Radish Salad with Asian Sesame Dressing

I'm a big advocate of eating with the season, and this lovely radish salad from Naomi is a perfect way to enjoy a crisp fresh taste of spring. ~Emily

Where I live, in Slovakia, many of the smaller stores carry only seasonal vegetables. As spring comes, the windows of little fruit and vegetable stores pile up with radishes and green onion, the beginning of fresh vegetables. Indeed, I start craving the freshness of more salads and crisp vegetables as spring progresses.

There are many ways to use radishes. Slovaks often slice them and lay them on buttered bread, sprinkled with salt. Some people have started roasting them like potatoes. They are an easy addition to kids' snacks and lunches.

But one way I enjoy them most is in this simple salad. As much as I like to try new dishes with strange combinations or layers of flavor, sometimes I appreciate returning to simplicity.

With just a few ingredients, each plays a major role in the final taste. The radishes provide crisp freshness, the sesame a dash of bitterness. And, with just five ingredients, the salad is easy to put together.

Don't forget that you can also use the radish leaves. If I buy radishes in the store, the leaves often are bruised on not very appetizing, but if you are lucky enough to have fresh radishes from a garden, you can chop up  the leaves and add them to soups or stir-fry (like spinach) or even ferment them.

Radish salad with Asian Sesame Dressing ingredients

• radishes, washed and sliced
• 1/2 cup olive oil – buy this online
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or a little less tamari)
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup (or equivalent sweetener) – I like this one
• 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
• sesame seeds

Radish salad with Asian Sesame Dressing method

1. Toast sesame seeds on a dry clean pan (no oil) over a medium high heat, shaking occasionally. When the seeds smell fragrant, remove from heat.
2. Slice radishes.
3. Pour the rest of ingredients into a jar and shake well. Pour over radishes and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.
4. Serve immediately and savor the freshness of spring.

What is your favorite way to use radishes?

The closest Naomi has gotten to her dream farm is growing live bacteria in jars and wrangling her four children, including twins. A Canadian who now lives in Slovakia, Naomi writes about traditions, food, and life in Slovakia (as well as some pretty strange food) at Almost Bananas.

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