The humble radish isn't appreciated nearly enough. It grows extremely easily from seed, is quicker than Speedy Gonzalas (most radishes are ready to harvest in about 25 days), and is one of the first crops available in the spring. We should celebrate it more, grow it more, eat it more! 

Don't like the peppery flavor of radishes? No worries! There are plenty of ways around that! Some radishes don't have that peppery flavor at all (try daikon or sweet varieties), and even those classic red peppery radishes can be eaten in such a way that their "bite" completely disappears.

Here are some of my favorite ways to celebrate radishes each year:

1. Turn 'em into dip.

This super simple recipe combines radishes and cream cheese to make a zesty dip for chips, crackers, cucumber slices, or even pork rinds. This is a great treat for movie night or for when you have guests over.

2. Turn 'em into salsa.

Who doesn't love fresh salsa? But you can make yours more unique by adding radishes, as in this recipe from Delish.

3. Use 'em in beef stew.

This amazes people. I take ordinary, peppery radishes and pop them whole or halved into a soup or stew, then pressure cook. (You can use a slow cooker or the stove top, if you prefer.) When the meal is done cooking, the radishes don't taste AT ALL peppery! Click here for my beef stew with radishes recipe.

Beef Stew with Radishes.

4. Roast 'em.

I do love me some roasted veggies, and radishes are a good choice for this cooking method. Martha Stewart Living gives a good recipe for this simple-to-create side dish.

5. Make "Loaded Radishes."

It's true that radishes are often used as a low carb alternative to potatoes...and this recipe by That Low Carb Life is pretty darn tasty. I mean, what doesn't taste great with cheese, sour cream, and bacon slathered on top? Don't expect the radishes to taste exactly like potatoes and remember that the longer you cook the veg, the less peppery they will be.

"Loaded" radish recipe by That Low Carb Life.

6. Throw 'em in the air fryer.

Air frying radishes is similar to roasting radishes, and the resulting food has just a bit of peppery flavor left behind.  You can air fry radishes halved or quartered, or you can make them into radish chips. Or, for a special treat, try Pinch of Yum's cinnamon sugar radish chips.

7. Turn 'em into "hashbrowns." 

Let's be clear: These do not taste like potato hash browns. But I hear they DO taste great! (They include eggs, which I SADLY cannot tolerate, so I can not offer my personal opinion on this recipe by Low Carb Yum.) That said, I sometimes grate radishes and saute them in a well oiled pan. Season with sea salt and pepper and garnish with some chives and you've got a yummy side dish.

Radish "Hashbrown" recipe by Low Carb Yum.

8. Braise 'em.

Braising can make foods taste a little bland...but it does a good job of taking the bite out of radishes, if you don't like their peppery flavor. The trick is to add lots of flavor back to the dish. This recipe with bacon, butter, shallots, and balsamic vinegar is just the thing!

9. Make 'em into Slaw.

Take boring old coleslaw and turn it into something special with the addition of radishes, as shown in this recipe.

10. Grill 'em.

This method still keeps a bit of that classic radish bite. I Breathe I'm Hungry has a delicious butter and herb recipe you definitely should try.

Grilled Radishes by I Breathe, I'm Hungry.

 

11. Pickle 'em.

It's super easy to make refrigerator pickles with radishes. These make a tasty snack, or an addition to a salad or sandwich. I use the recipe over at Simply Delicious, but omit the sugar. You can also ferment radishes, which gives them real pickled flavor that's packed with probiotics.

12. Eat 'em buttered.

This is a very French way of eating radishes, especially breakfast radishes: Slice the radish, salt it with good sea salt, and smear it with good butter. You'll be surprised how the butter removes the "bite" in table radishes!

11. Saute 'em.

Radishes. Bacon drippings. Shallots. Thyme. Garlic....oh my. Just try it. Sauteed radishes also make a great potato substitute in breakfast hash. Use this recipe for inspiration.

12. Don't forget radish leaves!

While radish leaves can seem too prickly to eat, those prickles disappear once they are cooked. Try sauteing them like any other green, or turn them into soup or pesto. You can even use them in place of spinach in a quiche.

13. Radish seed pods are yummy, too!

If you leave the radishes in the garden too long and they develop seed pods - no worries! Just eat the seed pods!

Finally, don't forget to check out the radish recipes in my book A Vegetable for Every Season!

* Cover image courtesy of OakleyOriginals.