Five Element Edamame Salad

I had several bags of Edamame in the freezer left over from Chinese New Year and I'm on a mission to use up all the food in there. So, I decided to make a salad and was determined to put in as many ingredients as I needed to create a Five Element balance in one dish. Luckily, Edamame is full of protein so nothing else was needed to fill me up.  What I did was cook and shell the Edamame and added Mu'Er (Dried Black Fungus), which I have previously talked about as being an amazing blood thinner, along with Red Pepper, Carrot Pieces, Green Onions and Mustard Greens. The dressing was a combination of Seasoned Rice Vinegar, Sesame Oil, Oil, Garlic and Chinese Mustard. This salad was so delicious, very healthful and so beautiful too!

Five Element Edamame Salad

1 heaping cup shelled (and cooked) Edamame (can buy already shelled from Trader Joe's)

1 Red Pepper (or 2 Tomatoes), destemmed, deseeded and cut into a small dice

1 large Carrot, peeled, stem end removed and cut into a small dice

1 handful of Mustard Greens (or Kale), torn into bite size pieces

4 thin Spring Onions (or 2 green onions) cut into small pieces

1/2 cup Mu'er, rehydrated in boiling water for 10 minutes, cut into small pieces

3 Tablespoons Rice Wine Vinegar

2 Tablespoons Toasted Sesame Oil

1 teaspoon Tamari

1 Tablespoon Safflower Oil

1 scant teaspoon Chinese Mustard (can also use Dijon)

1 Garlic Clove, minced

1/2 teaspoon Salt

1/8 teaspoon Fresh Black Pepper

In a small bowl, mix together the Rice Wine Vinegar, Sesame Oil, Safflower Oil, Chinese Mustard, Garlic, Salt and Pepper. 

In a salad bowl, combine the Edamame, Red Pepper, Carrot, Mustard Greens, Spring Onion and Mu'er. Pour on the dressing and toss to coat. Let marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes up to several hours before serving.

Five Element Analysis

Well as the recipe name tells you, all Five Elements are present in this salad. The Edamame brings in the Water Element and the Sesame Oil and Tamari add even more.  The Mustard Greens bring in the Wood Element and since they are also a bit pungent, they also contribute a little of the Metal Element too. The Metal Element is further supported but the Spring Onion, Garlic and Mustard.  The Fire Element is brought in by the Red Pepper  and the Carrots contribute the Earth Element making this a perfectly balanced Five Element salad!