Radish relishes

The juice of radish aids digestion, relieves abdominal pain due to gas, inhibits growth of stones in the bladder, flushes out kidney stones, relieves constipation and flatulence. It’s also diuretic and helps to heal throat ulcers.

Chewing a few radish leaves has a beneficial effect on flushing out kidney stones. However, it should not be taken on an empty stomach. Radish juice with a little salt and pepper has a soothing effect on piles. Salads with radish make great appetisers and while preparing them, place them in ice water to ensure they stay crisp. Here are a few easy recipes you can try out at home.

Red radish salad

Ingredients: Red radish — 4, butter — 1 tbsp, salt and pepper powder/sugar — to taste.
Method: Wash the radishes thoroughly and trim the roots. Do not peel to retain the appealing red colour. Heat butter and sauté the radish till it turns crisp. Sprinkle salt, sugar and pepper powder and serve. This portion serves four.

Radish curry

Ingredients: White radish — 4 (peeled and grated), green gram dal — a quarter of a cup, coconut gratings — 2 tbsp, green chillies (chopped) — 2, coriander leaves (chopped) — a few for garnish, oil — 1 tbsp, salt and lime juice — to taste, turmeric — 2 pinches, jeera —1 teaspoon, asafoetida — a pinch.

Method: Heat oil and season with jeera, asafoetida, green chillies. Add a cup of water with salt, turmeric and gram dal and cook for 5 minutes. Add radish gratings and cook till they soften and dry up.  Add coconut gratings, lime juice and coriander leaves and mix well. Serve hot with rotis/rice. This portion serves four.

Note: Even the green tops (greens) may be chopped and added along with radish gratings.

Radish chutney dip

Ingredients: Radish gratings — 2 cups, coconut gratings — half a cup, green chillies — 2 nos, jeera — half a teaspoon, coriander leaves — a few (chopped-garnish),
For seasoning: Oil — 2 teaspoons, mustard seeds — half a teaspoon, red chillies — 2 nos.

Method: Grind all the ingredients to a coarse paste and season with the mentioned ingredients for a delectable chutney. To make a dip, stir in a spoonful of the chutney in two cups of well-beaten thick curd. Serve with rice/rotis.
Suggestions: Radish tops have excellent nutritional value and can be used along with radish in soups and sambars. Stays longer if stored in perforated plastic bags in the fridge.