Purple Radish Salad with Sesame Dressing

For an easy daikon radish recipe, look no further than this Purple Radish Salad! Sweet carrots, green onions, and a honey sesame dressing complement zesty radishes in this 10 minute vegetable side dish.

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Each time I have visited my local co-op over the past few weeks, the arrival of purple daikon radishes in the produce section has caught my eye. So I knew it was time to whip up a recipe that featured them!

These beautiful vegetables are, of course, a type of radish, which means they have a wonderfully crunchy texture and a spicy taste.

The zesty flavor of purple radishes is evident in this salad, but not overwhelming. That’s because I paired them with carrots and green onions, before finishing it all off with a sweet sesame dressing.

If you like radishes AND pretty, colorful food, you will LOVE this dish :-).

By the way, daikon radishes also come in white (pictured below). Purple daikons are shaped like ovals and look similar to potatoes, while white daikons resemble parsnips. Aren’t they cool-looking?

Since this is my first time featuring a daikon radish on the blog, I put together my answers to some FAQs about this unique vegetable.

How do you eat a purple daikon radish?

You can enjoy purple radishes raw or cooked. They can be shredded and used as the base for a veggie slaw, or diced and roasted with fresh herbs.

Both the skin and flesh of daikon radishes is edible (and delicious)! To prep this vegetable, first scrub and trim it, then use a sharp knife, grater, or julienne peeler to cut it.

Where to Find Daikon Radishes

Daikon radishes are native to parts of Asia but are now grown all over the world. You can purchase white and purple daikon radishes at farmers markets in the spring and fall, Whole Foods, local food co-ops, and most large grocery stores.

Purple Radish Nutrition

One cup of cooked daikon radish provides (1):

• Calories: 25
• Protein: 1 gram
• Fat: <1 gram
• Carbs: 5 grams
• Fiber: 2 grams
• Vitamin C: 24% of the DV
• Potassium: 9% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Folate: 6% of the DV

As you can see, daikons are an excellent source of vitamin C, a nutrient that acts as an antioxidant and helps fight cellular damage from free radicals, pollutants, and toxins that can lead to disease (2).

Purple Radish Health Benefits

On top of several vitamins and minerals, radishes contain other beneficial plant compounds.

Studies show that daikon radishes contain a variety of antioxidants, including quercetin, which may help fight inflammation and boost the immune system (3, 4).

In addition, purple radishes get their color from anthocyanins, another group of antioxidants that may help protect against cancer and improve heart health (5).

That’s reason enough to try them, huh?

How to Make Purple Radish Salad

This salad is such a simple way to enjoy purple radishes. Here’s the step-by-step guide on how to make it:

1. Wash and trim a daikon purple radish and a large carrot.
2. Use a sharp knife or julienne peeler to slice the radish and carrot into matchsticks. Combine in a mixing bowl.
3. Whisk together toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey, lime juice, and garlic. Pour over the radish and carrot.
4. Top with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Enjoy!

You can eat this salad right away or store in an airtight container in the fridge to let it soak up the dressing for a few hours before serving. It pairs well with fish, chicken, pork, stir fries, or veggie burgers.

For other radish recipes, be sure to check out the Loaded Radish Chip Nachos, Braised Radishes and Leeks, and Radish and Black Bean Tacos with Avocado Crema.

I’d love to hear how you like this recipe! Rate/review using the stars on the recipe card or in the comments, and follow the Veg World on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Looking for something totally different? Browse the recipe library.

Enjoy!

Lizzie