Spring

Shaved Radish (and Turnip) Salad

May 18, 2012
0
0 Ratings
  • Makes Per 1 to 2 servings
Author Notes

This is my homage to the shaved radish salad served at Grüner in Portland. It is a gorgeously composed salad of shaved radish slices, herbs, and pepitas drizzled with cider vinegar and pumpkin seed oil. Because the herbs, oil, and vinegar are randomly applied to the shaved radish (and turnip) base, each bite tastes slightly and deliciously different. I've incorporated some baby turnips which when raw taste much like slightly sweet kohlrabi to me; if they are not in season just use extra radishes. —hardlikearmour

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 enormous or 2 large radishes (to have equal parts radish and turnip)
  • 1 white baby turnip
  • a small sprig of dill
  • a small sprig of thyme or savory
  • a small sprig of tarragon or chervil
  • pumpkin seed oil
  • cider vinegar
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons toasted pepitas (green hulled pumpkin seeds)
  • fine finishing salt – I used Molokai Red to keep with the color scheme!
Directions
  1. Note: This is a pretty loose recipe, just eyeball everything to make it pretty and it will work out perfectly. That's a promise!
  2. Clean radish(es) and scrub turnip. Cut the leaf end off the radishes. Using a mandoline slice the radishes into very thin slices. They should be pliable and translucent. Cut the leaf end off the turnip. Slice the turnip in the same fashion as the radishes.
  3. Arrange the slices in an attractive, overlapping pattern. A round spiraling design works well on a round plate, and rows work well on square.
  4. Remove small fronds from the dill, leaves from the thyme/savory, and leaves from the tarragon/chervil and scatter them evenly over the radish and turnip slices. Drizzle a small amount of the pumpkin seed oil over the salad. Drizzle a similar amount of the cider vinegar over the salad. Scatter the peptitas evenly over the salad. Sprinkle with a pinch or two of finishing salt. Serve.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Lizthechef
    Lizthechef
  • sexyLAMBCHOPx
    sexyLAMBCHOPx
  • bonbonmarie
    bonbonmarie
  • aargersi
    aargersi
  • Bevi
    Bevi
I am an amateur baker and cake decorator. I enjoy cooking, as well as eating and feeding others. I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with my husband and our menagerie. I enjoy outdoor activities including hiking, mushroom hunting, tide pooling, beach combing, and snowboarding.

16 Reviews

Lizthechef June 27, 2013
SO, so pretty -
 
hardlikearmour June 28, 2013
Thank you!
 
sexyLAMBCHOPx June 26, 2013
looks delicious, but I want to swap out the turnips with something else. carrots maybe? love it!
 
hardlikearmour June 26, 2013
Thanks! I think a little sweetness from carrots would be great.
 
sexyLAMBCHOPx June 26, 2013
I don't have pumpkin oil, but have walnut, tarragon... can you suggest a sub? I have everything to make this now as a side for dinner tonight.
 
hardlikearmour June 26, 2013
Hmmm. The pumpkin oil adds a really nice nutty flavor, so go with your nuttiest oil and add some extra pepitas to make up for it.
 
bonbonmarie May 23, 2012
Beautiful! I know your inspiration is spot on--I am a huge fan of Gruner. Funny thing is I hadn't noticed your recipe post before posting mine--another take on the Gruner salad. I play with mine a lot, depending on what's available. I will definitely try your ideas! Good work!
 
hardlikearmour May 24, 2012
The Grüner salad is certainly worthy of more than one take! It's one of my all-time favorite salads.
 
aargersi May 22, 2012
Lovely, fresh and springy!!!
 
hardlikearmour May 22, 2012
Thank you, a! You can bet it will be on the menu at my next dinner party.
 
Bevi May 22, 2012
This looks so pretty and sounds so refreshing!
 
hardlikearmour May 22, 2012
Thank you, Bevi! It's a company pretty salad, and really doesn't take much time to compose.
 
Fairmount_market May 22, 2012
This looks lovely. Good idea to use a mandoline on these guys.
 
hardlikearmour May 22, 2012
Thanks, Fm! I think the thin slicing enhances the dish. It seems to soften the bite from the radishes for some reason, and gives the whole thing a more salad-like texture.
 
jenniebgood May 18, 2012
So pretty - this sounds full of flavor!
 
hardlikearmour May 18, 2012
Thank you, jbg! It is very fresh and flavorful. I think in a mini-version it would be a great palate cleanser.