You Look Radishing, Darling! Why radishes are so good for you

Radishes. They don’t get enough love by half! Ever since I saw Peter Rabbit feasting on Mister McGregor’s radish patch, greedily gobbling the bright roots in Beatrix Potter’s beautiful illustrations, I was fascinated. What were these pink vegetables I wondered? They looked a bit like carrots in the watercolour pictures, but something told me they wouldn’t be sweet. What would they taste like? Cucumber? Tomato? When, years later, I finally tried a radish, it was quite the experience. Somehow more biting and more refreshing than I was imagining, I soon discovered the joy of fresh, crispy radish in a sharp salad, or pickled and served up on sandwiches.

Radishes are also great for you. A natural detoxifier, their high water content is perfect to keep you hydrated, and they can can also have a cooling effect (making them popular in Middle Eastern cuisine). A high source of vitamin C, phosphorous and zinc, radishes are also great for your skin.

Raw radishes are all well and good, but for winter weather we thought we had better provide you with a delicious alternative. These honey roasted radishes can be eaten hot or cold, but piping hot and crispy out of the oven is how we like them.

Honey Roasted Radishes

Ingredients

• 2 bunches of radishes, with their tops
• A good pinch of sea salt
• Ground pepper
• Olive oil
• 1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup
• Juice of 1 lemon

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 220°C.
2. Trim the leaves from the radishes and give both leaves and radishes a good wash. Put the leaves to one side for later. Halve the radishes and tumble on to a baking tray with a good pinch of salt, pepper and some olive oil, then drizzle over the honey or syrup and squeeze over the lemon juice.
3. Roast in the oven for 15 minutes, until just softened and starting to brown.
4. Take the radishes out of the oven and toss them with the radish tops and a little more good olive oil, then taste and add a little more salt and pepper if needed.

Why not try radishes as a side dish with your dinner this week? Just make sure you don’t knick them from Mr McGregor. He’s got a very serious looking rake and he knows how to use it…