At Tupelo Honey, we love using unique ingredients that are as eye-catching as they are delicious. One of our favorites is the watermelon radish! It’s beautiful coloring and mild flavor makes it the perfect addition to many of our dishes.
What is a Watermelon Radish?
A watermelon radish is an heirloom Chinese Daikon radish. It’s a root vegetable and in the same family as arugula, broccoli, and turnips. Their pale green skins cover the bright pink interior (thus the name ‘Watermelon’ radish). They can range between the size of a golf ball to a soft ball, depending on when they are harvested.
What does it taste like?
Despite the name, watermelon radishes do not taste like watermelon! They have a mild flavor that is slightly sweet yet peppery. Unlike other radishes, the flavor becomes mellower the longer it matures.
How do I eat it?
The watermelon radish is highly versatile and can be enjoyed raw, cooked, or even pickled. You can eat the skin, but be sure to thoroughly wash away any dirt or soil beforehand.
When buying a watermelon radish, choose one that feels firm and heavy for its size and is free of any major bruises. They can be stored in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator for a couple weeks.
Watermelon Radishes at Tupelo Honey
We love to use the watermelon radish in our Southern-inspired dishes. You can try this beautiful and tasty vegetable in our South Carolina Egg Rolls! This dish combines slow-roasted pork, South Carolina mustard BBQ sauce, cilantro, and pickled watermelon radish for a fun fusion of Southern and Asian cuisines.
Our side salad also features watermelon radish slices, in addition to shaved carrots and our house-made White Balsamic Vinaigrette over mixed greens. ALMOST too pretty to eat!
Visit your favorite Tupelo Honey location today to try this unique ingredient!