SUPER SIMPLE RADISH SALAD WITH CREME FRAICHE



A few months back, Paul and I went to a dinner at Camino celebrating David Tanis' latest book, One Good Dish. The entire meal was delicious, but I haven't been able to stop thinking about one brilliantly simple dish that really spoke to me. Radishes - any sort you can get your hands on - are thinly sliced and topped with a dollop of crème fraîche, nice salt and ground black pepper. Crisp, tangy, creamy, salty all at the same time...yes!

If you can find them, I suggest using a variety of radishes in your salad. At Monterey Market, I picked up standard red beauties along with watermelon and black radishes - each added its own distinct flavor and texture.

INGREDIENTS adapted from David Tanis's One Good Dish
printable recipe
  • 1/2 pound radishes
  • 1/4 cup crème fraîche (see my recipe for homemade crème fraîche)
  • optional: a few drops of milk, water or cream
  • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste (I also like smoked salt as as substitute for the salt and pepper - it's delish!)
Get out your sharpest knife, or mandolin, and slice radishes as thin as possible. With bigger radishes like watermelon or black, you may want to halve or quarter the rounds. Scatter radishes onto individual plates or a larger platter.  Whisk crème fraîche with a few drops of liquid to make it a little loose. Scoop a generous dollop of the runny crème fraîche onto the radishes. Sprinkle smoked salt, or sea salt and freshly ground black pepper over the entire dish. That was easy, right?



Serves 4
  
The days are getting longer, birds have returned to our garden, our fruit trees are leafing out, and asparagus has come to the farmer's market. I don't know about you, but I get a jolt of childlike glee every time I see a new sign that spring is on its way! 

57 comments:

  1. I too am pumped that spring is on the way (...sort of). I started some seeds last week, and two varieties of tomatoes just popped up this morning - it makes me giddy, seeing each plant germinate.

    Watermelon radishes are just so pretty:) I ordered a white variety for this year that is supposed to take a ridiculously short time to mature, so it should be perfect for up here. Enjoy all those little signs of spring around you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Emma, you guys still have plenty of snow for a while right?

    Sun fun to start your seedlings! I totally get your giddy feeling seeing the little cuties sprout:) Ooh I can't wait to see your white radishes once they come around.

    xoxo
    E

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We will have plenty of snow for plenty longer. Snow could last into May if we're unlucky!

      Delete
    2. May? No way!

      Do you know that my daughter Lilah has only seen the snow once? It feels like we live on different planets;)

      xoxo
      E

      Delete
  3. A beautiful salad! So healthy and appetizing.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    ReplyDelete
  4. Such a perfect salad for early spring! I'm definitely going to have to grab a bunch of radishes the time time I'm at the store.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Eileen, it's such an easy salad... but with surprisingly complex flavors. Enjoy!

      Delete
  5. Oh, that salad is stunning - what beautiful colours. And I love the idea of those crisp radishes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Skye, I've always loved the hint of flavor and crispness that radishes bring to salad... I just never thought to let them be the stars of the show... thank you David Tanis!
      -E

      Delete
  6. Didn't you serve us radishes with butter and salt when we came to supper? I think I remember that (and them being delicious). Such a pretty salad, especially with the different types.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Did we? Probably:)
      We love radishes around here!
      Come back Emma, and we'll feed you more. xoxox E

      Delete
    2. Oh I so wish I could come back this summer! xxx

      Delete
    3. Yes! I'd love that too:)))

      Delete
  7. Love such a simple yet flavorful salad! Looks beautiful. I have yet to eat at Camino and it is on my restaurant bucket list along with A16 in Oakland. Have you eaten there yet? I love that Oakland/Berkeley is surging with great places to eat. Hope you have a brilliant week!!
    Lisa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you'll love Camino, Lisa. Russ has the most inspiring combinations - I love that place. I haven't been to A16 because it's so flour-centric - sadly, not a safe option for me:(
      The week is off to a beautiful start. I hope yours is a good one too.
      xoxox
      E

      Delete
  8. My favorite type of recipe. So easy, fresh, and delicious! Yum.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too Dulcie! Easy is always good right? xoxo E

      Delete
  9. Love the crunch and hit of heat of radishes. I put them in nearly all my salads! ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Totally! I'm always tossing radishes into my salads too Carolyn...I dig how David Tanis doesn't even mess around with any other ingredients;)
      xoxo
      E

      Delete
  10. Have you tried radishes whole, with a bit of cold butter and salt flakes? Amazing!! x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! That is one of my favorite treats:))) In fact I have a little "recipe" for that delight in my upcoming book.

      Delete
  11. So beautiful! I had a similar dish when we were in San Francisco a couple of years ago and it's lived long in the memory.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love the way radishes look, can you use the leafs for anything? Like salads? or in soups?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oli, yes! You can eat the leaves in your salad or even try making a radish leaf pesto... yum!
      xoxo
      E

      Delete
  13. This salad is so pretty, love everything about it. Will be pre-ordering your book on Amazon, can't wait to see it. Looks like you received a great shout out from Alice Waters herself, congrats!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey there Cheri, thanks!
      It meant so much to me to get such a thoughtful quote from Alice. I'm still pinching myself.
      xoxo
      E

      Delete
  14. Look at those different radishes...such beauties!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kate, I hear ya... nature never ceases to amaze me with its beauty and deliciousness!

      Delete
  15. Sometimes the simplest food is just the best food. Wonderful salad and starter to any meal.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I can't get enough of these photographs either!! Love, love, love radishes! Sending your link to everybody!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Allison! So sweet to hear from you here. Made my day:))

      Delete
  17. I echo your spring glee! It's only supposed to be a high of 65 today but we are so excited that we're having our first cookout tonight! Even if we do need jackets. This salad is wonderful! So simple. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Enjoy your outdoor cookout tonight! Here comes spring:))
      xoxo
      E

      Delete
  18. i have been enjoying radishes with other things but not by itself, thanks for the inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Gorgeous salad Erin, I love the simplicity of it! xxoo

    ReplyDelete
  20. The watermelon radishes in the bay area, were quite the most beautiful vegetables I'd ever seen. I am now on a mission to find the best replacements for bay area vegetables back in London! Stunningly simple way of enjoying radishes, thanks for sharing! x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ceri, I hope your re-entry to London life is treating you well. I bet your friends and family are happy to have you back. Good luck on your veggie quest:)
      xo
      E

      Delete
  21. I love radishes, though I have never tried them with creme fraiche (looks delish). Radishes taste so vibrant pulled fresh from the soil, so I always grow them in containers during springtime. Their quick germination means super fast gratification!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jess, so smart to plant radishes in containers... I might just need to get on that this spring! Yum.
      xoxo
      E

      Delete
  22. Yum Erin! This looks fresh and delicious. I love the black ones and am going to keep my eyes out for them. Hope you have a great weekend! xoa

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hey Ashley! I'm digging the black radishes these days...though they are heartier than the standards, breakfast, or watermelon. It's always fun to play with new ingredients, isn't it?
    I'm visiting my mom for the weekend and we were just talking about you and how much I love your blog. Xoxo E

    ReplyDelete
  24. So simple and beautiful. Can't wait to get my hands on fresh radishes - soon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Renee, I bet you grow some tasty radishes in your garden:))

      Delete
  25. I agree! I've been so busy and therefore tired recently, but I've woken up to brilliant sunshine and somehow that does make things seem so much better! I included radishes in a salad recently and it worked really well. Great idea to make them the star of the show!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Helen, so true. Sunshine makes everything better - I always feel full of energy when the sun is out. xo
      E

      Delete
  26. I am so excited that spring is here! I'm craving simple meals with radishes and greens, avocado and herbs. This salad is just lovely.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too. Doesn't spring put a smile on your face? I love this time of year. I'm heading out to my garden this morning to plant strawberries.
      xoxo
      E

      Delete
  27. P.s. I see that your book is available for pre-order, so exciting! Hooray for you!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I don't know why I am only getting around to checking out your blog now, but I am definitely regretting all the time in the kitchen I have spent, not knowing about how great it is! This weekend I made a butterfish recipe I found here, and I am planning to make the radish salad out of my csa vegetables this week. Really beautiful blog Erin. I cannot wait to buy the book! Love! Jessie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jessie, so nice to hear from you here, and I'm so glad you are liking the blog! You know, I still want to come and see your place. We need to make a date before too long.
      xoxo to you and Kyle,
      E

      Delete
  29. That looks so beautiful, can't believe how simple it is. Perfect Spring food!

    ReplyDelete

So good to hear from you... I appreciate each and every note you leave for me!

Thanks,
E