Each week during the CSA season, I blog about a featured fruit or vegetable. In my seasonal blog I celebrate each food, sharing my research and opinion on why you should be eating it and how to store, prepare, and cook with it. In the past, prior to becoming a Certified Health Coach, I read articles and advertisements that steered me towards certain fruits and vegetables in order to be "healthy." Each fruit and vegetable has it's own unique reason for eating it; when you hear the phrase, "eat the rainbow," this is what they are referring to. The body needs each phytonutrient that each and every plant has to offer. There is a caveat to this, of course; all fruits and vegetables are not good for everyone, for instance if you have diverticulitis, blueberries would not be a healthy option. To make my point, eat a variety of fruits and vegetables and oh man, D'Avignon radishes are delicious and nutritious!
Radishes are a nutritious root vegetable, a member of the brassica (cruciferous) family, like broccoli and cabbage.
5 Reasons to eat your radishes:
1. Detoxifying-helps to break down and eliminate toxins,
2. Digestive Aid- helps to relieve bloating and indigestion and aids in the digestive process,
3. Low in calories and high in nutrients,
4. Nourishing and hydrating- high vitamin C, Folate, fiber, riboflavin, and potassium,
5. Cruciferous- helps to eliminate the cancer-causing free radicals. Radishes contain many phytonutrients that aid in cancer prevention.
Storing
The greens should be removed from the root prior to storing, prolonging the life of each. Store the bulbs covered with a damp paper towel in an airtight container in the refrigerator. covered with a Wrap the bulb wrapped in a damp paper towel and sealed in a plastic bag for around a week or two. The greens will only keep for a few days, wrapped in a paper towel and sealed in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.
Preparing
Scrub the outside of the bulbs with a veggie wash and scrub gently with a vegetable brush. Add to salads, serve as an appetizer, steamed, sauteed, stir-fried roasted. The greens can be washed in a salad spinner with veggie wash and spun. Add greens to soups, stir-fries, eggs, or mixed with your green salad.
Thank you for reading my blog and please click on the recipe button below.
-Dawn Swope, CHHC, AADP, BA