This spiralized daikon salad recipe is a fresh, flavorful salad that tastes delicious. Daikon radish, tart green apples, and pepitas flavor combine to make this a fabulous salad that is almost too pretty to eat.
Have you seen Japanese daikon radishes in your grocery store or farmer’s market?
This daikon radish salad recipe started with a silly mistake. I was hunting for carrots, and the store I like to shop at for produce had daikon with complete green tops attached next to the carrots. I grabbed a bunch in a hurry, thinking they were heirloom white carrots.
Once I got home, I realized these were not even remotely close to a carrot. I am sure I am not the only one to be fooled. Daikon radishes look like long white carrots, but they are Chinese radishes!
If you love salads as we do, check out all of my delicious salad recipes for some more yummy ideas.
Why this salad is great:
- This easy daikon salad recipe is ready in just minutes and is pretty enough to grab attention at any get-together.
- Daikon has an absolutely delicious and very mild flavor!
- Daikon is considered a high water-content vegetable, which is refreshing, especially during hot summer days.
- Daikon can be sliced, shredded, or julienned, offering versatility in terms of presentation and texture!
You may also love this homemade Kale and Apple Salad. Even my picky eater loves this salad recipe!
Allergen Information:
This Japanese daikon salad recipe is gluten free, vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, and paleo, so it is perfect for any diet.
Ingredient Notes:
- Japanese Daikon – Most grocery stores carry this root vegetable.
- Pepitas – Pepitas add crunch and some protein. Be sure to make sure the white shell has been removed.
- Rice Vinegar – I love rice vinegar, but apple vinegar is also good. Be sure to verify it is gluten free. Some vinegar has malt.
- Orange Juice – Fresh or bottled orange juice is fine.
- Green Apples – Tart apples are best in this recipe. I loved using Granny Smith.
My daikon salad recipe combines fun flavors that all play nicely together. (*If you love apples as much as we do, here are our favorite gluten free apple recipes.
This is the spiralizer that I own. It cuts all different sizes of noodles out of zucchini, carrots, beets, and more. It is easy to clean and set up.
Step-By-Step Directions:
This daikon radish recipe is so easy to make! It is delicious with sushi and seafood recipes!
- Wash the daikon and remove the leafy top and bottom.
- If you plan to spiralize the daikon, insert it into your spiralizer and spiralize the whole thing. Repeat until you spiralize all of the daikon. (If you don’t have a spiralizer, use a large-sized grater to grate the daikon. Grated daikon is also very good!!
- Add it to a large salad bowl with the pepitas, chopped parsley, and chopped green apples.
- In a small bowl, add the dressing ingredients and whisk to blend.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat. I find letting the daikon sit with the dressing for 15 minutes helps the flavors build up nicely.
How to Store Daikon Salad:
Store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. With dressing, the salad will keep fresh for up to 2 days in the fridge. If you don’t dress the salad, the daikon will keep fresh for up to 4 days.
Recipe FAQ:
Daikon has a very mild, sweet, slightly peppery flavor. You wouldn’t even suspect it was in the radish family!
Pepitas are special pumpkin seeds that grow in the pumpkin without their tough coating. They are deliciously roasted and make a delicious snack. They have tons of protein, fiber, and micronutrients.
More Delicious Salad Recipes to Try:
- Rainbow Chard Tuna Salad
- Easy Loaded Potato Salad
- Gluten Free Macaroni Salad
- The Best Chopped Chicken Salad
Daikon and Green Apple Salad with Pepitas
Ingredients
- 2 daikon
- 3 tablespoons avocado oil
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons clementine juice
- 1 granny smith apple
- 3 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- 2 tablespoons pepitas unsalted
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
Instructions
- In a bowl, add oil, vinegar, juices, and parsley. Whisk to blend.
- Spiralize the daikon and green apple. If you don’t have a spiralizer, feel free to chop it.
- Toss the daikon and green apple with the dressing. Allow to sit for 5 minutes so the flavors blend.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
Daikon was one of the first things I spiralized! Haha! First way I ever ate it too 😉
I love how fresh and light this is, so delicious!
Thank you Emily 🙂
I can’t believe I have never tried daikon. This salad looks so good and refreshing!
Thank you so much Sam :-).
What a great idea to spiralize the daikon! And pepitas add so much good nutrition to a salad. Pinning!
Thank you Elaine 🙂
I love daikon but never think to use it in salads other than the classic accompaniment to sashimi. I love this salad idea!
It is surprisingly good.
I’ve seen daikon radishes in the store and have often thought to put them in my cart, but get scared because I wouldn’t know what to do with them. Now I know. This sounds amazing!
I hope you like it Renee 🙂
I’ve tried a lot of different vegetables, but daikon never came in my farm share so haven’t tried it yet. Will have to pick them up and try this recipe, it looks good!
Let me know what you come up with 🙂
I love daikon salads and that touch of apple and pepitas is perfect!
Thank you Kimberly 🙂
What a fortunate and delicious accident! It’s time for me to dust off my spiralizer!
You should definitely dust off your spiralizer :-).
I love daikon! I also love the flavor combination that you chose for this recipe!
Thank you Sharon 🙂
I grow Daikon radishes in my garden over the summer. I am always looking for recipes and creative ways to use them. This sounds delicious and healthy.
I hope you like this Amy 🙂
This looks like such a refreshing salad!
Thank you Stephanie 🙂
This salad looks amazing! I’m glad you made that mistake, because I can’t wait to try this salad out! I’ve never had a Daikon radish before so I’m so curious to try it!
Thank you Michelle 🙂