The familiar radish family has a new face—a small, round radish with red skin and white flesh has made its way to the public's table. This is the cherry radish. Compared to other familiar radishes like the white radish, carrot, and green radish, the cherry radish is more like a fruit, with less of a spicy taste and a crisp, refreshing flavor. Cherry radishes are high in water content, their vitamin C content is 3-4 times that of a tomato, and they also contain high levels of mineral elements, mustard oil, lignin, and other components. Radishes are known for their benefits of promoting qi circulation, relieving chest tightness, strengthening the stomach, aiding digestion, relieving coughs and reducing phlegm, eliminating dryness and promoting fluid production, detoxification, dispersing stasis, stopping diarrhea, and promoting urination. Therefore, eating them raw can promote intestinal peristalsis, increase appetite, and aid digestion. Additionally, raw radishes can help prevent cancer, mainly due to the lignin and a sulfur-containing compound called thiocyanate found in them.
Both the root and the leaves of the cherry radish are edible. The root is best eaten raw or with sweet bean sauce, and it can also be braised, stir-fried, or pickled as a sour (pickled) vegetable. It also adds a unique flavor as a side dish in both Chinese and Western cuisine. After eating too many greasy foods, eating a few cherry radishes can be an effective way to cut through the grease.
When eating radishes, don't throw away the leaves, as their nutritional value is higher than the root in many aspects. The vitamin C content in the leaves is nearly twice that of the root, and the levels of mineral elements like calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc are 3-10 times higher than in the root. The leaves can be prepared in much the same way as the root; they can be chopped and stir-fried with minced meat, or used in soups.
Although cherry radishes are delicious and nutritious, there are a few points to keep in mind when consuming them: 1. They should not be eaten with ginseng. 2. Avoid eating them at the same time as fruits. Eating cherry radishes with fruit can easily induce and lead to goiter.