Heart-Healthy Valentine: Wok-Fried Edamame with Garlic and Chiles

Take care of your heart this Valentine's Day. (Get it?) Here are some tips that will protect your ticker with a sense of romance.


Have a glass of wine.
A recent study says that moderate alcohol intake, especially wine drinking, boosts omega-3 levels in the body. These fatty acids, also found in salmon and other fish, can protect against heart disease.


Listen to some upbeat music.
Play some joyful music in the background as you celebrate with your sweetheart. These tunes can make your blood vessels to dilate and thus increase blood flow.


Prepare these edamame.
Eaten regularly, edamame can lower cholesterol levels and decrease your risk of a heart attack. So spice up your night with these!


Wok-Fried Edamame with Garlic and Chiles
From Bon Appetit.
Makes six to eight appetizer servings.

1 pound unshelled freash or frozen edamame (soybeans)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons oyster sauce
1 jalapeno chile (preferably red), seeded and finely minced
1 teaspoon Asian sesame oil
2 teaspoons peanut oil
2 teaspoons minced peeled fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced

Cook edamame in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 5 minutes; drain.

Transfer edamame to bowl of ice water to cool. Drain, pat dry and set aside.

Stir soy sauce, oyster sauce, jalapeno and sesame oil in a small bowl. Set aside.

Heat peanut oil in heavy large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add ginger and garlic; saute until beginning to brown, about 1 minute. Add edamame and stir to heat through, about 2 minutes. Add soy sauce mixture; stir 1 minute to coat evenly and heat through. Transfer to platter and serve.

(These keep nicely in the refrigerator if you have leftovers and are yummy served cold or reheated for several days after you first prepare them.)