Meet the Daikon Radish

Are you an adventurous eater? Some people are, eagerly trying new things whenever possible. However other people prefer to err on the side of caution, sticking to only those foods that they know they will like. I suppose it's a testament to opposites attracting that I eat adventurously and my husband is a cautious eater.

Truth is though that I wasn't always so adventurous. There was a time in high school when I was abroad for a week and pretty much only ate buttered cheese sandwiches with tomato. I knew I liked it and I stuck with it. But as the song goes, time makes us bolder (or it made me bolder, at least).

So, it's with that boldness in mind that I want to introduce you to a vegetable that you might not know, but should: the daikon radish. Forget everything you know about the little red globes of radishes you've seen in the grocery store. This one is totally different.



The daikon radish looks like a white carrot. It's a root vegetable, but instead of having a potent, peppery taste, it's sweet, crisp and mild. It can be used in salads, pickled or even stir-fried. It's popular in some Asian cuisines.

So, where can you find this unfamiliar food? Larger grocery stores carry daikon radishes as does Whole Foods and other similar stores. It might be a challenge to locate, but it's totally worth it.