Miso Butter Daikon Steak

What Does Daikon Taste Like?

In comparison to other varieties of radishes, Japanese daikon is mild in flavour and does not have that spicy element. When eaten raw, it’s slightly sweet yet peppery with a crisp and watery texture. When cooked, the flavour mellows down, becomes sweeter and becomes quite similar to cooked turnips. Because of it’s mild flavour and itsability to soak up lots of flavour, it’s the perfect canvas for dishes with a sauce rich in flavour.

Health Benefits of Daikon Radish

In Japan, daikon is often served as a side dish alongside heavier meals like deep fried food as a way to ‘relive the oily-ness’ and as a palate cleanser. Since it is low in calories, high in water content and fiber– it makes for a healthy addition to everyday meals!

How to Make Daikon Steak

1. Prep daikon radish: Peel and slice daikon into rounds, about 4-5 cm in thickness. Score both sides with a sharp knife about 3/4 cm deep. Rub sake and kombu dashi on both sides. Place in a microwave safe dish, cover and microwave for 2 minutes on each side at 600 W (or until 80% cooked through). It will look more translucent.
2. Make the sauce: Mix sauce ingredients in a bowl and combine.
3. Cook the radish steaks: Heat vegan butter over high heat and then season both sides with salt and pepper. Pan fry both sides until charred to your liking (about 1 minute per side). Reduce heat to medium low, add sauce mixture and simmer one side for about 30 seconds (or until sauce begins to thicken). Flip and let other side simmer in the sauce. Turn off the heat, remove from burner and serve on a plate. Drizzle with remaining sauce and then garnish with scallions to complete.

Serve these fancy daikon steaks with anything you like! I like to pair it with a fresh bowl of rice, a simple cold tofu side dish and another vegetable based side dish like spinach gomaae.

Daikon Steak Variations

Here are some more flavour suggestions you can make daikon steak with:

• teriyaki
• soy butter
• soy garlic sauce
• ginger soy sauce
• ponzu
• sukiyaki sauce
• yakiniku sauce (Japanese grill sauce)
• yuzu soy sauce
• balsamic sauce
• top with cheese

Recipe Notes

• Score or slice both sides of the daikon radish about 3/4 cm so that it is easier for the sauce to be absorbed.
• Microwaving is a quick and easy way to cook the radish through evenly since the slices are thick.
• The sake is optional but recommended if you find your daikon to be on the bitter side.

More daikon recipes to try:

• Daikon Miso Soup
• Vegan Kimchi
• Ozoni Mochi Soup
• Vietnamese Pickled Daikon and Carrots for Bun Chay
• Spicy Pickled Daikon (in Bibimbap, coming soon!)

SAVE IT FOR LATER! ↓

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