Radishes by Urban Combing (Ultrastar175g), on Flickr
To be honest with you, I really, really dislike radishes. I’m not a big fan of spicy foods anyway, and the radishes I’ve had have burned my mouth without giving me any flavor in exchange. When I hear people say “peppery” I know they really mean just painfully hot. Yeah, I’m one of those people for whom cilantro is about the hottest herb tolerated. When the radishes came in last year’s CSA box, I gave them to a neighbor. This year I was determined to try them. I couldn’t just turn my back on a local food. I found an interesting-looking recipe on allrecipes.com and modified it for our preferences. It was amazing. Have you ever had one of those dishes that you add three things that you’re just not that wild about, but the flavors combine to create a near-perfect melange? This was one of those. I am utterly amazed, not just about how much I liked it, but also by how many radishes I piled on and noticed not one bit of heat.
Spring Veggie Sandwich
In a small bowl, mix together 8 ounces cream cheese, the juice from two limes, the same amount of balsamic vinegar as lime juice and a grind of black pepper. Spread generously on 6 slices of bread, then top each slice with a handful of thinly sliced radish, several arugula leaves and thinly sliced tomatoes. Top with another slice of bread.
We used yogurt cheese and sourdough bread. I was so thrilled that there were leftovers! Tomorrow I’m going to skip the bread and just toss all the other ingredients into the blender. I think this would make a dynamite dip for fresh veggies!
Fight back against your comfort zone this week. Step out and try something local, fresh and different!
This post is part of Fight Back Fridays, hosted by Food Renegade.
6 comments
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June 18, 2009 at 11:11 pm
FoodRenegade
Fun. I’ve got the last of my CSA radishes hiding at the bottom of my refrigerator door, and I’ve been wondering how to use them! Thanks for the idea.
Cheers,
KristenM
(AKA FoodRenegade)
June 19, 2009 at 12:15 am
Girl Gone Domestic
Love the dip idea! And I bet the cream cheese really cooled the “pepperyness” of the radishes. Going to try, have some radishes in my garden ready to harvest.
June 19, 2009 at 7:39 am
motherhen68
If you saute radishes, they lose their spice. I cook mine into a “hash” in place of potatoes.
June 19, 2009 at 8:19 am
Alicia Ghio
Another super easy, tasty idea is to thinly slice the radishes, add your favorite spice, and bake them. Ta-da … Radish Chips!
June 23, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Alyss
That sounds quite delicious. I like just a little radish in my lettuce salads but I have enjoyed them on salads too. One thing I’ve heard to do with radishes is serve them with butter. It’s a really neat flavor sesation – the crispy, sharp radish and the creamy smooth butter. Yum!
My oldest sister chooses a food every year that she “doesn’t like” or has never tried and works all year to find a way to prepare it that she does like. Maybe you could make radishes your food this year.
June 25, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Fight Back Fridays June 19th | Food Renegade
[...] Edible Aria (Ham & Cheese Redux)4. BEST TASTING HOMEMADE MAYO!! – Kelly the Kitchen Kop5. Local Nourishment (A radish recipe to reform a radish-hater)6. A Green Spell (Homemade Almond Milk)7. Girl Gone Domestic (Easy Sourdough Bread)8. Dina [I'm new] [...]