Red, rounded, crunchy, crisp, and slightly piquant. I love red radishes, don’t you? Growing up they were always on my mother’s table, served on top of her home cooked pozole or as a topping to the countless other Mexican dishes she prepared for the family. I’ve continued doing the same for my kitchen and family. Right now at my local green grocers there are beautiful mounds of vibrant green leaves and red bulbs begging to be taken home. Soon the selection will not be as pretty, and so one must take advantage of it and purchase several bunches. Just incase your grocery store is also overflowing with these beauties, I thought I’d share some facts and delicious ways of eating red radishes. Enjoy!
Facts:
– Radishes are available year-round in most areas. (Sadly, not mine.)
– Their spicy taste stimulates the production of salvia and rouses appetite.
– They have large amounts of vitamin C.
– They are part of the same cruciferous plant family as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, brussels sprouts, etc. All are said to have anti-cancer properties.
– Radish greens are edible and they taste great! I like to use them in curries and soups as a spinach substitute.
– They act as a natural decongestant and contain antibacterial and antiviral properties; good for the coming cold season.
– Are a very low calorie food, one cup of sliced radishes have 19 calories.
– Red radishes are just one of the many varieties. There are white, black, and multicolored ones too. Some are round, others short and long and others, like the daikon, are very long.
– The older, or longer it is allowed to grow, the spicier the radish.
– In the Mexican city of Oaxaca a festival, called Night of the Radishes or La Noche de Rábanos, is dedicated to radishes and celebrated every year on December 23. The festival is part of the Christmas celebrations.
Eat Them Up, Yum! (Thank you to social media friends who contributed their favorite ways of eating radishes.)
– Raw, sliced with a little bit of salt and/or butter.
– Sliced on top of buttered toast for tea or snack time.
– Grilled, sauteed or oven roasted with a little olive oil and sea salt.
– Pickled alongside red onions and habanero peppers for a spicy taco topping.
– Use them as part of a filling for zucchini blossoms like in this recipe, Zucchini Blossoms filled with Radish and Herb Cream Cheese by Acquired Life
– Make them into chutney like in this recipe, Orange Radish Chutney
– Make them into this soup, Piquant Radish Soup with Crème Fraîche
– Mixed them into tuna or egg salad to add a little crunch.
– Turn them into a dip for other veggies, crackers or bread.
– Use the greens in salads, soups, stews and curries in place of other greens.
Tell me, what is your favorite radish variety and how do you like to eat them?
P.S.
I’ve created a Spicie Foodie fan page on Facebook and would love it if you could give me a Like. https://www..com/SpicieFoodie.FanPage Please share the page with your friends, family, coworkers or anyone that loves food.:) Thanks so much!
I have some radishes growing in the garden this year. I love adding them to just about anything, just to give a bit of bite and color :D. Oh and the greens are one of my favorites to saute or braise and then add to rice.
You must have such a lush garden Rochelle:)
I never knew radishes were a natural decongestant! Useful to know – it’s allergy season here (when is it not?!) so I should eat more radishes. Terrific post – thanks.
Definitely a plus during this season. Thanks John!
Oh I love radishes and when I’ve read Jitterbug Perfume from Tom Robbins I loved them even more haha!
Thanks for the book tip Katerina, I will have to pickup a copy.
Great facts and wonderful pictures! I enjoyed reading this post.
Cheers,
Rosa
Thanks Rosa!
Radishes are so yummy! We can grow a few crops here during our mild winters!
That’s great, I’d love to grow my own too.
I have to go grab some from the market now. Thanks a lot for all the tips and ways to enjoy em’. I liked your fb page yesterday.
Enjoy your radishes, Ash. Thanks for liking:)
Very beautiful shots and great facts about this veggie. I have learned to love them more with age. I guess my mom got the older ones. Other ideas: I have made a radish salsa once and Battered radish leaves.
Oh! The greens are edible too! Well yeah all parts should be edible but I admit I have been throwing them away. What a shame! I’m going to add them in curry! Thanks so much for the great adivce I got today!
I made lots of radish roses and blossoms when I was catering. Sadly I can count the times on one hand that I’ve eaten them. Now that I know all of the health benefits that will change. Thanks for the list.
Wow, thanks for this post Nancy…I sure learned a lot about radish….and the pictures are awesome, as usual.
Hope you are having a wonderful week :D
Love radishes…red, white, black..I LOVE them.
Radish is one veggie I don’t use much… now that must change. :)
Beautiful photo’s Nancy! I’ve never thought about using radishes in a soup before, it’s intriguing!
Janie x
I love to use the greens in pesto. Carrot tops are great for that, too.
We always wondered what to do with radishes except using them raw in salads:)
Thank you Nancy!!!
I love radish, all types of radish, but I think these little red ones are my favorite. Unfortunately, the husband is not a fan, but I do love the idea of topping pozole with them. I got him to love cabbage on pozole, so maybe it would work with radish as well. Lots of other great ideas your provide. I especially love the idea of mixing them into tuna and egg salads. YUM!