Radish Salad with Mint and Pistachios

Fresh red radish salad with mint, shallots, lemon, and toasted pistachios.

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

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Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Radish Salad with Mint
Elise Bauer

On any given day after a run to the farmer's market, you'll find a bowl full of red radishes, greens and roots lopped off, soaking in water in my parent's refrigerator.

My father loves radishes. Whereas some parents put out cookies and chips for their kids for snacks, my dad put out radishes for us, and still does.

Crunchy and cool, they're a great snack!

Cut up and tossed with some lemon, oil, mint, and pistachios, they make a great little salad too, or a lovely side for steak, Mexican pulled pork, or tacos.

We tossed the radishes with toasted pistachios; I've also made with with toasted sunflower seeds, equally good.

Bunch of Radishes
Elise Bauer

Radish Salad with Mint and Pistachios

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 5 mins
Total Time 25 mins
Servings 4 servings

This salad is best eaten fresh. You can prep the ingredients several hours ahead, and even let the radishes marinate in the lemon juice for a couple hours. But don't add the oil, mint, or pistachios until read to serve.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound of red or pink radishes, cut into 1/4-inch thick wedges
  • Grated zest of one lemon, about 1 teaspoon
  • 1/4 cup minced shallots, from 1 to 2 shallots
  • Juice from one lemon, about 3 to 4 Tbps
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • A heaping 1/4 cup shelled pistachios
  • 10 large mint (spearmint) leaves, chopped or sliced thin, about 1/4 cup
  • 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Method

  1. Marinate radish wedges:

    Mix the radish wedges, minced shallots, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt in a bowl. Let sit for 15 to 30 minutes.

  2. Toast the pistachios:

    Toast the shelled pistachios by heating a small skillet on medium high heat. Add the pistachios and heat until lightly browned. Remove from heat and let cool.

  3. Strain excess liquid:

    When you are ready to serve, if there is a lot of excess liquid in the radishes, strain some of it out.

  4. Toss the toasted pistachios, mint, and olive oil in with the radishes:

    Serve immediately.

Links:

Roasted Radishes and Greens Salad, from White on Rice Couple

Jicama, Orange and Radish Salad, from Herbivoracious

Black Radish and Potato Salad, from Chocolate and Zucchini