Loaded Roasted Radishes

Oven roasted radishes are deliciously tender and flavorful! And this keto recipe makes it even better: these radishes are topped with caramelized onions and loaded with cheese and sour cream, making for a colorful spring time dish!

Oven roasted radishes are the best answer to your keto side dish dilemma, and a great alternative to potatoes: easy to cook, budget friendly, and the mellow but rich flavor pairs beautifully with anything.

What do roasted radishes taste like

Although roasted radishes don’t taste exactly like potatoes (as I’ve seen claims), they have very similar characteristics.

You’d think that roasted radishes are spicy, as raw radishes have a peppery bite to them. But roasting radishes in a hot oven (or air fryer!) mellows them up, and and they become mild and almost sweet. They also lose their crunch and get very tender and somewhat juicy.

Carbs in radishes

One hundred grams of radishes contains only 1.8 grams of net carbs (3.4 grams of total carbohydrates minus 1.6 grams of fiber), and just 16 calories – about ONE calorie per radish!

What?! – you must be thinking – they are made of nothing? Pretty much… These cruciferous veggies are basically water and nutrients: Radishes are high in vitamin C, and have smaller amounts of potassium, magnesium, vitamin B-6 and K, niacin, zinc, copper and manganese.

Why they’re the perfect keto side

Potatoes are the ultimate side dish (or rice, depends on whom you ask) because they are simple to cook, inexpensive, and go well with everything. Missing these staples is one of the reasons many people find keto and low-carb diets too restrictive. But it isn’t, really. There are two options here:

1. Forgo side dishes completely. Just have a larger main. That’s I eat most times. Keeping it simple and practical, carnivore keto style.
2. Find an alternative food that’s also easy to cook and that can accompany different dishes, but it is low-carb and keto friendly (radishes!)

Ingredients notes

Roasted radishes are not as filling as potatoes or rice. So even though just plain roasted radishes are delicious by themselves, if you want a more satisfactory side I suggest to load ’em up!

I roasted these radishes in rendered duck fat for flavor. You can use extra virgin olive oil, or goose fat instead. Thinly sliced onions tossed in get caramelized and lovely.

For a more nutritious dish (not to mention creamy and rich!) I added mozzarella and sour cream, keeping the flavor profile really simple.

Depending on what to plan to serve it with, instead of mozzarella, you can add any other easy melt cheese that you like. A keto ranch sauce is also a great option in lieu of sour cream.

How to make

You don’t need to peel the radishes, just wash them well as you would any other vegetable, and remove the greens. If using the pretty red skin radishes, the white flesh will become pinkish during roasting, as the color in the peel bleeds. Talk about a colored spring side dish!

If your radishes are different sizes, it’s best to cut them in a way that will make the pieces about the same size for even cooking, i.e. cut a larger radish in half and leave a small one whole, or quarter a large one and just halve the smaller ones.

In a roasting dish (I used a silicone baking pan), toss the cut radishes and sliced onions with melted duck fat (for best flavor!) or olive oil, salt and freshly ground white pepper.

Arrange so that the slices of onions are among the radishes, not along the edges, or standing on top of them. This is so that they will remain moist with the radish juices and get soft and caramelized, not burned.

Roast in the pre-heated oven for about 35-40 minutes at 220 °C (425 °F). Midway through cooking, open the oven and give the radishes a stir.

When the radishes look shriveled and soft, remove from the oven. Pierce a larger one with a fork to test doneness, it should be tender all the way through.

Spread the fresh mozzarella cheese evenly on top of the radishes and take it back into the oven until it’s fully melted.

Serve the keto loaded roasted radishes with caramelized onions immediately while hot. They go very well topped with sour cream or ranch dressing! Add some chopped parsley or spring onions for a touch of color and flavor.

Serving ideas

The roasted radishes mellow flavor easily compliments nearly any protein main! Here are some ideas of keto and low-carb mains dishes to serve alongside roasted radishes:

Pepper crusted roast beef – a 4 ingredient only roast recipe perfect for beginners

Cheese stuffed burgers – these air fried burgers taste as good as grilled ones!

Pulled pork in white wine – made in a pressure cooker or instant pot, it’s ready in 30 minutes!

Storage and reheating

Roasted radishes taste their best as soon as they are out of the oven, but if you want to cook them in advance or have leftovers, they need to be refrigerated.

They will keep for up to 2 days in an airtight container in the fridge. You can reheat them in the oven or gently in the microwave at medium power just before serving.

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