

    my web site – movers san diego

  16. Women were seen wearing them everywhere, from the mall, to the salon,
    to restaurants. Another thing to think about
    are the flowers the bridesmaids will wear. When standout
    fashions for little ladies matter, it is hard to beat the boutique clothing advantage.

    Stop by my blog :: celebrity wedding dress store in dallas

  17. real estate term glossary
    |

    On the other hand, if that same person buys a home, she is very unlikely to pay
    the entire purchase price with her own money.

    This is because they are too over-shopped and price breaks are not that high.
    Commercial real estate may be any property owned to make income; the property may well include apartments, complexes and industrial
    real estate.

    Feel free to surf to my website :: real estate term glossary

  18. A good place to start is by choosing the method of
    cabinet construction first: stock, semi-custom, or custom.
    Will any walls, especially load bearing walls,
    have to be knocked down. Here are the step-by-step instructions for refinishing old appliances in stainless steel paint, a home improvement project for women with old appliances but a modern sense of style.

    my blog post water heater pompano beach fl

  19. Source Phoenix SEO Training
    |

    Source Phoenix SEO Training

    Edamame Hummus with Wonton Wrapper Chips (and a May Day menu teaser) » Not Eating Out in New York

  20. http://199.192.26.4
    |

    Register yourself Right now at one of the most trusted online poker gambling sites that has proven payments! The gambling site is dewa poker. The game is guaranteed to run naturally and is also safe without bots!

  21. nice bjir, i like this site

  22. agen dewapoker
    |

    Anda dapat memainkan semua game ini di kamar darat atau jika Anda lebih suka bersantai di rumah, semua game online android menyenangkan dapat dimainkan di salah satu situs yang kami rekomendasikan. Berikut ini beberapa rekomendasi game terbaik untuk Anda.

  23. http://199.192.31.7/
    |

    You can play all of these games in the ground room or if you prefer to relax at home, all the fun online Android games can be played on one of the sites we recommend. Here are some of the best game recommendations for you.

  24. domino88 2020
    |

    lucky spin , big small , poker bid yang bisa anda dapatkan setiap harinya dan mysteri box yang bisa anda buka setiap minggunya. Ayo raih keuntungan hanya di Domino88. jika ada keluhan atau pertanyaan silahkan hubungi livechat kami yang siap melayani anda.

  25. abacasino.wiki
    |

    this is a great blog

  26. abacasino.bar
    |

    I think you can do with some photos to bring the message home a bit, but other than that

  27. mbahbola.vip
    |

    like you wrote a book in it or something

  28. bmwpoker.surf
    |

    “Amazing….!!!! I like your article. I know it is going to be hard but I’ll definitely take your tips in form reference. thanks again

  29. bmwpoker.fun
    |

    “Amazing….!!!!
    A few days ago I make a website now I am continuously trying to find that type of helpful material that helps me and now I am able to find it here.

  30. kopipoker.cc
    |

    “thank you so much for the article.
    it is a really great tips and i will experiment using it for my niche site!

  31. kopipoker.work
    |

    “That’s perfect design. your article really provides a good design motivation. Thanks again

Leave a Reply