Deliciously Healthy Oven Roasted Black Radish (Vegan)

Fall in love with black radish and its health benefits with this simple way of roasting them in the oven. This makes for a great side dish or snack! 

Ingredients

• Black Radish
• Olive Oil
• Salt

Why You’ll Love It

Black radish is stunning to look at with its black skin and white flesh. This recipe is about the easiest way to cook this lovely root vegetable. You can eat it as a warm side dish, or just on its own as a type of warm chip! The crisp texture and slightly bitter taste go great with salt and olive oil. 

Background

Black Radish also goes by a few other names: Spanish Radish, Winter Radish, and Nero Tondo Radish. It’s crispy with a slightly bitter and even spicy taste, and belongs to the Brassicaceae family of root vegetables. 

Black Radish is known for its health benefits. It is a good source of fiber and various nutrients, including B vitamins, magnesium, calscium and potassium. It also contains anti-inflammatory compounds. Consuming black radish can therefore help with your digestive system, your energy level, and it can help you fight inflammation. 

How to Prepare

Preheat your oven to 350° Fahrenheit. 

Wash your black radishes and pat dry. Thinly slice them. The thinner you get them, the quicker they roast and the crispier you can get them, if that’s how you like them. 

Coat with olive oil. I like to use a food brush in order to get the slices nicely coated with olive oil, but without using a ton of oil. Coat both sides of each slice. 

Lay the slices onto one or two baking trays so that they are on it in a single layer. (My trays don’t tend to stick, but if yours do, then you might want to coat your baking tray with some oil too.)

Sprinkle with salt. I personally find that salt is all I need when it comes to seasoning!

Place into preheated oven and roast for 15 minutes. Turn each slice around so that the browned side of the slice is now facing up. Roast for another 15 minutes. Keep a close eye on your slices during these last 15 minutes. If you managed to slice your radish SUPER thin, then you will probably need less time. But if your slices are on the thicker side, you might want to give them a few extra minutes. It also depends on how crispy you like them. I personally will take them either way – super crispy or on the softer side. They’re delicious either way!

Remove from oven and serve. 

How to Serve

Serve your slices of oven roasted black radish as a side dish, or even just eat them on their own. Even if you made them super crispy to be more like chips, eat them when they are still warm. Can’t get much simpler than this!

How to Store

Let cool down completely. Store in an airtight container and keep in refrigerator for 5-7 days. 

Other Recipes You Might Enjoy

This veggie packed Chicory and Root Vegetable Soup uses a bunch of root vegetables. You can substitute black radish for the watermelon radish I used in this version. 

Q&A

Can You Eat The Skin Of Black Radish?

Yes, you absolutely can and should eat the skin of black radish! Don’t waste your time (or food!) peeling it!

What Does Black Radish Taste Like?

Black radishes are slightly spicy and bitter. They can be eaten raw, in which case the spice and bitterness are a little more pronounced than when cooked or roasted. Try it yourself!

Can I Eat Raw Black Radish?

Yes, you can absolutely eat raw black radish (with the skin)! Its spicy and bitter flavor is more pronounced when eating it raw. Slice it up and add it into a salad, or as a topping on bread with hummus or avocado. Basically use black radish like you would any other kind of radish. It’s nice and crisp when eaten raw. 

If the raw taste is too much for you, then roast it in the oven, like the above recipe calls for, or cook it like you would any other root vegetable.

Are Black Radishes Good For You?

Black radish benefits are plentiful! They are filled with fiber. This helps your digestive system, regulating your bowel movements, and it is also good in reducing bloating and gas. In addition to fiber, black radish is also rich in nutrients. It includes vitamin C, magnesium, calcium, and potassium. It also contains vitamins B, which can help reduce fatigue and generally help with your overall energy level.

Spanish black radish contains anti-inflammatory compounds, which can reduce inflammation in the body. While inflammation is a natural response to injury or infection, too much of it can cause many negative health condition. It is, therefore, beneficial to consume natural foods, such as black radish, that can help naturally lower one’s inflammation.

Can My Kid Help Me Cook?

Yes, your child can help you cook this! This is a quick recipe, so you may not need to involve your child in the preparation. But you can! My 2 year old is too little to cut the radish, but she can coat it with oil. I’ll give her the food brush with oil on it, and she will coat the slices with oil. And then she transfers them over to the baking tray (though I will make sure they are all in a single layer before they go into the oven). You could also have your child wash and dry the radishes. And if you trust them with the salt, they could salt the slices. Obviously, if your child is old enough to use a sharp knife, then they can slice the radish for you, which means they could complete the entire recipe themselves!