Skip to content
FriendsPantry
Daikon

Vegetables · Root vegetables

Daikon

Long white radish (mooli) with juicy, mildly peppery flesh, eaten raw, pickled, braised or stuffed into parathas.

Also called: mooli, white radish, mu, lobak

A kind of radish

23 recipes with it

Photo: KimYunmi, via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-4.0)

What it is

Daikon (mooli) is a large, thick, white radish that can grow very long, often with green shoulders near the top. It is juicier and milder than small red radishes. Korean mu is shorter and stouter. It turns translucent and sweet when simmered.

Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus

How it’s used

  • Grated raw as a garnish for Japanese dishes
  • Simmered in oden, soups and braises
  • Pickled (takuan, kkakdugi)
  • Grated and spiced for mooli paratha
  • Shredded into salads and spring rolls

Characteristics

Taste
Mildly peppery and sweet; spicier near the tip.
Texture
Crisp and juicy raw; soft and translucent cooked.
When cooked
Absorbs broths when simmered; grated raw daikon releases a lot of water.
Sold as
fresh, dried, fermented
Cooking uses
Usually eaten raw, Commonly cooked, Suitable for boiling, Used as a garnish

Kinds in our pantry

Storage

Refrigerated. Wrap and refrigerate; cut pieces should be wrapped tightly. Use while firm.

Diet, allergens and safety

No major allergens in typical versions.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy
18 kcal
Protein
0.6 g
Carbohydrate
4.1 g
Fat
0.1 g
Fibre
1.6 g
Sugars
2.5 g

USDA FoodData Central: Radishes, oriental, raw.

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

  • Turnip — In braises and soups; slightly stronger.
  • Radish — For raw use; hotter and smaller.

Related ingredients

Recipes with daikon

See all 23

11 more

More root vegetables