Radishes are one of the oldest vegetables to be recorded in history. According to a popular Greek folktale, a physician named Androcydes often advised his patients to eat radishes to combat intoxication. Deemed as the superfood disguised as a root, radishes have several avatars, each as good as the other.

Sometimes referred to as a Beauty Heart, Rose Heart, Shinremei, Misato, and Asian Red Meat, radish watermelon is a unique variety of the daikon radish. This unassuming root, resembling a parsnip, is packed with flavor and a beautiful pinkish-red flesh that resembles a watermelon. As compared to regular white daikon, these are small and round; their flavor ranging from hot and peppery to mild and sweet. Crunchy and gorgeous, this root is a perfect match for any dish there is.

Watermelon radishes are an heirloom variety of the daikon radishes originating in China. It owes its name to the fruit given the color of its flesh. However, radish watermelon does not taste like the fruit at all. High in fiber and low in calories, the vegetable is rich in potassium source, vitamin C, vitamin B-6, calcium, and magnesium.

Just like the other varieties of daikon, watermelon radishes are deemed to have medicinal properties that help in heart ailments, fungal infections, common flu, and in combating certain types of cancers. As a big source of vitamin C, they help build immunity, while calcium helps maintain a strong bone density. Including watermelon radishes in one’s daily diets have shown astounding results for digestion and general wellness.

Watermelon Radish Nutritional Facts

Apart from being gorgeous and delicious, radish watermelon holds a plethora of nutrition that is an absolute boon for the human body. This is what a bowl of watermelon radish contains.

Nutrition Facts

Per 100 grams

Name	Amount	Unit
Sodium	39	mg
Potassium	233	mg
Dietary Fiber	1.6	g
Calcium	2	%
Vitamin C	24	%
Magnesium	2	%
Vitamin B-6	5	%

Total calories 16.

*All data sourced from here.

Some of the highlights from the table are worth noting.

The high potassium content in watermelon radishes helps regulate fluid balance, muscle contractions, and nerve signals. Moreover, including radishes in the regular diet may help reduce blood pressure and water retention. This, in turn, is bliss for the kidneys.
Vitamin C is necessary for the growth, development, and repair of all body tissues. Moreover, it also helps in the absorption of iron and other minerals. The high vitamin C content in watermelon radishes helps in the proper functioning of the immune system, wound healing, and bones’ maintenance.
The high sodium content in the radish helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function.
The low-calorie count of the radishes aid is smooth digestion and eliminating unhealthy fat.

Health Benefits

Health charts and tables usually help one check the calorie, vitamin, and mineral count of any food item, but they do not necessarily help understand how these elements work together for the body’s benefit. For example, how would the high-fiber content in a radish help the body? Well, fiber takes the longest to digest; this helps one feel full for a longer period—this aids in maintaining good health and body weight (including aiding in weight loss). Moreover, fiber is deemed the number one element to help constipation and better muscle build.

There are several other health benefits a bowl of radish watermelon holds. Here are a few.

Source of Hydration. Like their other counterparts, the radish watermelon variety contains a high amount of water (89-90%). As a result, these are great sources to combat dehydration and help manage skin and hair health, digestion, and overall wellness.

Dietary Supplement. Given their low-calorie count, watermelon radishes lend great assistance to anyone aiming to lose weight. Their high fiber content takes longer to digest, helping one to fill full for a longer period.

Improves Bone Density. A bowl of radish watermelon contains up to 19 milligrams of calcium. This, in turn, helps maintain bone health and density, relieves joint pain, and aids in fixing the body’s wear and tear.

Aids Digestion. The high fiber low-calorie vegetable is a fantastic aid for anyone suffering from constipation, piles, and fisheries. It helps regulate bowel movements and prevents bleeding.

Immunity Booster. All radishes are strong carriers of vitamin C, which is a necessary supplement for building immunity. Including watermelon radishes in one’s regular diet can help improve immunity and healthier blood cells.

Anti-Illness. Whether one is struggling to combat high blood pressure, heart ailment, or cancer, radish is the answer. Rich in minerals and vitamins, fiber, and water, the root’s medicinal properties lend ample support to the ailing human body.

Anti-Fungal Properties. The diuretic properties of radishes help in flushing out toxins from the body. This keeps fungal, bacterial, and urinary tract infections at bay.

Weight Loss. Since watermelon radishes contain a high amount of water and fiber, they take longer to digest. These can function as a wonderful mid-meal snack to help nourish the body, calm the hunger pang, and maintain fitness.

While the points talk about some of the problems watermelon radishes can tackle, they effectively maintain good health for someone with no health scares. While it is important to combat health problems, it is equally important to keep staying healthy; radishes help manage just that.

Are Watermelon Radishes Seasonal?

While radishes are available year-round, there is a peak season for each variety. The radish watermelon variety, for example, is in its prime in spring and late fall. This ensures one can consume the vegetable all year. The vegetable prefers hot soil conditions and temperatures. It has also been observed that the environment can affect the flavor of the root. It can range from bitter-y to peppery but still stays good for consumption.

These iron-rich vegetables are also called ‘farmer’s friends.’ Radish seeds are often sowed mid-year or when the farmers are looking to improve the soil’s quality. Like other radishes, watermelon radishes contain isothiocyanate, a pungent chemical compound that contains pest repellent properties. Owing to this property of the root, it releases compounds that work as a natural repellent for weeds, pests, and pathogens.

Can you Eat Watermelon Radish Greens?

Let it be known that all radishes and their greens are rich in vitamin C and, therefore, great for the body, especially when consumed raw. A common misconception with most root vegetables is to go for the kill, consume the root, and discard everything else. This is a grave mistake. The leaves carry an equal amount of qualities of the root, if not more.

Owing to its crunchy peppery flavor, watermelon radish finds its place in several cuisines. The leaves carry this delectable flavor, lending a unique bite when mixed with other salad greens. Apart from the unique flavor, radish watermelon greens are rich in vitamins and minerals, lending unconditional health benefits.

Diet and Fitness. The fibrous leaves are loaded with water that helps in hydration. Since the leaves have high fiber content, it helps maintain a clean digestive system and eliminate bad fat.

Kidney-Friendly. The leaves pass on the diuretic quality to the root. This instigates frequent urination, which helps in flushing out toxins from the body. This ensures healthy kidney function.

Liver Assistance. Including a bowl of radish watermelon leaves in the daily diet can reap fruitful liver health. These low-calorie leaves stimulate liver function and aid it to combat the side effects of alcohol consumption.

Anti-flu Properties. Radish leaves can be brewed with any tea of choice to build resistance against the flu and the common cold. Small sips of peppery radish leaf tea help relieve blocked nose and throat.

Medicine for Stomach Infections. Radish leaf tea is also known to help relieve menstrual cramps, headaches, and stomach infections. The leaves’ anti-fungal and anti-bacterial quality eliminates infections while the calcium helps maintain the energy level during ailments.

There is an exhaustive list of health benefits that the leaves have; however, it may also help discuss how these can be consumed to gain maximum benefits. While the leaves can be consumed cooked or raw, it is important to note what form of consumption might help. For everyday consumption, it is advisable to eat the leaves in their raw form. This can be done by including them in salads, sandwiches, wraps, and sides. Consuming the leaves raw helps gain the maximum benefits they have to offer. Cooking the leaves helps release some of their hidden qualities that may help battle infections and flu (as discussed earlier). The leaves are a great replacement for wilted spinach, unhealthy chips (leaves can be dehydrated into chips), and go well as herbal teas. All in all, do not throw these beauties away.

Do Watermelon Radishes Need to be Refrigerated?

Refrigeration for radishes depends on the choice of the vegetable and the speed of consumption. If the root is perfectly ripe, it is always advisable to consume it in three days. It can be refrigerated to protect it from turning bad. If the radish seems to be a bit raw, one can refrigerate it to be consumed later.

In both cases, radish watermelon can be refrigerated, but it is not mandatory to do so. As a hot root, it may tend to turn soft and soggy (overripe) sooner, and refrigeration can help prevent that. If the radish has been cooked, it should be placed in a mason jar and sealed properly.

Do you Peel Watermelon Radishes?

These gorgeous radishes lend a wonderful hue and punch to any dish they are added to. Peeling radish watermelon is not mandatory; it depends on the dish one wishes to use them for. Salads usually take the radish with the peel. All one needs to do is wash and scrub the root clean, and it is ready to use.

Other dishes, such as pickles or soups, may require the radish skin to be peeled off. While watermelon radishes are usually used in salads, they are a great option for pot roasts. In this case, one could leave the skin on. Leaving the skin on watermelon radishes has also got to do with the aesthetics. The beautiful root is green on the outside and beautiful red inside. Leaving the skin on lends a gorgeous hue to the dish.

How Can You Tell if a Watermelon Radish is Bad?

While radishes usually have a good shelf life, it is important to pick the right kind to ensure it stays fresh. Some of the tips to help pick a good watermelon radish are as follows.

Watermelon radishes resemble parsnips in shape and size. Just like parsnips, it is important to check the vegetable for any discoloring and patches.
The radish must not be soft or soggy.
If the radish head has any green or yellow patches, it indicates the vegetable is turning bad.
The radish must not have any black spots either.
Smelling the vegetables is a good idea. If it sends off a bad odor, it is best avoided.

Just like a bad radish watermelon is obvious to the naked eye, the same goes for a radish that will turn bad.

Bad radishes give out a bad odor. If the refrigerator smells funny, it is time to check that radish.
As a hot vegetable, watermelon radishes respond to heat. If the radishes are left out for too long, they go soft and bad fast.
Watermelon radishes are crunchy and have a peppery taste. If they taste sour or funny, they must be left out of the meal.
A simple way to identify a bad radish is to check for any discoloring.

How do you eat watermelon radishes?

This beautiful vegetable can be used for a variety of dishes ranging from salads to sandwiches. Some of the best ideas to use radish watermelon are:

Chips. Cut the radish into evenly sliced circles, dress them with salt, vinegar, pepper, and olive oil, bake or fry the radish.

Sandwich. Add the red heart root to your next sandwich for beauty and crunch.

Side Salad. If you have ever felt guilty about indulging in too many carbohydrates (read burgers, sandwiches, pasta, etc.), add some dressed radish as a side salad. It will add the much-needed fiber and zing to the dish.

Soups. Watermelon radishes can add a unique peppery zing to any vegetarian or meat soup. Cooked radishes also add more body and health to the bowl.

Pot Roast. Carrots and potatoes shouldn’t be the only roots to sit on the plate with the mighty chicken. Add radishes for the fiber and better digestion.

Salad. Radishes are usually used as garnishes for salad, and that is a shame. The best way to use watermelon radishes in the salad is to use them from the leaf to the root. That way, the salad buzzes with the mild peppery sweetness, and the leaves add to the fiber content in the bowl.

Pickles. Cut radish watermelon into one-inch cubes to boil and pickle. It can be used for a month. This also ensures involving the vegetable in one’s daily meal in a tasty way.

Fries. Make french fries; use the radish.

Sushi. Roll up a radish watermelon with your sushi. The beautiful pinkish-red will contrast beautifully with the plate—aesthetics, and crunch in one roll.

Radish Dust. Watermelon radishes can be dehydrated and churned into a powder. This can then be sprinkled onto an array of dishes. The pink hue can light up any dish and lend a tonne of health.

Watermelon radish leaves are an equal revelation. They can be used for a variety of dishes.

Wilted Leaves. Tossing the leaves with olive oil, salt, pepper, and some garlic works as a wonderful breakfast side.

Curries. Radish leaves can be boiled and blended for a lush green puree that can be used in various curries and vegetarian dishes.

Sandwiches. Use a radish leaf in a sandwich and give a break to the overused lettuce.

Teas. The leaves can either be brewed in plain water or combined with other teas. Apart from the medicinal qualities, the leaves also lend a subtle sweetness to the tea.

Wraps. Radish leaves can be used the same way as lettuce leaves are used for wraps. They can also be added to the salad used inside a wrap.

Rolls. Make a protein-based salad, add a spoonful on a radish leaf, roll it up and secure with a toothpick. This could work as a fresh appetizer.

Conclusion

This beautiful variety of daikon has been silently waiting in the basket to be picked up, celebrated, and cherished with every meal. It is time to embrace this beauty and marvel at the health benefits it has the potential to pass on.