Radishes are quick, easy to grow, and a great veggie to add to your table. Here are the best ways to eat radishes you have grown in ways that everyone will love!
When I first started growing radishes, I honestly didn’t know how I was going to eat them or if my family was going to like the radishes. I pulled these beautiful red bulbs out out the ground I made it a priority to make sure they were eaten, preserved and fully enjoyed!
Can you eat radishes raw?
Yes! It is perfectly okay to eat a raw radish. Many people eat their radishes raw in slices on salads or on tacos. Shortly after taking this picture my son took a large bite right out of his radish. I don’t think he would have eaten a raw radish if it were on his dinner plate, but because he harvested it himself, he gobbled it up.
Are radishes better cooked or raw?
So, a raw radish can have somewhat of a spicy taste that may be hard for some to handle. When a radish is cooked, fermented, or pickled that taste goes away and in my opinion, is much tastier. However, I do like the raw radish kick in a taco, but not to eat plain.
Can you eat radishes leaves?
You can eat radish leaves. The leaves are nutritious and worth eating. My beef with radish leaves are that they are somewhat stiff and sometimes poky. The way I get around that is by washing, chopping them and then freezing the leaves to add to my smoothies.
Use the radish leaves as a replacement or supplement to kale or spinach that you add to your smoothie. I don’t notice a difference in taste at all and love providing my own smoothie greens from the garden!
How to ferment radishes
Anytime I can ferment a veggie I will. I love incorporating beneficial bacteria in our diet any time I can. Not all vegetables ferment well but radishes do great. Follow this post for how to ferment your radishes.
Fermenting is a great way to preserve your harvest too! I usually harvest a large bunch of radishes and ferment them. Then we have some in the fridge for use for months to come.
How to pickle radishes
Pickled radishes are super easy. I usually follow this recipe for the ratio of water and vinegar. Super easy recipe and doesn’t take any skill in the kitchen to make. These seem to have more of a sweet taste while fermented radishes are more tangy.
How to eat radishes
Here are a few ways that our family loves to eat radishes:
Fermented or pickled: When you eat radishes that are fermented or pickled they taste pretty good on their own. We will pull our our jar of fermented radishes as a side to lunch or as a snack. The kids call them radish chips!
Roasted: Chop your radishes into halves or quarters and add them to a bowl. Add olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika and any other seasonings you enjoy. Spread on a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes. They will look golden and crispy when done. Great side dish for any meal!
Pizza topping: This is literally my favorite way to eat radishes. We make our sourdough garden pizza and chop the radishes pretty small and sprinkle them on top. Super delicious and my kids eat them up. This is a good way to incorporate radishes in a more hidden way for the skeptical ones in your family.
Salad topping: Our family loves fermented radishes on their salads. We love making a big salad from whatever we can gather from the garden or farmers market, top it with fermented radishes and roasted chicken! Super fresh and tasty.
We have some children who prefer their salads deconstructed and will eat their fermented “radish chips” plain.
Tacos: Radishes are a common topping on tacos. You can top them as is or ferment or pickle them. I have tried all of these ways and it is super tasty any way you do it.
Now you have some inspiration on how to eat radishes! Go ahead and give them a try, you wont be disappointed!
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