Daikon is a winter radish that is especially prominent in Asian cuisines, specifically Japanese cuisine. It looks like a very large white carrot and has a subtle peppery taste.
Many people prefer daikon over small red radishes as they are milder in flavor. They are very versatile and can absorb other flavors well.
Below we have compiled a list of 18 delicious recipes, so you can try daikon to its full potential.
1. Pickled Daikon
Pickling your daikon is one of the more traditional ways of preparing it. This recipe uses chilis to give the daikon a sweet and spicy flavor.
The end result is a crunchy and morish snack that only takes a few hours at a minimum to pickle.
It is common to pickle carrots with the daikon since they have a similar texture. That way you get 2 different flavored pickled vegetables in the same jar.
2. Daikon Radish Steaks With Wild Mushroom Ragu
This recipe slices the daikon into large disks and then pan fries them to make them wonderfully crispy. This is a unique take on daikon and works strangely well.
Paired with a mushroom ragu which is packed full of shallot, garlic, and thyme, this whole dish is perfect for a cold winter night.
The daikon in the recipe is working as a meat replacement, so it’s perfect for vegetarians.
3. Daikon Miso Soup (Niboshi Dashi)
Is there anything better than a hearty soup?
Miso soup has a wonderful umami flavor which is quintessential to Japanese cuisine. This recipe not only includes daikon radish with its miso soup but also its leaves. This adds a pop of color to your meal.
To make this soup even more feel-good, it also includes deep-fried tofu. You get a little hint of sweetness in your soup which works perfectly with the peppery taste of the daikon.
4. Steak Summer Rolls
The ultimate summer finger food. These rolls are full of pickled daikon and carrot as well as marinated steak.
The pickled carrots and daikon are slightly spicy which match the Asian-inspired marinade. The steak is marinated overnight in soy sauce, garlic, and sugar.
This recipe calls for cilantro, but you don’t need to add it if you don’t like it. As with the nature of fresh spring rolls, you can add any ingredients you like to them. Our personal favorites are Thai basil and cucumber.
To top it all off, you get to dip the roll in a spicy peanut sauce.
5. Slow Cooker Chicken Wings
We love a good slow cooker recipe. You get to throw all of your ingredients into it and then 5 hours later you get a delicious meal. It sounds like pure magic and this recipe helps to prove that it is.
You get super tender chicken, flavorful boiled eggs, and daikon which has absorbed the ginger soy sauce broth.
6. Coconut Poussin With Green Vegetables
Possibly the most unique recipe on this list. While the coconut milk and lemongrass marinated poussin sound delicious, the real star of the show is the green vegetables and dressing.
Consisting of daikon, broccoli, kale, and cucumber, this salad manages to make all these different flavor profiles work perfectly together. The spicy coconut dressing is so good you will be putting it on all of your meals.
7. Pan Fried Daikon Cake
These daikon cakes are savory and delicious. They are similar to potato pancakes in their ingredients, but the daikon gives them a peppery taste.
You are able to dip daikon cakes in anything of your choosing, ketchup, mayo, sour cream, or anything you think will work well.
We recommend making a lot of these, you will be surprised how fast they go and there is nothing worse than wanting to eat one and finding them all gone.
8. Daikon Radish Cucumber Salad
This super simple and refreshing salad will be your new go-to when the summer season rolls around.
There is no cooking involved, all you have to do is thinly slice the cucumber and daikon and then toss it in the dressing. The dressing is light, sweet, and slightly spicy. Perfect for the more mild flavors of the daikon and cucumber.
It works as an amazing side dish or a light summer lunch.
9. Curried Stuffed Acorn Squash
This is the perfect recipe for vegetarians. You get the smooth squash flavor enhanced by the peppery daikon and curry powder. It is the best fall meal and looks absolutely beautiful.
The daikon gets softened with the other vegetables so you get a harmonious flavor to work with the brown rice. The best part of this recipe (other than the daikon) is the walnuts and feta in it. They provide the finishing touches that make the meal feel whole.
10. Zucchini And Daikon Ramen With Pork
Who doesn’t love ramen, not only do you get a noodle dish, but you also get the delicious soup at the end. It is the best of both worlds.
This ramen is miso-based so you get an umami flavor to work with the amazing toppings. You get spinach, eggs, pork, jalapeños, and shitake mushrooms. What could be better?
Well, zucchini and daikon. In this recipe they are spiralized so you get 2 delicious ingredients that also look fun.
11. Daikon Radish Slaw
This is the perfect side dish, it tastes delicious and can be made in 10 minutes.
It takes your typical coleslaw recipe and gives it a boost. It is enhanced by the addition of shredded daikon and mustard to give it a depth of flavor and a peppery taste.
Daikon slaw works fantastically in burgers, wraps, and salads.
12. Spicy Roasted Daikon Radish French Fries
These are a great way to trick picky eaters into trying something new. These daikon fries are also healthier than your typical french fries.
This is because daikon is packed full of nutrients, and these fries are baked. Granted this means they don’t get that signature crispy texture, but we feel it’s a good substitute.
They are perfect as either a snack or a side dish. The spice mixture is Asian-inspired with soy sauce, ginger, and chili paste. It is spicy, delicious, and addicting.
13. Sake And Black Sugar Braised Pulled Pork Sliders
These are the fanciest sliders you will ever see but trust us, they are worth the effort.
The meat in this slider is pulled pork which has been caramelized with black sugar (don’t worry you can use brown sugar if you can’t find any). It is packed full of flavor and is a real crown pleaser.
The daikon in this recipe has been ribboned and lightly pickled. It is then draped over the pulled pork to give a fantastic contrast between the dark meat and golden bun.
14. Japanese Daikon Skin Stir-Fry
Most daikon recipes call for them to be peeled beforehand. This is because the skin can be quite firm when compared to the insides. Well, this recipe utilizes all that daikon skin that you might throw away.
It is super quick and only has 3 ingredients, daikon skin, sesame oil, and shio kombu. Shio kombu is a type of salt kelp that is used as a seasoning.
This recipe is deceptively simple for something that is so delicious.
15. Easy Pan Fried Daikon Radish Bun Luo Bo Si Bing
These buns are packed full of vegetables. Not just daikon but also carrot, mushrooms, and green onions.
It is all wrapped in a thin dough that requires no yeast to make it. The best part is that they are dairy-free and vegan!
16. Baek Kimchi (White Kimchi)
Kimchi is a Korean staple, and the addition of daikon gives it a Japanese twist. It is also made from napa cabbage, onions, garlic, and ginger.
It only takes about a day or two to reach the correct flavors. It is super refreshing and only gets better in the following days.
17. Roasted Curry Daikon Radish
A great replacement for curried potatoes, the peppery taste of the daikon really enhances the curry powder. It also uses Thai chili peppers for extra spice.
Similar to the fires, this recipe works great as a snack, and as a side dish.
18. Honeycrisp, Daikon, And Cucumber Sesame Salad
Possibly the most beautiful salad you will ever see. This recipe is an explosion of color, flavors, and textures that somehow work perfectly together.
There is daikon, apple, cucumber, chili, mint, and sesame, and that is only half of the ingredients. It is super refreshing and won’t make you believe you are eating a salad with how delicious it is.
Conclusion
Hopefully, now you have some ideas on how to prepare this delicious and nutritious vegetable.
Not only does it bring a slight peppery taste to a meal, but it can also add a nice texture distinction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Can You Buy Daikon?
More and more grocery stores are starting to stock daikon, but if you can’t find it there your best bet would be Asian stores and farmers’ markets.
How Do You Choose The Best Daikon?
Just like any other fruit or vegetable, there are characteristics to look out for when choosing your daikon. You want it to have fresh, non-wilting leaves and firm smooth skin.
It should be bright white in color and be straight instead of curved.
How Do You Store Daikon?
You can store your daikon in a plastic bag in the fridge. Or blanch and freeze it for up to a month.
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