Radishes were always a food I put in the “I don’t like them” category. They had too sharp of a taste for my liking, so I avoided them altogether. This arrangement worked quite well for me until I read about the amazing health benefits that radishes provide in Anthony William’s book: Life-Changing Foods. It was then that I knew I needed to find a way to include them in my diet.
It was my sister who found this recipe and sent it my way. I was skeptical, but willing to give it a try. I was hoping it was just okay, as I didn’t think I could expect any more than that when 1/3 of the salad contained an ingredient I didn’t like. Much to my surprise…I loved it!! The sweetness of the honey offsets the bitterness of the radish. And the fresh mint adds a powerful flavor overlay to the whole dish which makes this salad rank as one of my current favorites.
It is quick to prepare, which is a bonus for a busy family. Leftovers are equally tasty as the three main ingredients retain their crunchiness even after a day of soaking in the dressing.
I only have two revisions to the recipe: First, I just sliced the ingredients with my favorite paring knife. The recipe calls for a mandolin slicer (which I don’t have), or a food processor (but I decided I wanted to avoid the extra clean-up). A food processor might be a better choice if you were making a large batch for a bigger group. Otherwise, the paring knife works just fine. Second, I added an entire bunch of fresh mint. I am crazy about fresh herbs. The more, the better in my world!
I also learned in that book that the radish greens on top of the red bulbs, are another super-food. Some people chop them up in their salads, but that doesn’t work for my taste buds. So I add a few of the greens into my morning fruit smoothie so that I can reap the benefits while disguising the taste.
You can find the full recipe here: https://karolinaskitchen.com/2013/06/06/cucumber-radish-apple-salad/.
And, if you want to read Anthony William’s blog about the health benefits of radishes (and their green tops), you can do that here: http://www.medicalmedium.com/blog/amazing-radishes.
This is a great staple to include in your meal rotations and makes a great dish for summer potlucks.