White Daikon Radish with Spinach
Did you know that the humble looking, inexpensive white daikon radish is a rich, tasty, sweety, nutrient dense vegetable?
Somehow I always ignored it as I thought that it is certainly pungent and unpleasant for me. Until a few days ago (15.03.2020), a small bunch was smiling at me so kindly in the supermarket that I had to buy it. I am happy I did it!👏
Let us not forget, that one of our primary responsibilities is to nourish ourself properly for life. To be fit for life.
And a quick reminder:
NOURISH means: provide with the food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition. 🥰
So, read my recipe and more...
Boost your immune system with fresh raw soups, vegetable smoothies, or gently, shortly cooked ones.
This is a very refreshing spring appetizer or first course:
Raw white, round daikon radish soup with spinach (with no salt)
For one person:
- One piece of white daikon chopped with some of its stem and leaves
- A handful of baby spinach
- A tbsp of Olive oil
- A quarter or third tsp of finely chopped fresh ginger
- Caraway powder
- 1-1,5 dl of water
- Taste your daikon after washing. If it is deliciously sweet or sweetish, then your raw soup or “long smoothie” will be delicious as well, even without any salt. (Careful: adding the stems might make it pungent! which you may balance with some plant-based cream or honey, if you wish)
- Place all ingredients in a blender and blend it until smooth.
- Decorate with parsley, cilantro, or finely chopped spinach.
I just followed my feelings. As I chopped the daikon, I tasted it, it was delicious. Then when I blended “all my ideas” together - it was sooo good.👏 My body was soaking it in, soaking it up, it felt like a physical enlightenment. 😇 This was due to the electrolytes, the prana, and the liveliness it has offered to me. 💟
If you are less sensitive than me and don't feel the electricity in your body, here is a reminder for you:
ELECTROLYTES means in physiology: the ionized or ionizable constituents of a living cell, blood, or other organic matter.
I believe it is important to know this, to remember this, because it is literally vitally important. We are also electric beings. Without electrolytes our body is a dull rag.
So, I was so delighted, I had to look up what have I just eaten, as this was the first time I bought this white thing, there was no name tag on it in the store. I guessed that it was some kind of radish.
OK, I identified it. Daikon radish! I was sure it must be very nutritious. I felt it! I don't need science to tell me that something is good, as I can feel it.
But for the sake of fun and intellectual enjoyment ... what I have found:
5 Daikon Health Benefits
by Dr Mercola: “You can’t go wrong with adding daikon to your favorite meals, as it offers a multitude of nutrients that can be advantageous to your health.
Daikon is known to help boost a weak digestive system.
It contains considerable amounts of potassium, vitamin C, and phosphorus — nutrients essential for good health, as well as isothiocyanates*.
While you may think that daikon’s benefits are only available through the root, you’ll be surprised to learn that its leaves have impressive nutritional value, too. They’re actually loaded with vitamin A, which is essential for eye health, and vitamin C, iron, and calcium.
Daikon may help optimize your well-being by:
- Boosting digestive health — Daikon may help facilitate better digestion of proteins and fats, which in turn helps inhibit constipation. Its antioxidants were also found to help trigger bile flow, which is essential in breaking down and absorbing fats.
- Assisting in detoxification — As a diuretic, daikon may help stimulate urination, which is necessary for keeping the kidneys clean. (It did for me)
- Bolstering your immunity — Daikon’s antibacterial and antifungal properties may help reduce the risk of bone or joint infections, gastroenteritis, meningitis, and pneumonia.
- Promoting bone and skin health — Its high calcium content may help alleviate osteoporosis.
- Helping with weight management — Daikon is a low-calorie and low-cholesterol vegetable, but it is high in fiber and many other nutrients — qualities that are ideal for people who want to maintain a healthy weight.
Remember, if you want to reap all of the daikon’s health benefits, it’s best to use the entire vegetable.”
- Dr. Mercola (https://foodfacts.mercola.com) (end of quotation)
*What is isothiocyanate? A compound containing the group —N=C=S as a substituent or ligand.
The health benefits of Isothiocyanates:
Isothiocyanates combat carcinogens by neutralizing them, reducing their poisonous effect, and stimulating the secretion of carcinogens of carcinogens. Isothiocyanates act by the inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis**.
** What is apoptosis? (Natural cell death)
IN PHYSIOLOGY - the death of cells which occurs as a normal and controlled part of an organism's growth or development. (Isn't it interesting? It is part of life. Read that again!)
Thank you DAIKON, how noble you are!
The washed and sliced daikon and its stem
Always at your service for your wellness and happiness. 🌿🌞
With Love,
Kripāmaya
Telegram, WhatsApp: +43 664 9988 9726
In the glass: I added some flax meal (ground flax seed) to the soup for even more nutrients and a creamier texture and blended it again
Food photography by Kripāmaya
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