Radish, the cousin of turnips, is a nutritional powerhouse packed with vitamins and minerals. Its earthy flavour and pungent odour make it a perfect addition to many recipes. A perfect fit in a paratha, this root vegetable blends well in salad too or simply stir-fried along with its leaves to celebrate everything crispy and crunchy.
The shape of the radish range from spherical to long and tubular. While the skin on the outside skin is white or pink, it can also be red or purple. In this article, we’ll take a look at its nutritional benefits and delicious recipes for use in cooking.
Nutritional value
Radish is one of the healthiest root vegetables. The nutritive value is multi-dimensional making radishes potent to have a deep positive effect on our health. This crunchy veggie is rich in antioxidants and minerals like calcium and potassium. These nutrients along with nitrates together improve the blood flow and lower high BP thus reducing your risks for heart disease. Potassium also improves brain function.
A good source of vitamin C and antioxidant, this root vegetable fight diseases and lowers oxidation i.e. destructive free radicals. Apart from relieving digestion and stomach pain, they eliminate excess water. In the past, radish is used to treat kidney stones and bad skin.
Health benefits
Folate or vitamin B9 in this veggie boosts cell and tissue growth. It is an essential nutrient for pregnant women as it decreases the risk of defects in a newborn. Vitamin B6 is important in cognitive functions, amps up your immunity, and improves eye health and hormone activity.
Radish increases bile flow. However, those with gallstones must consult their health care before binging on radish. They are high in fibre and help to tackle constipation. In Ayurvedic medicine, mooli is used to treat skin-related ailments, sore throat and inflammation too. Rich in vitamin C radish improves complexion, skin texture and connective tissues.
Healthy recipes
Apart from paratha, radish is best eaten raw or in salads. It can be enjoyed whole with hummus as the dip. Let us not forget pickled radish. Yummm…
Don’t throw away the leaves as they are delicious in salads or cooked like we cook palak. Radishes have a very low glycemic index. This means those suffering from diabetes can safely enjoy mooli.
Here are some popular radish recipes that are also healthy.
Mooli paratha or thepla
While paratha is a go-to in the North, thepla is a must-have in Gujarat. Grated radish mixed in flour of your choice with various masalas added in it makes the dough flavoursome. While making dough for thepla, you can add the leaves too. You can add dahi for its tanginess and make the dough soft. Once you make the flatbread, fry it on a tava with dollops of ghee that makes this dish a wonderful comforting winter food. Enjoy it by itself or with some achar.
Radish soup
The sweet pungent taste of this root vegetable loaded with nutrition makes for a wonderful homely, warm, creamy soup. Try and get the pink or purple radishes to give your soup the hue to make the soup look enticing. Radish soup can be easily prepared with few ingredients and it tastes as delicious. You may add other veggies of your choice but we suggest skipping that. Just enjoy the mooli soup with just mooli in it.
Kashmiri radish dip
You may add your twist to any dish you prepare with radish and make it unique. Do share the recipes with us.
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