2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14
The most popular root crops in our latitudes are beets, carrots, parsnips. Few have heard of such a miracle vegetable as daikon. And very sorry. The Chinese or Japanese radish does not contain the bitterness found in most radishes and is renowned for its high yield. In addition, the beneficial properties of daikon will not leave indifferent connoisseurs of a he althy lifestyle.
External characteristics
Translated from Japanese, the name of the vegetable translates as "big root". It should be noted that the daikon deserves such a big name, because its fruits weigh 600-700 g on average, and the size reaches half a meter in length. It was bred by breeding from a simple loba radish in China.
External characteristics are not much similar to the usual radish. Similarities are more likely to be observed with carrots, only in contrast to it, the daikon is white. The Japanese radish belongs to the cabbage family, a subspecies of the sowingradishes.
Secrets of Growing
The beneficial properties of daikon began to be talked about at about the same time that Japanese sushi and other Eastern national fast food began to be popularized in our country. Every Russian summer resident considered it his duty to grow a white radish in the garden. In addition, it is not difficult to do this, it is enough to know a few nuances:
- You need to sow seeds in open ground from mid-March to early April. The main thing is that the air temperature is more than 10ºC and the earth warms up well.
- If we talk about growing in greenhouses, the vegetable grows well in them all year round.
- Immediately before sowing, the seeds should be warmed up. To do this, soak them for 20 minutes with warm water (50ºC).
- After heating, the seeds should be immediately cooled in ice water, and then kept in the refrigerator for a day.
- Daikon radish, whose beneficial properties are widely known, is best sown in moist soil to a depth of about 2 cm.
These tips will help you.
Useful properties of daikon
Like most other varieties of radishes, the white root vegetable is known for its ability to find and eliminate toxins. Surprisingly, during ripening, radishes do not absorb nitrates and other chemically harmful components from the soil, and such a product is worth looking for!
Daikon does a good job of cleansing the intestines and liver, and also dissolves kidney sand and small stones. Useful properties of daikonare also in the fight against a morning hangover: a salad with white radish will easily relieve a headache, calm the stomach, remove toxins from the body and allow you to enjoy the joys of life.
If applied externally, radish will help with wound healing, as well as during furunculosis. In Japan, where raw fish is considered a national dish, the antiparasitic properties of the daikon are appreciated.
Chemical composition of radishes
If we talk about such a unique vegetable as daikon, the beneficial properties and contraindications of which are due to its chemical composition, we should understand in more detail what it consists of. Let's find out why the white radish earned the recognition of doctors, as well as a place of honor on the dinner table.
Daikon consists of:
- Vitamins:
- С, responsible for the immune system and the fight against free radicals;
- B2 - improves vision and cell regeneration;
- B1 - beneficial effect on nerve cells and muscles;
- PP (nicotinic acid) - activates carbohydrate metabolism, balances cholesterol;
- B6, which is involved in metabolic processes, and also performs a restorative function after injuries and the use of antibiotics;
- B9 (folic acid), which makes white blood cells;
- K, which affects the he alth of the liver and blood clotting processes.
- Micronutrients:
- copper - helps to increase hemoglobin, improveskin conditions, fights sclerosis;
- potassium - a good metabolism depends on it;
- calcium - essential for bone growth, can also lower cholesterol levels;
- magnesium - has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart and the entire cardiovascular system;
- iron - increases the level of red blood cells, improves immunity.
In addition to the above we alth, daikon radish has useful properties due to the content of phytoncides, glycosides and lysozymes, which are able to overcome fungi and viruses.
Calories
Daikon is 95% water, the rest is carbohydrates and proteins. 100 g of vegetable contains only 16 kcal. If we add to this fact the absence of fat, such characteristics bring daikon radish to a leading position among dietary products. Due to fiber and excellent anti-toxic properties, white radish is able to effectively fight excess weight.
Side effects
Using any, even the most harmless product, you should always do it with intelligence and a sense of proportion. No matter how useful the daikon radish is, the beneficial properties and contraindications go hand in hand and depend on moderate use. As mentioned above, white radish is able to remove stones and sand from the kidneys. But along with this, they should not get carried away during attacks or exacerbations of urolithiasis. Radish juice will also be harmful to people suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The content of coarse fibers and fiber will also negatively affectthe process of digestion of food, especially with peptic ulcer and gastritis.
Use in cooking
Much has been said about the daikon and its beneficial properties. Recipes using this product are very popular among people who care about their he alth. The main distinguishing feature of the product is its mild taste, in which there is practically no bitterness. In itself, this fact is surprising, given that we are talking about a radish.
What they don't do with daikon! They boil, steam, dry, stew, bake pies and eat raw. A truly versatile product. Even if you do not take into account the useful properties and contraindications of the daikon. There are a decent number of recipes using white radish. The simplest of them is a salad, which will be ready after rubbing the radish on a grater and mixing with vegetable oil. Even in such an elementary form, the product will be tasty and add spice to the side dish.
Product storage secrets
Given the usefulness of white radish, of course, I want to know how you can save it for a long time. The main rule in this matter is the choice of variety. Fruits grown in summer should be eaten immediately, but winter varieties can lie down. To do this, be sure to remove the tops, rinse the vegetables, dry them, and only after such thorough procedures put them in a dark, cool place.
You should also observe the temperature regime, which is from 0ºC to 5ºC. Please note that exposure to sunlight on white radishes will spoil the product. It is important to ensure highhumidity in the daikon storage area.
Treat for rodents
To store radish vegetables in the cellar, you must prepare the appropriate container. It can be small, about 20 cm tall, boxes. For better preservation, the layers of radish are sprinkled with sand. It is allowed to keep the vegetable mixed with carrots.
Mice and rats like daikon very much, so you should periodically check the contents of the boxes for damage. If any are found, the vegetables are removed and thrown away.
To store Japanese radishes on the balcony, you need to warm it first. Low temperatures will adversely affect the condition of the fruit.
Useful advantage
Storing white radishes will be too much of a hassle for some. But it's worth it. After all, the product has one important advantage compared to other vegetables. The fact is that during the period of spring beriberi, when most products lose their beneficial properties, daikon enzymes begin to become more active. Against the background of a lack of vitamins and trace elements, white radish looks like a real storehouse of nutrients.
The Japanese cook soups with daikon. The Chinese love to bake white radish pies. The root crop itself is mainly consumed, but delicious stews and fried dishes are also prepared from the tops. When using a fresh vegetable, it is enough to grate it and the salad is ready. The only rule in this case is to eat freshly cooked radishes, because after time the usefuldaikon properties are lost.
Due to its special, mild taste, white radish goes well with many other products. That is why the daikon is so loved by chefs of all countries. With it, you can cook a lot of various delicacies that will be not only tasty, but also he althy. Take care of yourself, your he alth and the he alth of your loved ones. Bon appetit!
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