Simple Radish Salad with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

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This Simple Radish Salad with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette is crisp, delicious, and sure to be you’re new go-to spring or summer side dish!

Extra easy and with minimal ingredients, this fresh Radish Salad incorporates arugula, pecans, mint, and a fast homemade dressing. It’s perfect to serve alongside any main dish this spring or summer or as the base of an entrée. Radishes are in season in the spring making it the ideal time to showcase them in recipes like this one. Plate up this crisp, tangy, nutty, and slightly sweet Radish Salad for your next cook out, picnic, or lazy pool day. It would also be great to serve as a starter salad for Easter, a bridal shower, or dinner party.

Salad Ingredients

Radishes

The main ingredient and star of the show in this Radish Salad is obviously… radish! I don’t think radishes get enough credit. They are crisp, spicy, and slightly sweet. There are also many varieties to choose from. Like these watermelon radishes I use in this Ahi Tuna Salad recipe.

Note:

Raw/uncooked radishes are used in this recipe. Soak the sliced radishes in some salt water to crisp them up even more while releasing some of the spiciness.

Arugula

This vibrant, slightly spicy, and peppery greens base is delicious in this Radish Salad recipe.

Pecans

Add a nutty kick to the salad with sliced or halved pecans. The pecans add healthy fats, protein, and make this simple salad a lot more filling. Plus, most importantly, they’re tasty!

Fresh Mint

Elevate this already refreshing summery salad with fresh mint leaves. The herbal sweetness balances out some of the other tangy, spicy flavors.

Substitutions and Variations

There are many ways you can customize this Radish Salad. Not a fan of arugula? Swap the base with spinach or kale. Walnuts and pine nuts are delicious alternatives to pecans. Other herbs like basil, cilantro, or thyme would be tasty additions. English Cucumbers build on the crisp, refreshing theme. And cheese! I personally love feta, Parmesan, or goat cheese with this salad.

Honey Mustard Vinaigrette Ingredients

This bright, savory, yet also sweet dressing ties all the flavors of the Radish Salad together. And it’s so easy. You probably already have all the ingredients in your pantry. All you need is olive oil, red wine vinegar, fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and honey (or hot honey).

Radish Salad with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette Instructions

Prepare the Honey Mustard Vinaigrette by whisking ingredients together in a small bowl or shaking up in a salad dressing shaker.

Slice the radish thin. This is easiest done with a mandoline (but be careful, they’re sharp!). If you don’t have a mandoline I’ve linked one here. Or use a sharp knife.

Plate a bed of washed arugula, then radish slices, then sprinkle on pecans and fresh mint. Drizzle with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette.

FAQs

What else do radishes go well with? Can I add protein to this Radish Salad?

Other cool, crisp vegetables like cucumbers pair well with radishes. This recipe is also a great base for adding protein like salmon or crab cakes and upgrading it from a side salad to the main event.

Can you eat radish greens?

Yes! Just make sure you clean them very well as they can contain a lot of dirt. Toss them into your radish salad or add them to a pesto like this Broccolini Pesto recipe.

When are radishes in season?

Radishes are typically in season/best in the spring. April is peak timing, but you can find them in-store year-round. When harvested later in the summer they tend to be a little spicier.  

How do you clean radishes?

Cut off the tops and long roots and rinse well working off the dirt. Use a paper towel to get any stubborn leftovers.

Can I prepare this Radish Salad ahead of time?

This salad can be prepared hours in advance and stored in the refrigerator if you’re preparing to host a dinner party. Just be sure to hold off on adding the Honey Mustard Vinaigrette until right before serving to keep it from becoming soggy.

Serve with...

Serve this Radish Salad as a starter salad before this herbal Homemade Creamy Basil Pesto Gnocchi or Spicy Arrabbiata Squid Ink Pasta. And don't forget about an equally refreshing cocktail like Blueberry Mojito with Kiwi and Spiced Rum or Easy Raspberry Coconut Margarita.

 

If you liked this recipe you might also enjoy…

Ahi Tuna Salad

Strawberry Watermelon Summer Salad

Bagels with Lox