Recipe: Roasted Radishes
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A Recipe for People Who Don’t Like Radishes
This spring we found ourselves with a bumper crop of radishes. It was a very welcome surprise after the garden issues we experienced last year. But it did leave us with a wonderful problem: What do you do with big bowls of radishes that are ready all at once? We took to social media to ask our neighbors around the world. We got lots of great ideas. Roasted radishes were highly recommended by many. Somehow this idea had never dawned on us as an option.
We started researching this idea and pulled recipes from all of our cookbooks and the internet. The one that follows has become our favorite. It is adapted from, “Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables.” One great bonus about this recipe is that it uses the whole plant. Very little goes to waste. Even though we compost at home, we still love the idea of using as much of what we grow as possible.
The real magic of this recipe is that these little gems don’t taste like radishes at all. They taste more like potatoes. The greens get a little crispy, and the roots are oh so tender. Which makes them the perfect recipe for people who don’t like radishes.
Tips for making this recipe
If you find that your radish greens are too far past their prime, have no fear. This recipe can be made without them. Another option is to throw in a handful a spinach instead.
Depending upon how much honey and chili flakes you use, they can be more sweet or spicy.
While I love the idea of preserving the harvest for days or months to come, these roasted radishes are so tasty that they don’t even make it to a serving dish before they disappear on our homestead. I can guarantee that next year I will be planning more garden space for radishes!
Roasted Radishes
Level: Easy | Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 20 minutes | Yield: 4 servings
EQUIPMENT
Cast iron pan
Tongs
Cutting board
Sharp kitchen knife
Measuring spoons
Stove
Oven
INGREDIENTS
1-2 bunches of radishes with greens
2 cloves garlic (garlic scapes can be substituted if you’ve got them)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons apple cider or red wine vinegar
1-2 tablespoons honey
Olive oil
1/2 teaspoon dried chili flakes
Flaky salt
Freshly ground pepper
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
Chop the garlic
Rinse and trim the tops off the radishes
Pick through the greens, reserving about half
Dry the greens, set aside
Heat a cast iron pan on the stove over medium heat
Add a glug of oil
Add the radish roots to the pan, toss to coat
Let the radishes cook about 2 minutes
Using the tongs, turn the radishes and let them cook another 2 minutes
Toss the radishes again, then place the pan in the oven for about 10 minutes or until starting to brown
Add the garlic and radish greens to the pan, mixing well
Cook in the oven for another 5 minutes or until the greens are wilted and the radishes are tender
Transfer the pan from the oven back to the stove
Over low heat, add the chili flakes plus a sprinkle of salt and pepper
Add the butter, letting it cook until slightly brown, about 2-3 minutes
Turn off the heat, add the honey and toss
Slowly add the vinegar, gently scraping to deglaze the pan
Add more salt and pepper if needed
Serving Suggestions
This dish is best served warm, straight from the pan. But it can be saved in the fridge and reheated if needed. In our house they don’t last long enough to even be transferred to a serving dish!
Notes
If your radish greens are past their prime, you can leave them out or add a small handful of spinach.
Depending upon your preferences, you can increase or decrease the honey and chili flakes in this recipe.
Older radishes, or those grown in hot weather, tend to be spicier. While this recipe greatly tones down their spice, you may want to add fewer chili flakes to this recipe during the summer.
Welcome to Wild Notes. In this series take a walk on the wild side with Kevin to see the natural world from the perspective of a seasoned naturalist. In this first article meet a pair of hunting American Kestrels.