Daikon is a white root that looks something like a white carrot. The daikon has a sharp, spicy flavor similar to the radish but a bit milder. This tasty vegetable is a staple in many Asian dishes and is enjoyed raw, cooked or pickled. Following are some of the best ways to enjoy this marvelous tuber.
- Rainbow Slaw Salad Recipe
Here is a tasty new take on the traditional coleslaw. Rather than cabbage as is custom, try shredding up a few daikons for a zesty and tasty treat.
- Roast ’em!
Chop your daikon into bite-sized cubes and add them to your next pot roast or roasted veggie dish. The flavor profile pairs well with dishes from all types of cuisines but does something magic for your traditional Asian-style dishes.
- Expand Your Garden
Looking for a way to get your children interested in plants, living things and gardening? Daikon is fun to grow and even better when you get to enjoy the produce from your own thought and planning. And it’s worth mentioning that daikon makes a great cool weather crop. It is a fast-growing plant that produces attractive tiny white flowers. Your tubers will be ready in just over two months and you will have no problem convincing your kids to try some of their own handiwork.
- Daikon Radish Roast
There is nothing like a simple roast to maximize the flavor and aromatic profile of the delicious daikon. Cut up your daikon into bite-sized cubes and place in a baking pan with an assortment of other veggies. Carrots, onions and corn chopped into golden circles are some good accompanying options. Add some low-sodium seasoning and low-sodium beef broth to the pan and allow to simmer in the pan until the veggies are tender. You can even add some cuts of beef to this recipe for a meal in itself.
- Add More Vitamin C!
Daikon boasts a whopping 22mg of Vitamin C for each 100 gram, but we can do better than that. Mangos and carrots are also high in vitamin C and can be used in creating a powerful antioxidant fruit and veggie smoothie. Add 1 cup of fresh mangos, to ¼ a cup of carrot juice and ¼ cup of shredded daikon. You can add ice cubes till it is the temperature and consistency you’d like.
- Apple Salad, Chicken Tortas, and Potato Salad Recipes
You can substitute some of your favorite fruits and veggies for daikon in all sorts of tasty recipes. Any recipe that calls for radishes, will instantly be kicked up a notch with this delicious ingredient.
- Baked, Boiled or Steamed… like a Carrot
If you can do it with a carrot, there is a whole new level of fun to swapping the sweet flavors of carrots with the zest and spice of a daikon. You can add them baked, boiled or steamed for in any type of soups, stews or fries that you can think of. Steamed with a small amount of olive oil, salt and lemon juice really brings out their naturally delicious flavors.
- Eat ’em Raw
Slice them up like carrot sticks and you may find they taste just great. Some people even like to add some peanut butter as well.
- Radish … Cake?
Absolutely, this traditional recipe is for a Japanese dish called daikon mocha. Begin by shredding up some daikon radishes and adding rice flour, other chopped veggies and shrimp powder, traditionally, this would then be fried till golden brown. You can make a healthier version of this by toasting the cakes lightly in olive or coconut oil and brown them to perfection on either side.
- Homemade Asian Take-Out
Hungry for that greasy yummy take out? Make it yourself with this simple to follow recipe. Slice up some daikon into thin discs and combine this with some other choice veggies, brown rice and a single egg. If you can source some low-sodium soy sauce to this dish you will make the whole thing so much better. If you can’t, add the soy sauce in at the very end, this way you will need less to provide more flavor. Stir-fry these ingredients together until they are cooked to perfection and serve in a box.
In Conclusion
So, in the end, daikon is an exciting new veggie from Asia with multiple applications to your healthy eating habits. And now you have 10 fascinating ways to include more daikon in your regular diet.
