Daikon recipes

I bought some daikons from the market this morning. People over here call it daikon. Back where I came from, it was called White Radish or Chinese Radish. So far, I hardly see any recipes that use daikon as the main ingredient. I suppose that's because the pungent smell of daikon puts off many people. The only time when I eat daikon is when my mum prepared the daikon and pork soup. Also daikon is used in Japanese cuisine in particular the salads, preserved radish and the dipping sauce which I particularly fancied. So here are some daikon recipes for those of you who dare to try out. :p

Daikon Radish With Chicken

Ingredients:-

• 1 medium daikon radish
• 2 boneless chicken legs with thigh (may substitute with chicken breast but taste might be less rich)
• 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 crushed garlic clove
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil

Cooking sauce

• 2 cups chicken stock
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons sake
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon mirin
• pepper

Methods:-

1. Peel daikon and cut into 1/2 inch half moons.
2. Cut chicken into 1/2- 1 inch pieces.
3. Heat oil. Add daikon and chicken and sauté over high heat. Stir in crushed garlic and chili flakes/pepper.
4. Add all ingredients for the cooking sauce. Cook over medium heat, constantly skimming.
5. When the sauce has nearly evaporated, sprinkle sesame oil.
6. Remove from heat and serve with rice.

Daikon Miso Soup

Ingredients:-

• 3 1/3 cups dashi soup stock
• 4 inches daikon
• 3-4 tbsps miso paste

Methods:-

1. Put dashi soup stockin a pan.
2. Cut daikon into thin and long slices and add them to the soup.
3. Simmer daikon slices until soften.
4. Scoop out some soup stock from the pan and dissolve miso paste in it.
5. Return the soup in the pan and stir well. Remember not to boil the soup after you put miso in.

Roasted Daikon Radishes Recipe

Ingredients:-

• 2-3 daikon radishes
• 1 bag of baby carrots for less preparations
• 1 whole onion
• salt
• pepper
• olive oil
• 1 clove garlic

Methods:-

1. Turn oven to 350 degrees. Drizzle olive oil evenly on a flat baking pan.
2. Then peel and cut the daikons into 1/4 thick round slices. Try to be consistent with the cutting so that it can cook evenly. Spread it evenly on the baking pan.
3. Chop the onion into big chunks and spread it along with the baby carrots onto the baking pan
4. Mash the garlic and throw it on top of the vegetables.
5. Season the vegetables with salt & pepper and drizzle additional olive oil.
6. Put it in the oven and let it bake for about 45-60 min uncover.

Daikon Radish Soup

Ingredients:-

• 1kg Pork Ribs/ Meat
• 650g Daikon Radish - chopped into large chunks
• 1 cup Yu-zhu/Yuk-chuk (玉竹)
• 10 Chinese Mushrooms
• 1 handful Goji Berries
• 1 handful of dried red dates

Methods:-

1. Wash thoroughly the dried red dates, goji berries and mushrooms
2. Then soak the mushrooms in cold water (enough to cover everything) until they are soft.
3. Place pork ribs in a pot, add enough water to cover all the ribs.
4. Bring to boil. You will start seeing pork scum surfacing like this.
5. Once water started boiling, remove from heat and drain.
6. Wash ribs in cold water. Remember that blanching the meat gives you clear soup!
7. Place all ingredients into a large pot, add enough water to cover all ingredients, bring to boil.
8. Lower heat and simmer for at least 1 hour.