Black radish is a tough vegetable – bitter, pungent, and earthy. Mother Nature has created this fantastic root for brave and strong people to support their health and increase endurance. Black radish is also one of the oldest cultivated plants on Earth. It is a locally grown vegetable in Ukraine; in Canada, you can also find it in health food stores. This unique root is not a very common vegetable – give it some time; hopefully, it will become one of your best friends!
There are several variations of the salad that feature black radish. Some recipes include lots of other ingredients and olive oil. All those additional ingredients are not required in the classic Ukrainian recipe for black radish salad. And we love it just how it is, with all those amazing bitter undertones. Would you like to watch our video that illustrates this recipe?
We believe that black radish tastes the best when combined with garlic, sour cream, and mayonnaise – this recipe we know from childhood. Sour cream softens the bitterness of the black radish and makes it a great salad that goes well with potato, grains, meat dishes, or spreads. For example, it can be served with deryny or salo spread. Please follow these links to learn How to Make Deruny (Ukrainian Potato Pancakes) and The Salo Spread.

Ukrainian Black Radish Salad
Equipment
- Grater or food processor
Ingredients
- 4 black radishes, peeled
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 tspn black pepper freshly crushed
- ¾ tspn salt
- 5 tbsp sour cream
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise
Instructions
- Grate the peeled black radishes and put them in a bowl.
- Grate finely garlic cloves, and chop parsley.
- Combine black radish with garlic and greens. Sprinkle the mixture with black pepper.
- Season with sour cream and mayo. Salt to taste.
- Serve cold.
Variation – Black Radish with Carrots and Eggs
If black radish seems too bitter, peel, cut it, and put it in cold water for 30 minutes. You will reduce the bitter flavor; however, the bitter flavor makes this root unique. To soften the smell and taste of the black radish, you can also add to the salad grated carrots, hard-boiled eggs, and greens, such as parsley and spring onions.

Ukrainian Black Radish with Carrots and Eggs
Equipment
- Grater or food processor
Ingredients
- 2 black radishes, peeled
- 1 small carrot, peeled
- 2 hard-boiled eggs
- spring onions
- parsley
- 3 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tspn black pepper freshly crushed
- ¾ tspn salt
Instructions
- Grate the peeled black radishes and put in a bowl.
- Grate carrot and boiled eggs finely.
- Chop green onion and parsley.
- In a bowl, combine black radish with carrots, eggs and greens. Mix well.
- Season the salad with mayo. Salt to taste and sprinkle with black pepper.
- Serve cold.
Why is black radish pungent?
Black radish is pungent due to isothiocyanates – small sulfur-containing chemicals found in cruciferous vegetables. This is a very interesting property of black radish, as isothiocyanates have an anti-cancer effect. Other cruciferous vegetables are cauliflower, cabbage, kale, garden cress, broccoli, mustard plant, and arugula, Brussels sprouts. Cruciferous vegetables are also rich in beta-carotene, vitamins C, E, and K, folate, and minerals.
We have published for you other healthy recipes, such How to Marinate Raw Carrots and How to Marinate Raw Beets. Another healthy and unique recipe is Beet Salad with Prunes and Walnuts. Please check these wonderful recipes too!
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the Ukrainian Black Radish Salad is a great recipe for those who are looking for new healthy recipes that are easy to prepare and cost-efficient. The black radish root is not a very common vegetable but an amazing source of important vitamins and nutrients. We hope that you will enjoy our recipes with black radishes and will leave your comments for other readers and us. Eat real, nourishing foods and stay healthy and happy!