If you're wondering what to do with radish greens, this is the recipe for you! Most people throw away the tops, but there's no need to waste that amazingly delicious and healthy part of the radish any longer! Radish Greens Hummus is simple, and a great way to use even the spikiest of radish leaves!
In this radish green recipe, we start with a basic hummus, and blend radish leaves into the mix, along with some parsley to keep it tasting fresh. The result is a light and peppery hummus that is perfect for dipping or spreading.
Are radish greens good for you?
Yes! Radish leaves are very low in calories, making them a great addition to about anything to increase the flavor without undoing your day. Radish greens nutrition is off the charts, too! They are a good source of potassium - important for heart health! Not to mention, they are great sources of vitamins A and C, and calcium. Greens across the board are good sources of iron, and radish greens are no exception. Wow! Why are we not eating these more?! (1)
What do radish greens taste like? Like their underground counterparts, radish leaves have a slight peppery flavor, much like arugula. In fact, radish greens are a great substitute for arugula in recipes that call for it. Get creative and see what you come up with!
What to do with radish greens
Radish greens are really versatile, and can be used raw or cooked in most recipes that call for other types of leafy greens. Here are some of my favorite ways to use radish greens:
- Sauteed, like spinach - try them in Simple Smoky Sauteed Spinach
- In a tossed salad - use only small, young leaves for this (older, bigger leaves tend to be spiky)
- Use them in a sauce like Chimichurri sauce
- In pesto - try it in Arugula Pistachio Pesto
- For breakfast?! That's right! Use them in Beans and Greens Breakfast Hash
- Substitute radish greens for spinach in Low Sodium Lentil Soup
- Use them raw on sandwiches and burgers just like you would lettuce (again, use the smaller, less spiky leaves)
How to store radish greens
You want to keep your greens fresh to use, and here's how. First, cut the leaves from the radish root. You'll want to store them separately.
Wash the leaves with cool, running water, or dunk into a bowl filled with cold water, to remove any dirt and debris. Pick out any leaves that are wilted or starting to turn yellow and discard.
Use a salad spinner to remove excess water, or lay on a clean towel and blot dry with another. Getting the leaves as dry as possible will prolong their shelf life.
Use either a large airtight container or a large zipper bag for storage. Line the container or bag with a paper towel. I find this to be essential so the greens don't sit in water and start to deteriorate.
Store in the refrigerator for up to about 5 days. Leafy greens are highly perishable, so keep an eye on them. If your paper towel becomes saturated, replace it.
FAQs and Substitutions
If you don't grow your own radishes, and yours don't come from the store with the greens on - or if you just don't want to use radish tops - you can use most any green instead. I would recommend arugula because the taste is similar, but you could also use kale, spinach, Swiss chard, mustard greens, or even dandelion greens. Any mix of those would work, too.
Besides the obvious dip for veggies and crackers, radish greens hummus can also be used as a sandwich spread instead of mayo, as a pasta sauce, or even in potato salad instead of the mayo dressing. Add a scoop to your tossed salad for lunch or if you make the Breakfast Hash, scoop a little on top for added deliciousness!
If you make Radish Greens Hummus, tell me in the comments below!
Do you use the radish tops? If you do, how do you use them? I'd love to know!
📖 Recipe
Radish Green Hummus
A delicious, spunky dip that helps you decrease your food waste, using in-season produce! Pass the "yum-mus" please!
Ingredients
- 1 can (1 ½ cups) Chickpeas, drain and rinse, but reserve liquid from the can
- 1 cup packed Radish Greens, rinsed and dried
- ½ cup fresh Parsley
- 3 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 3 Garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tablespoon Tahini
- 2 tablespoon Lemon Juice
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
- 1-3 tablespoon Chickpea Liquid
Instructions
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Add all ingredients, except chickpea liquid, to your food processor. Process on high for several minutes, until smooth and creamy.
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While the food processor is running, add chickpea liquid, 1 tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
Susie says
So glad I tried this recipe.
Have never use the radishes leaves before.
I think I put too many leaves so I added a pinch of sugar. Love it. Easy way to make my family eat a vegetable.
Thank you.
Laura Yautz says
Thanks Susie! It's great to hear you and your family loved the hummus, and found a fun way to eat radish greens!
Sean Carney says
I harvested a pound of radishes today and was looking for a way to use them instead of sauté or salad when I came across this recipe. Hummus is one of my favorite dishes to make so, why not. I truly am quite impressed with the flavor. The radish greens are bright but do not cloud the hummus, rather compliment instead. There is a slight but not unwelcome bitterness reminiscent of radish leaves but the garlic and lemon are lost, but the tahini and chickpeas still come out. I am refrigerating it over night to see if the flavors develope and may tweak this recipe (more cumin, salt and garlic with slightly less radish leaves) to see what happens but al around a delightful recipe. Thank you.
Laura Yautz says
Thanks for your review, Sean! Glad you liked the hummus!