Looking for a good side dish to share while you wait on your sushi? At I Love Sushi’s Seattle restaurant, you can’t beat a simple plate of good, old fashioned edamame. This is a boiled and salted dish of soybeans, representing a long-time favorite among Japanese diners for both its taste and its nutritional value.

What makes edamame particularly good for you is that it is a “complete protein”, which is rare among non-animal-based foods. This means that it contains all nine of the essential amino acids. Edamame is the only complete protein in the vegetable world, which accounts for why soy-based products are a popular alternative to meats for vegetarians and vegans. A single half cup of soy beans gives you eleven grams of protein, as well as a healthy dose of calcium, zinc, iron, vitamin C, and several B vitamins. Try it out for yourself at I Love Sushi.