Daikon Radish Leaves (Greens) Salad (凉拌白萝卜樱子)
If you happen to have some daikon with the leaves attached, don't throw away the leaves. Daikon leaves can be made into many dishes. Try this flavorful salad for a change.
- Prep time
- 15 min
- Cook time
- 10 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 1 to 2 bunches of daikon leaves
- 1 small or 1/2 medium sweet onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 teaspoons light soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons Chinese black vinegar (a.k.a. Chinkiang vinegar
- or Zhenjiang vinegar)
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 to 3 tablespoons raw peanuts (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Heat a large pot of water on medium-high heat. While waiting for the water to boil, prepare the other ingredients:Chop the daikon leaves into medium wedges or your preferred shapes. Rinse the chopped daikon leaves under water a few times to remove any dirt. Peel a small or medium onion. Cut and discard the two ends and cut the onion into two halves through the ends. Then thinly slice the half onion into half moons. If preferred, rinse the half moon onion slices under water to reduce the onion's pungency. Peel and minced the garlic cloves. You can also use a mortar and pestle to grind the garlic into paste.
- 2
In a small bowl, mix 2 teaspoons of light soy sauce, 2 teaspoons of Chinese black vinegar, and 2 teaspoons of sugar. (If you don't have Chinese black vinegar, use 2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar and skip the sugar.)
- 3
When the water boils, add the chopped daikon leaves and a few drops of vegetable oil to the boiling water. Blanch the daikon leaves for 3 minutes. After 3 minutes, plunge the daikon leaves into cold water and drain well. Transfer the drained daikon leaves to a large bowl.
- 4
Add the sliced onion and garlic to the daikon leaves. Pour in the sauce (from step 2) and mix well.
- 5
If adding peanuts, fry the raw peanuts in 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil under medium heat until they change color to a deeper red/brown. Be careful not to burn the peanuts as they cook quickly. Add the fried peanuts to the mixed daikon leaves and mix slightly. Transfer everything to a plate and enjoy!