11 Best Recipes With Daikon Radish

Do you look at unusual vegetables in the grocery store and wish you knew how to cook with them?

Daikon radish is one of these – resembling a large white plump carrot, it can be a bit daunting to figure out what to do with this odd-looking enormous radish!

However, it is well worth giving daikon radish a try! Also known as white radish, Japanese radish, Chinese radish, winter radish, and luobo, this large root vegetable is peppery, crisp, and very popular in Asian cuisine.

Daikon radish is also low carb, making it great addition to a keto-friendly menu plan.

Keep reading to check out some of the most amazing ways to incorporate daikon radish into your recipe repertoire!

1. Daikon Radish Gratin

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour 10 minutes

We’re all used to the traditional potato au gratin – floury potatoes oozing with cream and cheese.

This daikon radish adaptation takes gratin to a whole new level, and will definitely be a crowd-pleaser at dinner parties and potluck brunches.

The daikon radish works exceptionally well as a potato substitute in this dish. The mild but slightly peppery flavor works well with cream, cheese, and herbs.

The sliced rounds of daikon hold their shape well during cooking and then melt in the mouth when eaten.

This recipe includes anchovies, which are one of those “love ‘em or hate ‘em” ingredients! They bring a great depth of flavor to the dish, but you can also use fish sauce or Worcestershire sauce to create the same effect.

One of the best things about this recipe is that daikon radish is a low-carb substitute for potato, so this dish is a healthier version of the calorie-laden gratin!

It also takes only five minutes to prepare. Perfect if you’re in a rush or cooking a big meal with lots of side dishes.

2. Daikon Radish Slaw

Prep time: 10 minutes

Daikon radish adds a lovely dimension to the traditional coleslaw. Peppery, sweet, and crisp, this unusual root vegetable works perfectly with the usual slaw ingredients of cabbage and carrot.

This slaw recipe includes a lovely light dressing that is refreshing and full of flavor.

The combination of mayonnaise, mustard, garlic, and lemon juice perfectly complements the delicate peppery shredded daikon. Chopped parsley gives an extra layer of freshness and flavor.

Just remember to peel that radish before you shred it – it might seem unnecessary, but the skin really does not work well in raw dishes!

It takes just a few seconds to peel away the tough outer layer, revealing the sweet, crunchy flesh underneath.

Taking just ten minutes to put together (or even less if you use the shredder attachment on your blender), this is a speedy slaw that tastes sophisticated and delicious.

A perfect dish to prepare in advance for a barbeque or family dinner, and a great introduction to this unusual vegetable!

3. Daikon Cakes

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 5 minutes

Additional time: 30 minutes

Now, I know we said cake, but this isn’t a sweet cakey dessert made with radish! Although if anyone wants to have a bash at making a daikon cake, we’d love to give it a try …

These daikon cakes are more accurately described as patties – little burger-shaped fritters which are fried rather than baked.

You’ll love the taste and texture of these little Asian-inspired delicacies – crispy on the outside, with crunchy daikon in the middle. The trick is to make them nice and fat, like crab cakes, and to not overcook them.

You want the middle to be almost raw, so you still get the delicious texture and bite of the uncooked daikon.

Don’t panic if you do overcook them though – the taste will be the same, but it will just be softer!

It might seem a hassle to salt the grated daikon, but you can prepare this in advance and it makes a huge difference to the final texture of your daikon cakes. Skipping this step will lead to watery, soggy cakes – and no one wants that!

The egg is included to bind the daikon cake together, but if you cannot eat eggs then a batter of flour and water can be used instead.

4. Pickled Daikon (Tsukemono)

Prep time: 10 minutes

Additional time: 7 hours

The Japanese word Tsukemono literally translates as ‘pickled things’, which is describes this tasty little dish perfectly!

In Japanese and other Asian cultures, tsukemono is commonly eaten at every meal, with large quantities prepared in advance.

This dish works well if prepared in bulk, and will last for two to three weeks in the refrigerator. If you’ve received a large daikon radish in your veg box then this is a great way to use it up!

Picked daikon has an incredibly rich yet light flavor, which is thanks to the use of some unusual ingredients.

Welcome to the world of umami – best described as the meaty, savory deliciousness that deepens the flavor.

This is something not really utilized in western cooking, but eastern Asian recipes rely heavily on these rich flavorings.

For those of you not familiar with umami, you might find some of the ingredients in this recipe slightly odd.

The umami in this pickle comes from “Ito konbu” – thinly cut kelp threads – and “Katsuobushi”, which is bonito flake. Both should be available in your local Asian grocery store.

We think it is well worth the effort of tracking down these ingredients for this amazing side dish, which can also be eaten as a snack. Mmmmmm, umami!

5. Spicy Roasted Daikon Radish French Fries

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Looking for low carb or keto-friendly recipes? This is the one for you – French fries without the potatoes!

These spicy roasted daikon fries are a great side dish, perfect when paired with an Asian-style menu or just as a substitute for traditional potato fries.

We think they make a great movie night snack, and taste absolutely when delicious eaten on their own.

Now, we won’t lie to you here – you will not be able to turn your daikon radish into crispy fries, no matter how hard you try. These daikon fries are golden brown on the outside but retain a soft and juicy interior.

Flavored with ginger, chili, and soy sauce, these daikon radish fries develop a delicious caramelized crust which tastes simply incredible!

They are so moreish, the biggest problem will be getting them from the oven to the table without eating them all first!

6. Beef with Daikon Radish

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

This recipe for beef with daikon radish is an easy weeknight meal with a great Japanese-inspired flavor! It is one of those dishes which is even better if made in advance, allowing the flavors to develop over time.

Daikon radish is one of those versatile ingredients which soaks up flavor. This dish includes two flavors you will probably already have in your pantry; sugar and soy sauce.

The other flavors come from ingredients you will find at your local Asian grocery store – mirin, cooking sake, and granulated dashi.

Now, don’t be put off by these unusual ingredients, as they will transform this dish! In fact, once you’ve tried them you’ll be hooked on finding more Japanese-inspired recipes to try.

We love this recipe as it is the perfect “prepare in advance”-type dish. You can cook it in the afternoon before the school run, or on the morning of a dinner party, and it will taste all the better for the extra time to sit and marinade.

The rich beef and sauce complement peppery daikon perfectly, creating a meal that is comforting, filling, and nutritious. Serve with fresh white rice and a garnish of thinly sliced green onion. 

7. Roasted Curry Daikon Radish

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Additional time: 15 minutes

Looking for an alternative side dish for a curry night? This recipe for roasted curry daikon radish is a great twist on curried potatoes, with the added bonus that it is low carb and keto-friendly as well.

If you’re a fan of Bombay potatoes then you’ll love this dish! When roasted, daikon radishes take on a whole new depth of flavor and sweetness, whilst retaining their moist yet firm texture.

The smooth white flesh of the daikon radish works perfectly with the spices and flavors in this recipe. Daikon radish really is like a sponge – it soaks up all the flavors around it!

Use your preferred strength of curry powder – we like our curries hot, but mild versions are also available. Or if you’re a natural at Indian cooking then you may prefer to make your own curry powder blend.

8. Chinese Vegan Radish Cake

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 80 minutes

Additional time: 4–8 hours

This Chinese vegan radish cake might look tricky to prepare, but once you’ve tried it you’ll definitely go back for more! It is a perfect buffet or party dish and works well with a simple dipping sauce.

Also known as turnip cake or loh bak go, this recipe combines daikon radish, mushrooms, fresh herbs, spices, and rice flour into a loaf, which is then steamed for about one hour.

The cooled loaf is then sliced and gently pan-fried to perfection – crispy on the outside and soft and tender on the inside.

You don’t need any specialist equipment for this dish, and if you are preparing it for a party then all the prep work and most of the cooking can be done the day before.

On the day, all you’ll need to do is fry your ready-prepared daikon cake slices – super easy!

Serve with a dipping sauce – a combination of soy sauce, Chinese rice vinegar, ginger, and chili oil is the perfect pairing for this delicious Chinese recipe.

9. Honeycrisp, Daikon and Cucumber Sesame Salad

Prep time: 15 minutes

This is one of the prettiest and most colorful salads we have ever seen! The combination of crisp apple, crunchy daikon, and fresh cucumber is so appetizing, we think it would work perfectly as a stand-alone meal as well as a side dish.

We love the layers of flavor in this salad; from sweet pomegranate juiciness to nutty sesame seed crunch.  A scattering of mint leaves and sliced chilis tops this salad off perfectly.

To preserve the crunchy texture of the vegetables in this salad, it is best prepared immediately before serving.

The fresh and light flavor of this salad contrasts well with rich flavors, such as crispy marinaded duck or char sui pork belly. It is also a great accompaniment to healthy dinner choices such as grilled salmon.

10. Daikon Radish Sesame Noodles

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 5 minutes

OK, own up – who bought a spiralizer which now stays in the back of the cupboard?

I think we all went a bit crazy when the spiralizer craze hit, but the novelty soon wore off! Personally, I’d happily never see a ridiculously long piece of zucchini ever again!

Well, it’s time to dig out that spiralizer and give it a wash, because the doodle is here!

(Daikon noodle = doodle. How delightful!)

Doodles are a great low-carb alternative to noodles, and far superior to those zucchini noodles we all used to talk about.

The texture of daikon radish is much less watery and holds together well, giving you the perfect al dente texture when cooked.

The flavor of daikon radish works really well for noodles, not too overpowering but with lovely peppery undertones.

If you’re on a keto-friendly diet, these doodles are a fantastic alternative to carb-heavy noodles, and they taste amazing too.

This recipe is a great way to use up that huge daikon radish that arrived in your veg box, and as a bonus, the leftovers keep extremely well. In fact, they taste even better the next day so make sure that you cook double the amount.

For an extra twist, try this recipe with purple daikon instead to add some striking color to your dinner table!

11. Daikon Radish Dip

Prep time: 5 minutes

This creamy dip is a great alternative to shop-bought dips – use it as an alternative to ranch sauce, sandwich spread, or hummus. Best prepared in advance, this dip is a healthy addition to any buffet table or party menu.

It is also a great way to get some sneaky vegetables onto the menu for your kids – somehow, dipping a carrot stick into a creamy daikon dip doesn’t feel like you are eating one of your five a day!

Daikon radish dip combines chunks of peeled radish flesh with cream cheese, salt, and garlic. These are blended in a food processor to create a smooth, unctuous dip that tastes amazing.

This dip is best prepared the day before serving, to allow the flavors to mellow and blend together. Chilling the dip in the refrigerator overnight will help the dip to firm up and keep it from getting watery.

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