Bright, colorful, and full of crunch. This watermelon radish salad recipe pairs peppery radishes with sweet snap peas to balance flavors. As the self-proclaimed radish queen I test many vinaigrette recipes to ensure the dressing perfectly highlights the crisp vegetables.
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The thing to know is that I love radishes, everything about them. But I especially love watermelon radishes. I like roasted watermelon radishes, pickled watermelon radishes, and yes I even like them in a simple salad.
This is the latest in my round-up of watermelon radish recipes. It features snap peas, their sweetness is a lovely contrast to the sharp radish flavor.
🧾Ingredient Notes
- Radishes- You can make this recipe with any variety of radish you like but obviously, I am partial to our bright pink friends. I used to only find these at farmer's markets but now my regular grocery store carries them.
- Snap Peas- I think snap peas are the right size but you can substitute blanched green beans, English peas, or even snow peas.
- Feta Cheese- The saltiness of feta pairs perfectly with the pepper of the radish- yes just like salt and pepper. You can also try goat cheese but the flavor won't be as bold.
- Fresh Herbs- I tested this recipe with mint, chives, and basil. But honestly, I thought parsley did the trick but you can switch up for your own perfect combo.
- Simple Dressing- This recipe uses a variation of my house dressing, just a basic lemon dressing.
⏲️How to Make a Watermelon Radish Salad
- You need to use a mandoline to cut the radishes super thin. For larger radishes, you can cut the slices in half or even quarters.
- Blanching (i.e. boiling them and then shocking them in ice water to stop the cooking) the snap peas ensures they stay bright green and crisp. Dry them well before adding to the salad.
- Ensure the dressing is well blended. You can do this with a whisk or in a blender.
🥗What to Serve with
This recipe is great with a roasted chicken or vegetable risotto in the spring. But as summer rolls around I like to serve it with favorite grilled recipes like Carolina chicken, grilled lemongrass pork, or even smoked ribs.
Expert Tip
If you don't have a mandoline the next best option is to julienne the radish.
More Salad Recipes
Common Recipe Questions
What are watermelon radishes?
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.
If you have more questions on these radishes check out my collection of watermelon radish recipes which features more info along with recipes.
Can I use a regular radish in this recipe?
Absolutely! This recipe is great with a French radish, breakfast radishes, or your general garden variety radish!
Did you enjoy making this recipe? Show it some love with ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a comment! Hungry for more FLAVORFUL recipes?
📖 Recipe Card
Snap Pea and Watermelon Radish Salad
Ingredients
- 8 ounces watermelon radishes trimmed and thinly sliced
- 8 ounces sugar snap peas
- ½ cup fresh parsley chopped
- ½ cup feta cheese crumbled
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon raw honey
- 1 small garlic clove minced
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the sugar snap peas and blanch for 2 minutes until bright green and crisp-tender. Drain and immediately transfer to an ice bath to stop the cooking. Once cooled, drain and pat dry. Cut the snap peas in half diagonally.8 ounces sugar snap peas
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, honey, garlic, and a pinch each of salt and pepper.2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon raw honey, 1 small garlic clove, salt and pepper
- In a large bowl, combine the halved blanched snap peas, sliced radishes, chopped parsley, and crumbled feta. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat everything evenly. Serve immediately.8 ounces watermelon radishes, ½ cup fresh parsley, ½ cup feta cheese
Notes
Storing Leftovers
Store the dressing separately if making in advance, add the dressing right before serving. Leftover dressed salad should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep for 2 to 3 days.Equipment
- Saucepan
David says
Took to a cookout, looks nice and is delicious.