Year 10 Otago Girls’ High School
They're red, crunchy and healthy.
Sure, these are some of the qualities associated with the tiresome apple, but what about the humble radish?
They’re healthy, delicious, easy to grow and seasonal as an all-year-round treat. But how come this underrated vegetable isn’t higher on our shopping list?
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, right? Radishes have just as many nutrients, vitamins and minerals as their close counterparts. As a result, they’re extremely healthy.
In fact, they have much better cardiovascular protection against heart problems like heart disease than tomatoes and oranges, combined!
They are a great source of vitamin C, again outranking some of our household favourites.
Radishes are root vegetables, so they are grown underground. This means they aren’t exposed to anywhere near as many diseases as plants grown above the ground.
By starting life in the soil, this means that when they emerge, a radish will not be damaged and weathered. The benefits are endless!
Better late than never for most vegetables, however not for the radish. They are a seasonal treat that can be enjoyed in a scrumptious Christmas salad or roasted to go with your midwinter feast.
Summer is when radishes peak in taste and popularity. These delicious vegetables are some of the easiest to grow.
Within a month, they will be ready to harvest for your juicy snack. The longer they are kept in the ground, the spicier they will become.
Did you know, a radish seed looks similar to a nut? In particular, an almond. Don’t be mistaken, however, radish seeds are just as nutritious as the mighty bulbs themselves.
Imagine this: An intense bittersweet crunch that crackles through the air and floods your mouth with a spicy tang.
The rosy red flesh sparkles and the inside is a crisp, snow white. This is the image of a radish. It is a work of art and perfection. The radish taste is best described as peppery. Some are hotter than others but it is agreed worldwide that they are absolutely delicious.
Recipes that include our favourite vegetable range from sandwiches to being cooked with a roast.
Most importantly, every salad is incomplete until it has a radish. They are essential and bring so much impeccability to the plate.
These are only three of the many reasons why radishes are the best vegetable. They are healthier, accessible all year long and appetising for all palates.
Remember, next time you are in the fruits and vegetables aisle, stop and think, just for a second. Would you rather the bland apple, or the humble radish?
