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Do You Eat Radish Greens Along with your Radishes

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Written ByIngrid
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radish cook2If you are like me, you have probably been throwing away radish greens for years, but no longer. 
These days I am a huge fan of using all the parts of a vegetable when possible. If you get them from the farmers market the greens are usually attached and fresh. When you grow your own radishes you have lots of green tops.  Did you know that instead of removing the tops and throwing them away you can eat them.
Radish greens can been eaten either raw or cooked.  They tend to be a bit peppery which mellows when cooked. If they are young and fresh, they are less spicy so you can add them to a salad along with milder green lettuces.
You can even add a few of them to your green smoothie.  If you add a handful of the young leaves it will add a significant amount of calcium, iron, magnesium, folate, vitamin A, C, K and other nutrients.
Radish greens don’t stay fresh for very long, and it’s best to separate them from the roots soon after harvesting or bringing them home from the market. Wash and store the leaves like other salad greens and eat them within a day or two.
If you garden, they are easy to grow. They are are one of the fastest sprouters in the garden and are easily planted from seed.

Radishes and Radish Greens Have Amazing Health Benefits 

Cleansing for Your Liver

Radishes and their greens can help remove excess bilirubin from the liver preventing jaundice.  When your liver can’t break down the bilirubin fast enough it shows up by a yellow tinge in the skin or eyes and is often present in newborns.  The radishes help the liver pass it through your body.

Helps Maintain Your Weight

Radishes and radish greens contain fiber, aka indigestible carbohydrates. This keeps your system flushed and functioning with regularity and also aids in maintaining a healthy weight.

Potent Detoxifier

They contain significant amounts of vitamin C and several other vitamins and minerals, and a few not-so-familiar phytochemicals such as indoles, which detoxify,

Supports Your Urinary Track

Both radishes and radish greens are naturally peppery but they may help to relieve any burning sensation experienced during urination. That may be because radishes are a natural diuretic, purifying the kidney and urinary systems and relieving inflammation.

Good For Your Skin

They have antibacterial, antifungal, and detoxifying properties, and contain compounds that soothe rashes, dryness, and other skin disorders. 

Cancer Prevention

Studies of the roots and leaves of radishes show they contain an important isothiocyanate antioxidant compound called sulforaphane, a proven cancer fighter.  Also powerful antioxidant flavonoids zeaxanthin, lutein, and beta carotene.

Most of the time I eat radishes raw but they are surprisingly delicious cooked. Instead of being crunchy and peppery they become smooth and silky. In this dish I braise the radishes then add the greens toward the end to add a contrasting flavor and texture.  Cooking the greens mellow their peppery flavor.  Click here for the recipe:

Braised Radish Greens with Red Radishes

radish cook

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2 Comments

  1. Hi Ingrid….just wanted to say that I made your raw bittersweet chocolate tart and it is DELICIOUS!!! and easy to make. Thank you for generously sharing your recipes.

    Reply