Roasted watermelon radishes with lemon and parsley are a bright addition to your winter table. This vegan side dish recipe screams sunshine on winter's short dark days.
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A simple roasting of the radishes brings out their sweetness and makes for a nice change from the standard pickled watermelon radish or thinly sliced watermelon radish salad. This watermelon radish recipe is easy to make with just a handful of ingredients.
We are in the shortest days of the year right now. And all things local and tasty are lovely dark fall colors. But every now and then I need something bright and cheery. I need hope that spring will in fact return someday. This is where these colorful radishes come to my rescue.
They look a little plain on the outside but the slightest bit of pink tells us something fabulous is going on the inside.
It is like wearing a practical wool coat and then ripping it off to reveal a Diana Ross-style glitter dress. The vivid color of bright pink flesh gives me giggles of happiness.
I try to pair watermelon radishes with main courses that are not as bright as I would like. For example, my one pan French onion chicken bake, chicken artichoke casserole, or a bavette steak. Delcious, but brown.
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📖Why My Recipe Works
- Mild Flavor- Roasting watermelon radishes is much easier for non-radish lovers to handle than pickling or raw which makes them the perfect gateway radish. Plus, they are so pretty no picky eater is going to look at them say… 'oh, no I don't do radishes'.
- Allergy Friendly-This recipe is vegan, paleo, gluten-free, and dairy free!
I have been working on a collection of the best watermelon radish recipes, so be sure to check them all out.
🧾Ingredient Notes
- Watermelon Radishes- Select any size, we are going to trim and quarter them. These radishes typically require a bit of scrubbing but you don't need to peel them. The green tops can be saved and used in my quick and easy sauteed greens recipe.
- Oil- Use any neutral oil like olive oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil.
- Fresh Parsley- Chives make a lovely substitution.
- Lemon Juice and Zest- The fresh zest adds another dimension of flavor so I prefer to use fresh lemon over bottled juice.
🔪 How to Make Roasted Watermelon Radishes
Unlike most roasted root vegetables, radishes are rather forgiving on temperature and cook time. Both can be adjusted to whatever else you may have going in the oven. Which essentially makes this one of the easiest side dishes ever.
Step 1- Prep the Raw Watermelon Radishes
Watermelon radish prep is easy to manage. No excessive peeling or scrubbing. A quick rinse, trim the ends, and quarter or cut in ¾ inch wedges if you have some extra-large specimens. Do not peel the radishes.
If you have the greens attached you can wash them and saute them up just like spinach.
Step 2- Roast the Radishes
One thing to note, the radishes may vary in color. As you can see one batch was brightly colored when cut and the other batch was a lighter pink. This is a natural variation.
Watermelon radishes are best roasted at 375 F degrees for 30 minutes. The radishes should be spread in a single flat layer.
Be sure to toss halfway through and rotate the pan for even cooking.
Step 3- Serve
A toss with fresh parsley and lemon zest at the end adds some additional color to the dish. While this step is optional it is an easy way to elevate your radishes.
If you don't have a fresh lemon toss the radishes with 2 tablespoons of bottled lemon juice. We used parsley to keep the herbs simple but you can chives, basil, or any combination of the three fresh herbs
🥗What to Serve with Watermelon Radishes
If you are looking for bigger flavors consider one of my many sauce recipes. I think both our garlic butter sauce and the authentic chimichurri recipe are ideal pairings.
And if pesto is your thing, try my wild ramp pesto in the spring and dairy-free basil pesto in the summer. Or try homemade honey mustard for something sweeter.
More Delicious Side Dish Recipes
💬Frequently Asked Questions
What is a watermelon radish?
A watermelon radish, like common radishes, is part of the brassica family. And an heirloom variety of daikon, a Chinese radish. They have a white exterior with hints of light green and light pink exterior and a bright pink interior.
Where do you buy watermelon radishes?
Watermelon radishes can be found at your local farmer's markets and an increasing number of grocery stores. Our local grocery chains regularly carry watermelon radishes.
How do you tell if a watermelon radish is ripe?
The radishes should feel firm and heavy for their size. The skin should be crack and wrinkle-free. Avoid watermelon radishes that feel spongy when squeezed.
Watermelon radish can vary greatly in size, from smaller than a golf ball to much larger than a tennis ball.
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📖 Recipe Card
Roasted Watermelon Radishes with Lemon and Herb
Ingredients
- 1 pound watermelon radishes trimmed and quartered
- 2 Tablespoons coconut oil or other nuetral oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley finely chopped
- 1 lemon juice and zest
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F.
- Toss cut radishes with melted oil and salt on a sheet pan.1 pound watermelon radishes, 2 Tablespoons coconut oil, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Roast 30 minutes, tossing halfway through, until slightly browned.
- Toss radishes with pepper, parsley and lemon juice and zest.¼ teaspoon black pepper, 1 lemon, 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley
Notes
- To quickly melt the coconut oil, scoop it onto a sheet pan and place it in the oven for 1 minute.
- Leftover radishes can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 5 days.
- You do not need to peel the watermelon radishes. Just wash well and blot dry with a towel.
Gretchen Toolan says
Directions were easy to follow. These came out great! My only comment is that if you’re watching your sodium, you can use less salt.
TAZ says
When do you use the lemon juice?
Jen Wooster says
At the end- I updated the recipe. Thanks for pointing that out.
Angie Hill says
Can some one please get back to me thank you Angie I asked a question on the oil if I could substitute coconut for Olive or avocado please send me a text ASAP thank you
Angie Hill says
Can I substitute the coconut oil with olive oil or avocado oil cause I don't have coconut
Jen says
Yes you can use olive oil or avocado oil in this recipe.
Kristina says
Can I use an air fryer for this recipe? It looks so yummy!
Jen says
Yes- My best guess is to set to 375 and cook for 20-30 minutes. Not much time savings versus roasting in the oven.
Lisa DeStefano says
So yummy! I added a tiny squeeze of lemon just to bring everything together.
Jen says
Perfect. Glad you enjoyed!
Toni says
This quickly became a favorite at my house!!
Anita says
What a cute looking radish! I've never seen this particular type of radish before, but now I'm obsessed with trying to get a hand on them. 🙂
Irina says
I find that colorful meals look so appetizing! Your roasted radishes are the best example. I am gonna try to make them. LOVE your recipe. Thanks.
Suzy says
These radishes are so great for presentation but so tasty too! Love it!
Jessica Formicola says
These watermelon radishes are just gorgeous! I've never tried them, but now I can't wait to! Thanks for the recipe!