When the blazing hot sunshine in the morning gradually transforms into cloudy skies, with the pitter-patter of raindrops, there’s no mistaking that the monsoons have arrived!
And no matter what season it is, be it the scorching summers, incessant downpours, or freezing winters, edible roots like potatoes, yams, colocasia/taro etc. come in handy, for satisfying our hunger pangs, curbing untimely cravings and providing us with instant energy, in the form of deep-fries, snacks and soups.
If you assumed that root vegetables may not comprise any beneficial compounds that confer numerous health incentives and are composed of starch alone, you might be surprised to discover that radishes are an exception. In this article, we bring you all that you need to know about the humble radish, a perennial ubiquitous natural bounty, overflowing with essential nutrients.
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Nutritional Benefits Of Radishes:
Whether it is the long white stalks, round red types, or the oval-shaped purple harvest, all variants of radishes are rich sources of vitamin C – the ultimate component to boost immunity. This is definitely the need of the hour, what with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to a host of seasonal infections and illnesses, such as the common cold, malaria and bouts of fevers.
Not only do radishes enhance the body’s resistance against germs, but also abound in antioxidants, which eliminate free radicals, remove toxins and lower the risk of cancer. Moreover, they contain barely any calories, almost no fat or starch and are packed with remarkable amounts of dietary fibers, B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, zinc, manganese and potassium. This helps to maintain optimal body mass, regulate digestion and metabolism, as well as strengthen bones and muscles. Also Read: Tremendous Calcium Boosters: Refreshing Smoothie Recipes For Healthy Bones And Joints
Absolutely Delicious And Unique Radish Recipes:
Yes, we get it. You want to relish this nourishing, crunchy root veggie, but are bored of the same old desi recipes - South Indian mullangi sambhar (radish lentil stew in tamarind base) or the staple mooli ka paratha (radish-stuffed flattened wheat bread) from kitchens in the Northern regions.
Well, we just read your minds! So here are two novel dishes - a comforting continental radish salad and a crispy popular Asian street food i.e radish cake.
Now that you have a little more time on your hands during the lockdown, go ahead and experiment with some global fare. We guarantee you will not be disappointed with the irresistible taste, along with augmenting your immune system functions to stay disease-free.
Creamy Radish Salad
Ingredients:
2 medium radishes, peeled and cut
1 long cucumber, evenly sliced
Salt, as needed
Pepper, to taste
1 cup fresh cream or yoghurt
1 tsp red chilli powder
A bunch of coriander leaves
Method:
In a pan, heat some water and steam the cut vegetables for 10 minutes, sprinkling some salt and pepper, to infuse mild flavours.
Filter out excess water and transfer the veggies to a large bowl with fresh cream or yoghurt.
Add the red chilli powder and cumin powder to this bowl and mix well.
Garnish with a generous portion of coriander leaves and serve the tasty salad as a wholesome appetizer for lunch or dinner.
Nutrition:
Being inherently high in fibers, with very few calories and zero fats, radishes can be easily incorporated into any weight loss diet. Cucumbers possess elevated water content, that hydrates the body, with a cooling effect that is beneficial for skin wellness. Yoghurt or cream has ample quantities of proteins for fortified muscles, while coriander leaves supply vitamin A, carotenoids, for improved eyesight. Also Read: Coriander Leaves: 5 Excellent Health Benefits Of Adding These Aromatic Leaves To Your Daily Diet
Pan Fried Radish Cake
Ingredients:
3 big radishes, skinned and chopped
2 cups of rice flour
Salt, as per taste
Pepper, as required
5 tbsp sesame oil
2 spring onions, cut into small bits
Method:
In a vessel, thoroughly cook the radish pieces in water, on medium flame, until they become soft.
Blend the mushy radishes, along with rice flour, salt, pepper and some oil, to obtain a thick batter.
Cut it into uniform rectangular segments, to form the moulds.
Shallow fry these chunks on both sides in sesame oil, in a non-stick saucepan, till they turn golden-brown.
Top it off with some fragrant spring onions and enjoy the radish cake hot, with your favourite spicy sauce, ketchup or sriracha.
Nutrition:
Radishes are bestowed with flavonoids and phytochemical antioxidants like indoles, which detoxify the liver, kidneys and cleanse the system. Besides its strong aroma, sesame oil provides good unsaturated fats, with negligible cholesterol, trans fats, for enriching heart health. Spring onions offer generous portions of iron, for remedying anaemia and sodium, potassium to preserve normal electrolyte balance in the body.
