When you think of root vegetables, we bet you think of ones like carrots, potatoes, beets, and onions. While we’re all about all those more classic options (seriously, we LOVE potatoes), we’d love to shine some light on an oft overlooked option, the humble radish. Spicy when raw, mild when roasted, radishes add color and crunch to every recipe they’re in. TikTok is even questioning if radishes are the new cauliflower? We’re not sure we’d take it that far, but they are pretty impressive—check out our 20 radish recipes for ideas on what to do with these unappreciated beauties.
What do we mean when we say radish? The number of different varieties is nearly endless, but the most common are red radishes (red/pink skin, white on the inside—also known as table radishes), watermelon radish (light green on the outside, brilliantly hot pink or purple on the inside), daikon radish (long, usually white Asian radishes), French breakfast radishes (similar to red radish, but extra long and spicy), and Easter radishes (technically multiple types sold in a colorful red, pink, purple, and white bunch). They can largely be used interchangeably, though there are definitely applications that do better with one or another.
You’ll often see radishes on top of Mexican food like tacos or alongside a veggie dip as crudité, and if you’re new to them, we definitely recommend slicing up some red ones and trying them as a garnish. They can add a lovely bite and crunch to almost anything, and will take your presentation to the next level. Check out our brown butter radish crostini or bacon pea salad to see what we mean—we could have added a number of other vegetables instead, but we love the pop of pink and earthy spice radishes bring to the plate. Want to branch out further? You’ve gotta try daikon radishes. You may have already encountered them without even knowing—they’re a staple in recipes like Korean kimchi and Vietnamese banh mi, and are great pickled. Check out our pickled daikon (we add turmeric to ours to make it a delightful yellow) or our beet-pickled pickles (beets turn them a gorgeous bright pink). If the mild spice of all these is a turn off, don’t worry—try cooking them instead! When sautéed or roasted, they become incredibly sweet and tender, without losing their color or crunch. Check out our pasta primavera or our grilled swordfish with hazelnut miso sauce recipes to see how they can elevate a dish.
Oh, and in case you’re wondering, horseradish (a staple in Bloody Mary’s and shrimp cocktail sauce) is not a radish. The more you know!
Want more spring produce inspiration? Check out our favorite rhubarb recipes, asparagus recipes, and strawberry desserts too.
Pasta Primavera
This delicate, luscious pasta is the epitome of spring, showcasing under-appreciated fresh produce, like red radishes. Though cherry radishes can be a little spicy, when sautéed or roasted, they become incredibly sweet and tender. Less important, but still worth noting, they also turn the most perfect shade of pink, adding a lovely pop of springy color to this pasta dish. 😍
Get the Pasta Primavera recipe.
Classic Banh Mi
It's undeniable. A Vietnamese Banh Mi is the PERFECT sandwich. Rich, savory meat combined with bright and crunchy homemade pickled daikon and carrots stuffed into a fluffy baguette; what's not to love?! We're extra into this version because it requires minimal ingredients but still packs a powerful punch of flavor.
Get the Classic Banh Mi recipe.
Brown Butter Radish Crostini
As is customary in France, we went the butter and salt route for these crostini, but took it a step further. Cue sweet, caramelized brown butter, whipped into an unctuous cloud: the perfect foil for paper-thin radish rounds. Finished with some flaky sea salt, a sprinkling of thyme, and a hit of fresh lemon juice, and this little root veggie will get ALL the attention it deserves.
Get the Brown Butter Radish Crostini recipe.
Fauxtato Chips
Craving chips, but avoiding potatoes? We get it. Try these crispy, salty, light-as-air radish version that are a million times better than the carb-y alternative. Try them dipped in homemade ranch dressing or garlic hummus—we bet you won't even miss the potato!
Get the Fauxtato Chips recipe.
Bacon Pea Salad
When you think pea salad, you might envision a heavy, mayonnaise-based side dish. Those are great in their own right, but we decided to lighten things up a bit for our extra springy version. This one is fresh and crunchy—thanks to radishes and red cabbage—and has the most addicting bacon vinaigrette you might just be tempted to pour over everything.
Get the Bacon Pea Salad recipe.
Grilled Swordfish with Hazelnut Miso Sauce
These swordfish steaks, shallots, and radishes are simply seasoned with olive oil, salt, and pepper. After a quick-ish grill, they are dressed with a nutty, salty, sweet, and umami-packed hazelnut miso sauce that will blow your mind.
Kimchi Tofu Stew
This vegetarian soup is both spicy and savory, thanks to a hefty dollop of gochujang (a fermented chili paste) and a mixture of fresh ginger, garlic, scallions, and sliced red radishes.
Get the Kimchi Tofu Stew recipe.
Pickled Daikon
Known as danmuji in Korean cuisine, pickled radish is a sweet, salty, crispy affair. It can be served as a part of small side dishes known as banchan, or used in staple recipes like kimbap. Traditional danmuji is dyed yellow by gardenia fruit, but in a pinch, dried or fresh turmeric can give your radish pickles a bright golden pop too.
Get the Pickled Daikon recipe.
Bánh Mì Kebabs
A classic bánh mì is one of the world's great sandwiches. An ideal way to get that classic taste? With these kebabs! Par-cooked carrots and slightly sweet daikon radish grill up nicely with thick pieces of pork chop. And they're perfectly matched with a straightforward combo of fish sauce, soy sauce, and honey.
Get the Bánh Mì Kebabs recipe.
Beet-Pickled Pickles
Crunchy, slightly sweet, and seeded with fennel, caraway, and coriander, these radish, carrot, and onion pickles are gorgeously pink and deliciously simple. Truly, they're the perfect topping to add a little pop of color and flavor to any meal.
Get the Beet-Pickled Pickles recipe.
Tofu Banh Mi
Though a traditional banh mi features Vietnamese-style pork cold cuts, you can get creative with your sandwich fillings. As long as you've got the classic pickled daikon and carrots, cilantro, mayo, and a fluffy baguette, you can go with whatever protein you like!
Get the Tofu Banh Mi recipe.
Garden Greens and Pumpernickel Panzanella
Toasted bread, watermelon radishes, and a zesty mustard dressing bring this summer panzanella to another level.
Get the Garden Greens and Pumpernickel Panzanella recipe from Good Housekeeping.
Sliced Radish and Radish Leaf Toasts with Lemon Butter
Radish leaves add a bright hue and lend a spicy punch to these bite-sized toasts that make the best addition to any spring party.
Get the Sliced Radish and Radish Leaf Toasts with Lemon Butter recipe from Country Living.
Radish and Celery Salad with Lemon-Tarragon Dressing
Fresh radishes and a simple tart-sweet dressing make this spring salad sing. You can make the dressing and salad up to 1 day ahead, but don’t toss together until just before serving.
Get the Radish and Celery Salad with Lemon-Tarragon Dressing from Country Living.
Spring Salad with Radishes
This simple spring salad recipe is bursting with fresh seasonal flavor.
Get the Spring Salad with Radishes recipe from The Pioneer Woman.
Miso-Glazed Radishes
Miso, a fermented soybean paste, adds saltiness to roasted radishes for a quick and easy Easter side dish perfect for spring.
Get the Miso-Glazed Radishes recipe from Good Housekeeping.
Garlicky Roasted-Radish Bruschetta
This bright bruschetta makes the perfect spring starter. Radishes roasted with garlic are a lovely, spicy, crunchy topping to pile on top of toast.
Get the Garlicky Roasted-Radish Bruschetta recipe from Good Housekeeping.
Vegan Caesar Salad
There’s never a bad time to serve Caesar salad, and this vegan version is a crowd-pleasing lunch or healthy side dish that anyone can enjoy, no matter their dietary preferences (meat lovers, you’ll love this too!).
Get the Vegan Caesar Salad recipe from Good Housekeeping.
Shaved Carrot and Radish Salad
Beautiful carrot ribbons and thinly sliced radishes get dressed in a beautifully sweet and tart honey and citrus juice lemon vinaigrette for the ultimate spring salad, full of flavor and fresh produce.
Get the Shaved Carrot and Radish Salad recipe from Good Housekeeping.
Hot Honey-Roasted Salmon and Radishes
Fresh jalapeño-infused honey and spicy radish greens give this flaky baked salmon a one-two punch of flavor.
Get the Hot Honey-Roasted Salmon and Radishes from Woman's Day Kitchen.
Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.
