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    Home » Recipes » Vegetable Dishes

    12 Easy Japanese Daikon Radish Recipes

    Mar 5, 2023 by JURI · This post may contain affiliate links

    5 from 6 votes
    JUMP TO RECIPE JUMP TO VIDEO

    Daikon radishes are earthy but versatile vegetables that can be eaten raw or cooked. If you want to learn how to cook it, here are 12 Japanese daikon radish recipes to help you get started!

    6 different daikon dishes

    Daikon is a Japanese root vegetable, and the crunchy texture and tenderness make it a perfect side dish or complement to many dishes!

    Do you know that Daikon is a whole food? It's not just the roots we should be eating, but also all that skin and leaves. There isn't anything in there to throw away!

      This recipe is for you if:
    • You love Japanese daikon radish.
    • You don't know how to cook daikon.
    • You want to get to know more about daikon
    • You are looking for easy Japanese daikon recipes

    If you are new to Daikon, don't worry, I have all the information you need to prepare, store and cut, along with easy and delicious daikon recipes!

    Let's get started!

    Jump to:
    • 12 Japanese Daikon Radish Recipes
    • Watch How To Cook Daikon
    • What is Japanese Daikon Radish?
    • What does it taste like?
    • Where to Buy
    • How to pick a fresh and delicious Daikon
    • How to store
    • Health benefits
    • How to cook
    • How to cut
    • Watch How To Cut Daikon 6 Ways
    • Thanks for stopping by
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Japanese Daikon Radish Recipes
    • 💬 Comments

    12 Japanese Daikon Radish Recipes

    11 Japanese daikon recipes.

    I have listed my favorite daikon recipes below! They are all simple and easy-to-make recipes. And we will go deeper into how to cut, cook, and store daikon radish after the list. Let's dive in!

    Raw Daikon Recipes

    1. Daikon Salad with Sesame Dressing
    2. Pickled Daikon
    3. Honey Daikon
    4. Daikon Oroshi
    5. Daikon Oroshi Mochi
    6. Daikon Leaves Green Smoothie

    Simmer/Stir fry/Pan fry Recipes

    1. Daikon Nimono (Simmered Daikon)
    2. Daikon Miso Soup
    3. Daikon Skin Stir-Fry
    4. Fried Daikon
    5. Daikon Leaves Furikake

    Kiriboshi Daikon (Dried Daikon)

    1. Kiriboshi Daikon Salad

    1. Daiko salad with sesame dressing

    daikon salad in a bowl
    Japanese Daikon Salad with Sesame Dressing
    5 from 7 votes
    This is a super simple Daikon Salad served with creamy sesame dressing. Are you looking for an easy and quick daikon recipe with Japanese flavors? Give this one try!
    Make This Recipe
    daikon salad

    2. Pickled Daikon

    pickled daikon in a white container
    Japanese Pickled Daikon Recipe
    5 from 3 votes
    This Japanese pickled daikon is an excellent side or accompaniment to any meal. It's crunchy, sweet, and refreshing, so it'll go well with any dish! 
    Make This Recipe
    Japanese pickled daikon in a container

    3. Honey Daikon

    Honey daikon in a jar
    Honey Daikon (Cough Syrup)
    5 from 5 votes
    This Honey Daikon is a whole-food, natural syrup that has been made from real food! If you are looking for a homemade cough syrup, try this one!
    Make This Recipe
    Honey daikon in a jar

    4. Daikon oroshi

    daikon oroshi

    Daikon oroshi is a Japanese condiment made by grating raw daikon radish. The refreshing taste of daikon oroshi is often served with grilled fish and tempura in Japan, as it helps break down fatty foods.

    The left is used as a topping of Natto (fermented soybeans), and the right is used for Tempura sauce.

    Daikon Oroshi (Grated Japanese Radish)
    5 from 3 votes
    Are you not sure how to eat Daikon Oroshi? It's a simple Japanese raw radish dish. Learn how to make and enjoy it in this recipe!
    Make This Recipe
    daikon on a grater over a bowl.

    5. Daikon Oroshi Mochi

    daikon oroshi mochi on a round plate.
    Daikon Oroshi Mochi
    5 from 1 vote
    This daikon oroshi mochi is a delicious snack made with chewy mochi rice cakes topped with refreshing grated daikon. If you're a fan of Japanese flavors, you will love this!
    Make This Recipe
    daikon oroshi mochi on a round plate.

    6. Daikon Leaves Green Smoothie

    daikon leaves green smoothie.

    I love daikon radishes with leaves! Fresh daikon leaves are the perfect ingredient for a green smoothie. They are richer in vitamin C and calcium than white roots!

    How to prepare: Use a handful of leaves. Wash the leaves, cut them into four, add to a blender with one or two bananas and a kiwi, pour 1 cup of water (or more) and blend until smooth.

    7. Daikon Nimono (Simmered Daikon)

    simmered daikon in a pot with spatula
    Japanese Daikon Nimono (Simmered Daikon)
    5 from 3 votes
    Cook daikon and atsuage(deep fried tofu) slowly in a pot and enjoy this daikon nimono recipe. It's flavorful, tender and so easy to break with chopsticks.
    Make This Recipe
    大根と厚揚げの煮物

    8. Daikon Miso Soup

    daikon miso soup in a pot with spoon
    Japanese Daikon Miso Soup (Niboshi Dashi)
    5 from 5 votes
    This Daikon Miso Soup is a hearty and healthy Japanese soup. The daikons are tender, and the dashi (soup stock) has an umami flavor that makes it rich in taste. If you love daikon and soup, this recipe is for you!
    Make This Recipe
    daikon miso soup

    9. Daikon Skin Stir-Fry

    daikon skin stir-fry in a bowl
    Japanese Daikon Stir Fry
    5 from 3 votes
    This simple but tasty Daikon stir fry only takes 10 minutes, so it's the perfect dish if looking for something quick tonight!
    Make This Recipe
    Japanese Daikon(Radish) Skin Stir Fry

    10. Fried Daikon

    fried daikon with ketchup.
    Fried Daikon
    5 from 3 votes
    Looking for a tasty side dish with Japanese daikon radish? This fried daikon is crispy outside with a soft juicy inside that you can't resist!
    Make This Recipe
    fried daikon with ketchup.

    11. Daikon Leaves Furikake

    daikon leaves furikake.

    Furikake (Japanese rice seasoning) is the most popular way to eat daikon leaves. It's an easy-to-make and delicious condiment to eat with starchy Japanese rice.

    How to prepare: Stir fry chopped daikon leaves with sesame oil, add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of mirin, and Katsuobushi (option, bonito flakes), and cook until the water evaporates. Turn off the heat and add toasted sesame seeds.

    12. Kiriboshi daikon salad

    kiriboshi daikon salad in a bowl.
    Kiriboshi Daikon Salad
    5 from 3 votes
    Kitiboshi daikon salad is a delicious, healthy, and filling dish. It has the natural taste of sweetness with a chewy texture that satisfies you!
    Make This Recipe
    kiriboshi daikon salad in a bowl.

    Watch How To Cook Daikon

    Watch and learn how to cook Daikon in 5 different ways in this video.

    What is Japanese Daikon Radish?

    what is daikon radish?

    Daikon, also known as white radish, winter radish, and Japanese radish, is a common root vegetable in Japan.

    Daikon means "big root" in Japanese, long, thick, and heavy. They can weigh anywhere from 1 to 2 kg (2 to 4 lbs).

    We can find wide varieties of Daikon in Japan, but this Aokubi daikon, the green color on the top, is the most common.

    daikon growing in the farm.

    It has an earthy flavor and many versatile uses that can be eaten raw (including the skin), stir-fried, or added to a soup. You can also eat the leaves (actually, leaves contain more nutrients than white roots!).

    The most popular dish is a simmered daikon.

    It's available all year round at a grocery store, but the season is summer and winter. The Summer daikon tends to be more peppery in taste, whereas winter daikon tends to have a sweeter flavor and juicier texture.

    What does it taste like?

    a Japanese daikon radish with some text overlay.

    Do you know that Daikon has different tastes and textures depending on which part you use?

    It has a unique flavor profile, with a sweet spot near its leaves and turning peppery towards the bottom.

    • Top (near the leaves): Sweet, juicy, and crunchy
    • Middle: Sweet, slightly peppery, and soft
    • Bottom: Peppery and less juicy

    You can find the difference by eating raw on each part if you are curious.

    The texture and taste are different, so using the part according to your cooking dish makes them tastier. The sweet and juicy top part works perfectly for eating raw, while the peppery bottom is excellent for spices or sauces.

    We will go through what recipes are suitable for each part in the section "How to cook daikon radish."

    Where to Buy

    daikon radishes.

    You can find Daikon at Japanese grocery stores, Asian grocery stores (Daikon is a popular ingredient in Asia), and local farmer's markets during the season. You can find it at online stores as well.

    Where to buy daikon radishes

    • Japanese grocery stores: Mitsuwa marketplace, Marukai
    • Asian grocery stores
    • Local farmer's markets
    • Online stores: Instacart, Walmart

    How to pick a fresh and delicious Daikon

    describe how to choose fresh daikon.

    When you pick up your Daikon at a grocery store, make sure to check these points. If you find any leaves attached to the Daikon, check them first. Bright green leaves are an easy sign to pick fresh daikon radishes.

    Roots

    • Pick the one which is straight, thick, and glossy.
    • Pick the one with smooth and firm skin (not wrinkled)
    • Hold it and make sure it's heavy and solid
    • Beautiful white root with fewer bumps

    Leaves

    • Fresh daikon leaves have a bright green color (not yellow)
    • They are firm and stretched to the tips.

    How to store

    Daikon radishes are thick and long, so you may wonder how to store them. In this section, I will share my simple way of storing those big roots!

    Refrigerate

    describe how to store daikon.

    Refrigerating is best when you plan to up daikon radish within a week.

    If you see leaves on it, cut them off immediately because they will absorb all the nutrients around its roots. Then cut the root into thirds and wrap it in plastic to prevent it from drying. If possible, store the Daikon upright in a fridge then you can keep it fresh longer.

    • Cut off the leaves
    • Cut into thirds and wrap in plastic wrap
    • Roots: One week in the fridge
    • Leaves: 3 to 4 days in the fridge
    • Store them upright to keep them fresh longer

    Watch How to store daikon radish.

    Freeze

    describe how to freeze daikon.

    You can store daikon radish in the freezer for long-term storage. Cut it into whatever size you like and put it into a freezer bag.

    Frozen Daikon is not ideal for eating raw, like salad, oroshi (grated Daikon) but is perfect for simmering. When using it, cook it frozen, and no need to thaw it.

    • Cut and put in a freezer bag
    • One month in a freezer
    • No need to thaw before cooking

    Room Temperature (Dark and cool place)

    describe how to store daikon.

    You can also keep your daikon radish at room temperature (except in hot and humid seasons). Cut off the leaves, wrap the root in the newspaper, and store it upright in a dark and cool place. It will last for one month.

    • Wrap in newspaper
    • One month in a dank and cool place
    • Store it upright to keep it fresh longer

    Health benefits

    daikon radish health benefts

    Root

    Daikon radish contains 95% water but has plenty of vitamins C, potassium, digestive enzymes, and isothiocyanate.

    Digestive enzymes

    Daikon radish is an excellent source of digestive enzymes! One of the well-known benefits is that it helps break down carbohydrates and fat.

    You have to eat it "raw," though (cooked daikon doesn't include the benefit.) In Japan, it's common to serve grated daikon radish with tempura (deep-fried dish) or fatty grilled fish. Also, grated daikon is often served as a condiment for udon and soba noodles.

    Isothiocyanate

    When you grate daikon, it releases an ingredient called "isothiocyanate." This compound provides plenty of health benefits.

    It helps promote healthy blood flow, prevent clots, kill bacteria and fight off colds and viruses, and contains antioxidants to help you fight back against the signs of aging.

    See more health benefits here.

    Daikon leaves

    Daikon leaves are rich in nutrients than its root! The dark green color of the vegetable comes from a high level of vitamin C, potassium, and calcium (five times more than spinach!). In addition, it contains dietary fiber, which can help your digestion.

    How to cook

    how to cook daikon

    How do you cook Daikon? You can prepare this winter vegetable in various ways, but many people don't know how to cook it!

    As I mentioned, daikon flavors differ on the top, middle, and bottom, and it would be better to know what recipes work well with each part.

    I've put together this section with some recipes that use different parts of daikons, so you don't need to wonder what to do with Daikon in your kitchen!

    Top root

    describe how to cook daikon.

    The top root is the sweetest part of the white root, so I highly recommend eating it raw. It's perfect for making salads and pickles to enjoy the crunchy texture.

    Recipes: Daikon Salad, Pickled Daikon, Vegetable sticks, Daikon oroshi (grated Daikon)

    Middle root

    describe how to cook daikon.

    The middle root has a sweet and gentle flavor that works well for any cooking method. I especially like cooking a simmered daikon with the middle. Cut it into thick rounds and simmer them until tender, turning this humble root vegetable into something special!

    Recipes: Daikon nimono (Japanese simmered dish), Daikon stir fry, Vegetable curry, Oden (Japanese winter simmered dish), Furofuki daikon

    Bottom Root

    describe how to cook daikon.

    The bottom is the most peppery portion. If you like the spicy taste, it would be great to make daikon oroshi and use it as a condiment or topping for noodles. It's also suitable for making pickles.

    Recipes: Pickled Daikon, Daikon oroshi (Grated Daikon), Miso soup

    Leaves

    describe how to cook daikon.

    Daikon leaves are nutrient-rich green vegetables with five times more calcium than spinach! So don't throw the leaves away and make soup and green smoothies (if you are a smoothie person, give it a try!) or use the same way as other green leafy vegetables.

    Recipes: Miso soup, Furikake (Japanese rice seasoning), Green smoothie

    The Skin

    When you peel the Daikon, don't throw the skin away - make a stir-fry instead!

    Recipes: Stir fry, Pickles

    How to cut

    describe how to cut daikon.

    Before you start cooking daikon radish for lunch or dinner tonight, we should make sure how to cut this root vegetable.

    There are many ways of slicing it up—it can get confusing! But don't worry; I will show you six basic cuts that work well for different cooking methods.

    Peel the skin

    Before cutting Daikon, peel off the skin with a knife or peeler.

    Daikon skin is tough and contains a firm fiber that runs through it. It tightly protects the inside of the daikon radish, so if you make simmering and braising dishes, peel the skin thicker so the flavor can go in more easily.

    Six ways to cut daikon radish

    describe how to cut daikon.
    1. Thick rounds: Cut into circles (about 1cm/half inches)—cooking method: simmer and braise.
    2. Half moons: Cut in half first lengthwise and into circles (about 1cm/0.4 inches)—cooking method: simmer and braise.
    3. Thin quarter rounds: Cut in quarters lengthwise first and thinly slice—cooking method: Stir fry, pickles, and soup.
    4. Sticks: Cut lengthwise (about 1cm/half inches) and crosswise—cooking method: salad, vegetable sticks, deep fry.
    5. Thin rectangles: Cut lengthwise (about 2mm/1/16 inch) and crosswise—cooking method: salad, soup, and stir fry.
    6. Shred: Thinly slice lengthwise and crosswise—cooking method: salad and soup.

    See more details in How to cut daikon radish in 6 ways.

    Watch How To Cut Daikon 6 Ways

    Thanks for stopping by

    5 different daikon dishes

    Thank you for taking the time to read my blog♡ If you've tried this recipe (or any other recipe on the blog), please give it a star rating below!

    Also, feel free to leave comments if you have any questions. I love hearing from you!

    Chef JA Cooks is a Japanese food blog that shares simple and healthy Japanese home cooking recipes, including vegan and vegetarian. From traditional Japanese recipes to modern recipes with step-by-step instructions.

    Daikon Radish Recipes You Might Like

    • Daikon Salad
    • Daikon Nimono With Atsuage (Simmered dish)
    • Daikon Miso Soup
    • Daikon Skin Stir Fry with Shio kombu
    • Pickled Daikon
    • Daikon Oroshi

    📖 Recipe

    6 daikon recipes

    Japanese Daikon Radish Recipes

    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Servings: 4 servings
    Author: JURI
    Daikon radishes are earthy but versatile vegetables that can be eaten raw or cooked. If you want to learn how to cook it, here are 12 Japanese daikon radish recipes to help you get started!
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 Daikon radish

    Instructions

    • Pick a recipe from these Japanese daikon recipes
      (Daikon Salad with Sesame Dressing, Pickled Daikon, Honey Daikon, Daikon Oroshi, Daikon Oroshi Mochi, Daikon Leaves Green Smoothie, Daikon Nimono (Simmered Daikon), Daikon Miso Soup, Daikon Skin Stir-Fry, Fried Daikon, Daikon Leaves Furikake, Kiriboshi Daikon Salad)
    • Follow the recipe instructions and enjoy the delicious dish!

    Video

    Notes

    Watch How To Video
    • How to cook daikon with 5 recipes
    • How to cut daikon in 6 ways
    • How to store daikon radish
      •  
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Japanese
    Keyword: daikon recipes
    Did You Make this recipe?Please Leave a star rating!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Zhesty

      October 21, 2021 at 2:49 am

      I navigated here after harvesting my first ever Daikon from the garden and learned SO much! Just finished eating the top 1/4 which as slightly peppery and enjoyably sweet. Definitely gets spicier towards the tip of the root. The peel wasn't tough at all and I'm looking forward to using the rest soon as well as the gorgeous greens! Many thanks!

      Reply
      • JURI

        October 21, 2021 at 4:15 am

        Hi Zhesty, growing Daikon? That's fantastic!! Glad to help you with my recipes 🙂

        Reply
    2. Terry love

      September 29, 2022 at 12:56 am

      There is a Daikon of different color like white outside and watermelon color inside?

      Reply
      • JURI

        September 29, 2022 at 1:22 pm

        Hi Terry, I'm not sure about the one you mentioned, but I know the one with white outside and pink inside. You can find different types of Daikon in the link below. (If you want any explanation in English, please let me know) I hope it helps!
        https://foodslink.jp/syokuzaihyakka/syun/vegitable/daikon4.htm

        Reply
    3. David

      February 03, 2023 at 4:12 am

      5 stars
      I have also been growing Daikon radishes and am wondering if they are still good to eat when they have been growing and starting to flower?

      Reply
      • JURI

        February 03, 2023 at 5:31 am

        Hi David, it depends. Once it flowers, the white part is covered by fibers and becomes so hard. But if you peel it thick and you might be able to get the delicious soft part. You might wanna try and see the condition of your daikon. By the way, you can eat the flower. It's called Nanohana and popular spring vegetable in Japan. Thanks for your comment!

        Reply

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