Next time I have radishes I’m definitely going to try this! Thanks for the pesto idea. Good inspiration. Spicier than pesto made with basil leaves, radish leaf pesto is a fabulous way to stretch the harvest from an early spring garden. This pesto is made from radish greens rather than the more traditional basil. 1 bunch of Radish Greens (~3 packed cups), 1 cup Parmesan Cheese (can substitute with nutritional yeast for a dairy free option), 3/4 Cup Sunflower Seeds (can also use walnuts or pine nuts), 1/2 tsp Salt and Pepper (or more to taste). I had stopped growing them but may try this out. Radish leaves contain more nutrients than the entire radish bulb itself. I use my cilantro stems to do the same thing….cilantro pesto, vegan, with walnuts and a cilantro ranch dressing w/ veganaise mayo. Here at Attainable Sustainable, I aim to encourage readers — that’s you! The Well Essentials is an online community that aims to inspire and reconnect others with their food, body, planet, and personal impact. Share an image on Instagram and tag @attainablesustainable with #attainablesustainable! Radish greens in particular due to their bitter flavor are also excellent for encouraging good digestion and are traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine for this very purpose. Radishes contain high iron content and can aid in detoxifying the body. Please see my, How to Get Rid of Cabbage Worms in the Garden, Growing a Kitchen Garden for Fresh Produce, small handful of fresh cilantro leaves, optional. Her book, Attainable Sustainable: The Lost Art of Self-Reliant Living (National Geographic) offers a collection of projects and recipes to help readers who are working their way to a more fulfilling DIY lifestyle. I didn’t have time to go searching for a recipe so just composted them. My husband has a produce job and says he tells customers that radish leaves are similar to arugula – the peppery bite – and many cruciferous vegetables have that same quality. Add more olive oil if necessary to bring to your desired consistency. But this summer I wanted to take the whole seasonal eating lifestyle a little further and talk about how we can work towards reducing our food waste while embracing everything that the wonderful season of summer has to offer. Like most dark leafy greens, radish greens are chock full of dietary fiber, and many essential vitamins and minerals that most people could use more of in their daily diet. — to embrace a more self-reliant lifestyle, one small step at a time. Radishes are a good crop because you can plant them at various times during the gardening season if your soil isn’t too hot. I believe you could even fry them a bit more and put them into salad the way people do fried onions! You can plant radishes all summer long, and even into cooler autumn weather. I love pesto…I’ll have to try this when my radishes come up in a few weeks (since the basil won’t be ready yet)! I have been adding the young radish leaves to my salads, but I cut them very fine. ★ Did you make this radish leaf pesto? Sign up to receive our weekly emails filled with seasonal recipes, holistic health tips, travel guides, and sustainable living inspiration. Thanks fro sharing this at Simple Lives Thursday, I just got some radishes from my local farmer and now I have a great use for the leaves thanks to you. The radish greens in this pesto have a tendency to maintain their bright green hue without discoloring like traditional pesto does, so it’s a nice bet for a pretty springtime appetizer. 0 %. Pulse a few times to lightly chop the radish greens (this will make the consistency of the pesto much better). Wash them well and pat dry, then you're ready to pulverize...Note: I found the pesto to be okay when I first made it, but really a bit bitter. Add more olive oil if necessary to bring to your desired … Having just completed the digging and the hauling of compost and the buying of the plants and seeds….I am having a grand time getting my feet and hands dirty and have high hopes of living well during the season of my garden! Begin to process on high until all ingredients are well combined (~ 1 minute). Add radish greens to a high-speed food processor. I didn’t know you could eat the leaves! Radish Leaf Pesto tastes great with pasta, zoodles or as a spread on your sandwich. Give it a try and don't be afraid to adjust sugar/salt/pepper to find the balance you prefer. Plant radishes as soon as your ground can be worked, and they’ll be ready in just 3-4 weeks. Yumm! I will have to try this. Thanks for the reminder to save the greens! Will you, picky person that you are, still think this is good? The sharp taste reminds of arugula pesto. Just plant a new row every couple of weeks and you’ll have radishes and radish greens ready to harvest all season long. This was the result. I had no idea about the leaves. I like to leave some texture in the mixture, rather than processing fully to a paste. I made this with the good leaves from two bunches, maybe 2 or so unpacked cups of leaves. I was going to pull all the beautiful tops that my rabbits have been sharing with the compost pile, now with me, if they get any more. Our community garden plot doesn’t get plowed in time for a real “early” spring garden up here in upstate NY. I wasn’t sure about planting a container garden on my apartment balcony this year, but now I want to try this! If all goes well, it’s radish pesto in a month! Don’t forget to give it a star rating below! Cilantro is really good for you and must improve the flavor. Thanks! Depending on how you like your pesto you can continue processing for a smoother texture. Like many bitter foods, the bitter flavor in radish greens helps stimulate digestive juices and bile, which help you digest your food better. Got hot in SWFL early this year so radishes went to tops. Next, add parmesan cheese, garlic, olive oil, sunflower seeds, and salt and pepper to the food processor. Aloha! This radish green pesto is super simple to make and delicious served with crackers or over pasta, not to mention it is a great way to use up those radish greens and reduce your food waste! This is quite inventive but I have a peevish question – what if, say, you really don’t like radishes much?