Edamame Guacamole – Making Thyme for Health

Inspired by True Food Kitchen, this guacamole sneaks in edamame for a protein-packed dip that is loaded with flavor.

I’m not usually one to dine at chain restaurants but True Food Kitchen is a chain I can actually get behind. I love that they focus on seasonal whole foods and feature a variety of plant-based options. Their miso glazed sweet potatoes will forever have my heart but a close second is their edamame guacamole. I’m a fiend for guacamole and the fact that you can eat copious amounts of it while also getting some protein, is simply genius. Bring on the tortilla chips!

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Edamame– you’ll want to buy preshelled edamame to save time.
• Avocado- obviously, perfectly ripe avocados are most ideal. I usually buy them when they’re hard as a rock then let them ripen on the counter for 3-4 days and they are always perfect.
• Red onion- because we’re not cooking the onion, I suggest using red onion as it has the best flavor.
• Garlic– fresh garlic is a must for this recipe. Yes, you could use garlic powder in a pinch but it just won’t be as good.
• Cilantro- if you hate cilantro then just leave it out.
• Lime/Lemon Juice- some of you might find it strange that the recipe calls for both lime and lemon juice but trust me, the hint of lemon makes the guacamole pop in your mouth. I always use both and while you technically don’t have to, I encourage you to at least give it a try that way and see what you think.
• Salt– does this really need an explanation? It’s a necessity for salt lovers like myself.
• Jalapeño– you’ll see that I did not use jalapeño in my photos which is because I was hopeful that my toddler would eat this guacamole like he ate it at True Foods Kitchen. Spoiler alert: he didn’t. If you like a hint of spice, be sure to include it. Otherwise, it isn’t essential.

Tips for Making the Best Edamame Guacamole

If you’re like me you’re probably thinking you can just throw everything in the food processor and call it a day. Well, it’s almost that easy but you’ll want to do it in a few steps.

Why? To avoid a gritty, grainy texture. 

1. Process the edamame and half of the avocado until the edamame is finely chopped. I recommend using the pulse option on the food processor to keep from over blending. You’ll also need to scrape down the sides in between blending to get it evenly chopped.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and pulse until a blended but chunky texture is achieved. The chunks of avocado will compliment the texture of the edamame so you don’t want it too smooth here.
3. Taste test to see if you prefer more acid (lemon/lime juice), or salt. Add as desired.
4. Serve and enjoy!

Do I really need a food processor?

While I think using a food processor makes for a much faster and easier preparation, you could technically make this without a food processor.

I would suggest finely chopping the edamame by hand then mashing it with avocado, then stirring in the remaining ingredients by hand.

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