04 February 2011

Creamy Radish Dip



I like radishes! There, I said it. When I was growing up, my grandfather always grew radishes in his garden. While he grew little round red ones, his favourites were the long white icicles that he grew in both hot and mild varieties. Radishes were normally served raw either in salad or with a salt cellar to dip them. Or sometimes radish roses were used for garnish. And in the spring radishes are a major component of one of our favourite meals: Wilted Lettuce Salad.

I too grow radishes in my garden and I like to experiment with different varieties every year. But as I'm not able to garden right now, I am relying on my CSA for wonderful radishes. And they have been wonderful. Purple plum, icicle, Easter egg and other varieties have been gracing us this winter. This week I got purple plum, icicle and red.



For awhile now I have been looking for recipes that use radishes. A few weeks ago I saw Laura Calder do a side dish of English peas and radishes that is on my list to try. Going through my files, I came across this dip recipe that I had found on Chowhound a few years ago. Since this is Super Bowl Weekend and everyone is making dips of one kind or another, I decided to give this one a try - even though we won't be watching the game here.

Ingredients are simple - radishes, garlic, cream cheese and salt:


Put it all in the food processor, pulse, and voilĂ ! We have dip to serve with assorted veggies and or crackers for dipping. Because Valentines is next week, I'm serving the dip in white heart shaped Fiesta bowls on lilac plates. And I garnished the dip with baby red-veined sorrel leaves from my container garden.


I am so glad I decided to give this dip a try. It is really good and a bit different from many of the dips out there now. And it is the most gorgeous pink colour! My photos don't do it justice. The original recipe called for two cloves of garlic, but I used one small one and I feel that one is plenty. Raw garlic can be overpowering sometimes. Another nice benefit is that with all the radishes and using low-fat cream cheese, this dip is a somewhat more healthy choice.


Creamy Radish Dip

2 cups coarsely chopped radishes
1 to 2 cloves garlic
8 oz cream cheese (I use low-fat), softened
Salt to taste
herb leaves, for garnish
Assorted veggies and/or crackers for dipping or crostini for spreading

Pulse radishes and garlic in food processor until until radishes are finely chopped. Add cream cheese and salt. Pulse until dip is desired texture. You don't want it completely pureed. Taste and adjust seasonings. This is when you would add a second clove of garlic, if desired. If adding more garlic, pulse again to get it finely chopped and distributed through the dip. Serve with desired dippers or spread on crostini.

Notes:
1. This dip may weep if it sits in the fridge a day or two - just pour off the liquid and restir.

I'm linking this recipe to Kim's Saturday Swap @ Quit Eating Out and Beverly's Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound. Click on the logos to check them out and join in the fun.





namasté,
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18 comments:

Cathy said...

This recipe is right up my alley. I love radishes, usually with a little butter and salt, and now I have a new way to try them.

Thanks, Becky. Have a great weekend.

EG CameraGirl said...

This radish tip sounds really good and I just happen to have the ingredients on hand!

Anonymous said...

Radishes always remind me of my late~grandfather. He'd always eat them in the summertime. Thanks for this recipe and thanks for linking to Saturday Swap. I'm bookmarking this to make the next time I get together with my folks... they'll love it and the memories it will conjure up. Have a wonderful weekend!

Hilary said...

Yummy Becky - I know this will be a hit here, we all adore radishes! Thanks!

Purple Haze said...

I love radish and will sure be trying this out ~ Thank-you for sharing!!

Lynn said...

I love radishes too and grew up with them in the garden! Your dip sounds great and is very pretty in the heart dish-enjoy:@)

Jil~Say It With Roses said...

I grew up with Grandfathers like yours...I have not seen a white icicle radish in years and had forgotten about them....we always dipped ours in salt, too. Oh, I am hungry for a radish....
HPS!
Jil

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Hi, Becky... dropping by for PS. My keybord is not working so if you see words missing certin letters nd words without cpitl letters. Thaaaat's why. I can pound it and get it to work. It's got to go in the shop for three weeks, and I was trying not to tke it there but see what it's doing. it's intermittent. YIKES!

loved your pretty PS spread. Looks yummy.

PS blessings to you...

XO,

Sheila (who is not an illieterate!) :-)

LV said...

I love radishes too. I am a born and raised country girl so I learn to enjoy all vegetables. This sound good with the dip.

Southerncook said...

Becky,

This sounds like a wonderful dip for veggies. I'll have to try it since I do like radishes as well. I watched an old program of Ina's where she made a veggie cream cheese (I had never made it) and she used radishes in it as well. When I watched I thought I would make that too but now I think I'll try this first.

Carolyn

Tammy@Beatrice Banks said...

Recipe sounds delicious! Reminds me of the quick recipe I use- salsa and cream cheese beat together. I'm sure with Super Bowl Sunday coming up, lots of folks are going to be bringing out the dips. Thanks for sharing!

Mary Bergfeld said...

I love this recipe. It's perfect for the game as well as Valentine's Day. I hope you have a great Pink Saturday and a rosy weekend. Blessings...Mary

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Happy Pink Saturday Becky Sweetie...
What a wonderful share for us all. Just in time for the expected crowds wanting snacks for the Super Bowl game. It looks so beautiful and I just know it will be hit at my house. Many thanks for the share today.

Hope your chow hounds have a wonderful time eating yours as well. Have a beautiful weekend sweetie. Country hugs, Sherry

genie said...

I am another radish lover so will have to try your recipe. The other day I bought “a bunch” of them....1.50 for about 10 miniature ones. I could not believe my eyes, and when I got to the cheek out lady, she said the same thing. Still, I need to try this recipe. HPS

Linda said...

I love radishes too Becky...especially with a good french butter and some fleur de sel on a piece of really good bread...a favorite breakfast!
Your dip looks very pretty in the heart bowl!

Anonymous said...

I have tied and tried, but I just do not like radishes! I grow them with carrots, and if they don't get given away...they go into the compost. If I do grow some this year, Becky - they will be YOURS!

I think I need to come and visit you - I've no idea what tablescaping is....

Hope yer well!

~~louise~~ said...

We won't be watching any football here either but, I was thinking of having a small Valentine dinner for myself and Marion.

It's a pleasant surprise to see radishes as the main event. Your dip would be just perfect. I only hope I can find some decent radishes around here:( I really need to find a CSA. Love the final touch of sorrel leaves. Perfection!

Thanks for sharing, Becky...

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

yummy pink...
Cheers.