Author Notes
Pan braising mellows a radish's spice and changes its texture, making it tender and moist, almost beet-like in nature. This recipe is inspired by a recipe in Deborah Madison's The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone. The overall flavors are simple, and lots of chopped tarragon and a splash of vinegar at the end give this cooked dish a lovely brightness. —Alexandra Stafford
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Ingredients
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2
large bunches radishes and their greens
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1
shallot
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4 teaspoons
butter, or more or less, divided
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Kosher salt and pepper to taste
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Water
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1 bunch
fresh tarragon
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Splash
Vinegar (optional)
Directions
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Trim the greens from the radishes, leaving a bit of the green stem intact. Place greens and radishes in a large bowl of cold water and let soak for at least five minutes. Remove greens and set in a colander to drain. Dry off radishes and slice in half. Note: Quarter larger radishes; leave small ones whole.
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Mince the shallot. In a large sauté pan, melt three teaspoons of the butter and sweat the minced shallots over medium heat for a minute or so -- you don't need any color here. Add radishes to the pan and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Pour in water to almost cover the radishes -- the top surfaces should be peeking out a bit. Bring to a simmer, partially cover the pan, and cook until the radishes are knife tender, about 5 to 8 minutes depending on the size of the radishes. Remove the lid and add the greens to the pan. Cover and cook for a minute or two more, until the greens have somewhat wilted. Use tongs to stir them a bit. Transfer greens and radishes to a large mixing bowl leaving juices remaining in pan.
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Bring juices to a simmer, and reduce until no more than a quarter cup remains. Add a teaspoon more of butter and stir to incorporate it with the juices.
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Finely chop the tarragon and add it to the bowl. Pour reduced juices overtop and toss to coat. Taste. Add more salt and pepper if necessary. Add just the smallest sprinkling of vinegar for a touch of brightness if necessary. Transfer greens and radishes to serving platter.
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