You may have heard the black is the color of style and fashion. Well, we are here to add that black is also the color of health. If you don’t believe us, try black radish and find out for yourself.
Deemed as perhaps a rare form of radish, hardly found in stores, black radishes are easily available at farmer’s markets and can be eaten and cooked in just the same way as other radishes are.
Arguably the best thing for your liver, the humble black radish is a wonderful addition to your palette. They are consumed and cooked in almost the same way as other radishes are. Given their shape and size, one may easily confuse black radishes with dirt dusted beets, but they must not be passed on for another day.
From salads to pickles and from sandwiches to Sunday roasts, black radishes go everywhere. Apart from lending a crunch and flavor to the dishes, these radishes are anti-cancer friendly, help liver function, protect kidneys, and reduce excessive thyroid secretion.
The coarse, charcoal color of skins may throw you off guard. The black radish’s shape and look may give you the impression of muddy and dirt dusted beets. But, these are, in fact, radishes.
Look out for black radishes at the farmer’s market. These are rare and can be missed easily. A dusty black on the outside, they have creamy white skin and taste quite hot and peppery.
Usually misunderstood as beets, black radish carries all the goodness of its counterparts from the radish family and lends a unique taste to every dish. But, it is important to be careful while buying these goodies. The rules can be as similar to those with the beets. They must not feel
soft or spongy. The radish, but be firm and hard. Unlike other radish varieties, black radishes are usually sold without their greens.
It is quite easy to store these. All one needs to do is wrap them in clean paper or perforated plastic. When stored like this, they have a long shelf life and will not lose their crunch or flavor.
Because we are quite used to seeing white radishes or cherry belles in the market, the sight of a black radish might confuse us. Not having seen or used this variety of radish is the most obvious reason why one might hesitate to pick it up. Here are some ideas about what you can do with it.
What to do with Black Radish
First up, if you love a pungent, peppery flavor, you are in for a treat! Black radishes have a strong, pungent flavor (the kind that can set your tongue tingling). They are popularly paired with roasts, potatoes, meats, and eggs. Here are some of the things you can do with black radishes:
Eat Raw
Clean the radishes thoroughly, peel off the skin, and eat them raw. We recommend you have them on the side with your mains. If your main is semi-sweet or creamy, the radish will add the much-needed spice.
Salads
We recommend classic honey-mustard. The radish’s pungency will cut through the sweetness of the honey, lending much body and crunch to the dish.
Breakfast
We told you black radish and eggs are a match made in heaven. Top up finely chopped black radishes over your egg hollandaise and let the magic unfold.
Roasted
Roast black radishes with your choice of meat. They will lend a mild sweet-peppery flavor to the dish. You can also roast them all alone with some oil and salt. They work as a wonderful mid-meal snack.
Tea
Add some black radish juice to your hot cup of tea. Its medicinal qualities and strong peppery flavor will protect you against sore throat and chest congestion.
Wraps
Add black radishes to wraps and sandwiches for more bite and crunch.
Pickles
If you wish to consume black radishes every day but cannot deal with their pungent flavor, we recommend pickling them. The pickling process will gradually break down its spice tang and make them tolerable to the palette.
While the various recipe ideas and recommendations may put you at ease with using black radishes without worry, one might still wonder about its benefits. The other radish varieties have such formidable benefits; one might wonder what more may the humble black radish have to offer. Let’s begin by looking at the nutritional value of this radish.
| Principle | Nutrient Value | Percentage of RDA |
| Energy | 16 Kcal | 1% |
| Carbohydrates | 3.40 g | 3% |
| Protein | 0.68 g | 1% |
| Total Fat | 0.10 g | <1% |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.6 g | 4% |
| Vitamins | ||
| Folates | 25 µg | 6% |
| Niacin | 0.254 mg | 1.5% |
| Pyridoxine | 0.071 mg | 5.5% |
| Riboflavin | 0.039 mg | 3% |
| Vitamin A | 7 IU | <1% |
| Vitamin C | 14.8 mg | 25% |
| Vitamin E | 0 mg | 9% |
| Vitamin K | 1.3 µg | 1% |
| Electrolytes | ||
| Sodium | 39 mg | 2.5% |
| Potassium | 233 mg | 5% |
| Minerals | ||
| Calcium | 25 mg | 2.5% |
| Copper | 0.050 mg | 5% |
| Iron | 0.34 mg | 4% |
| Magnesium | 10 mg | 2.5% |
| Manganese | 0.069 mg | 2.5% |
| Zinc | 0.28 mg | 2% |
| Phyto-nutrients | ||
| Carotene-ß | 4 µg | — |
| Carotene-α | 0 µg | — |
| Lutein-zeaxanthin | 10 µg | — |
Chart sourced from here.
The chart is a clear reflection of the numerous benefits this radish has to offer. That said, some of these are still worth discussing. One of these is the high mineral content of both potassium and magnesium. These play an important role in brain health and in maintaining the central nervous system. The high vitamin C level in the radish helps build better immunity and metabolism. Moreover, it prevents infections and indigestion. The calcium helps with bone and brain health.
While few of these benefits are obvious to the naked eye, several other benefits may not be visible but help the body more than one. Here are some of the most celebrated black radish health benefits.
Black Radish Health Benefits
Skin Health. Healthy skin is a reflection of a well-hydrated body and an active digestive system. If the body is not toxin-free, it affects the skin. Black radishes are rich in vitamin B complex, zinc, and phosphorus. They keep the body hydrated and help the digestive system clear out all the toxins.
Anti-Hair Fall. Hair fall is arguably one of the most common issues concerning everyone. Consuming black radish juice is the most simple and pocket-friendly solution. Black radishes stimulate hair roots and increase the circulation in the scalp. Both these phenomena help in hair growth and reduce hair fall remarkably.
Better Liver Function. If there is one celebrated and recommended use of black radishes, it is this. The minerals and vitamins in black radishes promote the growth of bile. This is a necessary element in bettering liver function and ensuring overall wellness.
Relief from Fever & Flu. Black radishes are quite hot, almost spicy. This natural characteristic of the vegetable can be best utilized during fever, cold, and flu incidents. The best way to combat any of these is to consume the radish raw. The peppery taste helps clear any congestion, soothes the throat, and often helps one break into a sweat, hence bringing down the fever.
Protection Against Hypothyroidism. The oversecretion of the thyroid gland has now become a common phenomenon with young adults and grown-ups. The sulfur compounds in black radishes help prevent this oversecretion, keeping thyroid issues at bay.
Cholesterol Check. Black radishes keep the circulation and the metabolism of the fat in the body. It encourages the liver to absorb more fat before it deposits in the artery walls by assisting the liver in bile production. The liver processes the fat further and helps the body get rid of any toxic or unhealthy fat. This brings the sugar level down and keeps it within the safe zone.
Protects Kidneys. The diuretic quality of the black radish makes it kidney-friendly. It stimulates frequent urination, not allowing the toxic waste to accumulate inside the body. Moreover, this promotes a healthy urinary tract and prevents bacterial and fungal infections. Since it cleans the kidneys, it automatically keeps the gallbladder healthy. Black radish is also considered to be powerful medicine for getting rid of kidney stones and reducing the pain caused by them.
Brain Health. Black radish is a rich source of potassium and magnesium. These elements play a key role in maintaining the equilibrium in the brain and help in managing balance. As memory chargers, both of these elements help increase recall memory and power, alertness, and concentration.
Anti-Cancer Properties. Like its other variants, the black radish is also considered a wonderful source of cancer. In this case, it helps prevent liver and kidney cancer, too (apart from stomach and gut). Its high-fiber quality helps prevent the preservation of any cancerous cells.
Weight Loss Friendly. Like all radishes, black radishes are also low-calorie and high in fiber. Having radishes as a mid-meal snack keeps the calorie count low; the high fiber vegetable keeps one full for a longer time (as it takes longer to digest). This helps one keep the temptation to indulge at bay.
Diabetes-Friendly. Because black radishes have fewer calories and more fiber, they pose no threat to patients with diabetes. They work as warriors against high blood sugar. This is because of their low glycemic index. Foods with a higher glycemic index break down sooner and release sugar into the body almost immediately. The high fiber content in black radishes brings down this index. Therefore, they take longer to break down and release minimal sugar. Therefore they prevent high sugar levels in the body while still serving as a delicious snack.
One of the things about black radish is if it can be eaten raw. This is usually a point for discussion because of its pungent and spicy flavor. Here are some of our recommendations on the subject.
Can Black Radish Be Eaten Raw?
Yes, they can be. There is absolutely no reason why you must not (if you have a health concern, that is). One of the reasons people choose not to have them raw is because of their flavor. Black radishes can be quite hot, especially for children and those with low spice tolerance.
If you are a spice lover and like its peppery zing, you will love raw black radish. But before you hop on, ensure that the vegetable has been cleaned and washed thoroughly. Brush off the dust on the root and wash it under running water. Peel the skin carefully. You can now dice or cut the radish the way you want. It is ready to eat.
We recommend adding a dash of lemon juice and just a tiny pinch of sugar onto these raw radishes for those who may not be able to tolerate the flavor of the raw radish. Please leave it in the refrigerator for half an hour. You will notice that you will be able to tolerate the heat.
All in All
Don’t hesitate to include this radish in your diet. From its taste to its insurmountable health benefits, the humble black radish has much to offer. As compared to all other radish types, we believe that this variant has the highest medicinal benefits. Don’t forget to add some to your cart the next time you are at the market.
