Rradishes often get cast as an add-on to salads, but we’re big fans of this peppery, crunchy veg. Wondering what to do with your radishes? Curious about their history? We’ve got answers for you!

REAP THE BENEFITS  

  • 100g of radishes (around 8) provides over one third of your daily intake of vitamin C.  
  • The also contain fibre and are good for your digestive system  
  • Radishes and other members of the Brassica family are rich in antioxidants and have been linked with helping to fight many types of cancer  
  • Radishes contain a whopping 96% water, so are good for keeping you hydrated  
  • Radishes are very good for the liver, kidneys and stomach, acting as a powerful detoxifier  
  • Radishes can be helpful in treating urinary tract infections, as they increase the production of urine. Radish juice also helps reduce inflammation and burning sensations during urination. 

HISTORY BITES  

The first written records that mention radishes come from the third century BC. When the Americas were first colonised, the radish was one of the earliest vegetables to be brought over from Europe.

Test Kitchen Tips  

Do you find radishes too bitter? Try one of the following methods…  

SOAK THEM

If you’re eating the radishes raw, soak them first. Cut them into thin slices, then place in a bowl of iced water and set aside for an hour or two. The chill actually sweetens them slightly. You can then pop them onto crudités boards or into fresh salads, like this carrot and roasted pumpkin seed salad.

COOK THEM

Searing, roasting and braising bitter vegetables like radishes caramelises the edges and makes the bitter notes less intense.  

ADD SWEETNESS

Bitter vegetables respond well to hints of sweetness. Add a little extra sugar or honey to vinaigrettes for salads, or combine bitter veggies with naturally sweet vegetables like carrots. 

ADD ACID

Lemon juice or vinegar can help to round out bitterness. 

Fun facts

  • The world’s heaviest radish was grown in Japan in 2003 and weighed 31.1kg!  
  • The word radish means “root,” and comes from the Latin radix.  
  • The Night of the Radishes is a festival in Oaxaca, Mexico, that falls on December 23rd every year and is focused around nativity scenes carved out of radishes.