Edamame, or soybeans in the pod, shouldn't be relegated to date night at your local Japanese joint. With just 120 calories per serving (1/2 cup shelled or about 1 1/8 cups in the pod), edamame packs a powerful nutrient punch. In fact, it's so crammed with fiber, you'd have to eat 10 cups of chopped Romaine to get the fiber found in 1/2 cup of edamame (9 grams). The little legumes are also loaded with protein (11 grams/serving), iron (unusual for a plant food) and vitamins A and C, two very potent antioxidants. Check out my fiery way to serve them in the recipe below. I typically use the microwave-ready, steamable, frozen bags of edamame and I used those to test this recipe. Let me know what you think!

Boil the edamame pods in water until tender, about 8 minutes, or follow the microwave directions on the package.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, combine the salt, chili powder, oregano, chipotle powder and garlic powder. Set the pan over medium heat and cook until the spices are hot and aromatic, about 3 minutes, shaking the pan frequently for even cooking. Add the warm edamame pods and toss to coat. Serve warm.