Buttered Roasted Radishes recipe

This Buttered Roasted Radishes recipe will make you a radish lover! If you thought they were just for topping salads, think again! Save this recipe so you can come back to it whenever radishes are in season!

Spring radishes are at the peak of their season April – May. Most people aren’t quite sure what to do with radishes. They either use them as a garnish on salads or pickle them. However, I’m hoping this Buttered Roasted Radishes recipe can change your mind! 

My first time trying Buttered Radishes

The first time I had Buttered Radishes was shortly after moving to Grand Rapids at a local restaurant called The Electric Cheetah. It was early spring, I needed to get out of the house, Kevin was working and the kids were in school. I stumbled upon this place and found their menu quirky and delightful. I ordered Buttered Radishes, knowing full well that I usually take all radishes off my salads and skip them whenever they’re on a veggie plate. I’m truly not a huge fan of their raw, Earthly flavor with the crisp texture.

However, the dish I ordered was magical! It completely changed the way I viewed the humble radish. I don’t remember if it was roasted or not, but the simple butter sauce and cooking the radishes completely transformed their flavor. They were tender with a touch of sweetness and absolutely delicious. This one experience inspired me to try to make my own buttered radishes dish this season. 

Early season veggies

Radishes are one of the earliest crops most gardeners and farmers can get in the spring and that makes them perfect for those hungering for the fresh garden vegetables. You can also have fall radishes too if the seeds are plated in August. This Buttered Roasted Radishes recipe is perfect for both seasons and different varieties of radishes you want to grow or find in the grocery store. While you can usually find radishes year-round, getting them at the peak of their seasons is always preferred. 

What are Buttered Roasted Radishes?

Buttered Radishes are a traditional French dish. However, they’re often prepared and served in a different way – with the radish still somewhat whole. They might be sautéed or roasted and sometimes they’re served as an appetizer or alongside breakfast. For my Buttered Roasted Radishes recipe, I cut the radishes into quarters so they’re easier to roast and take less time. Then I prepare a browned butter sauce with a touch of honey separately. All of this takes less than 20 minutes making them a truly simple, delicious recipe. 

My Buttered Roasted Radishes recipe could be eaten as an appetizer, a side dish or even a light lunch or dinner. I ate these for lunch after I made them and it was the perfect way to fill up mid day with something fresh. You could add them to kale, spinach or arugula if you want to add some greens in too and make it more of a salad. 

Roasting radishes

Roasting radishes is a perfect way to tenderize them and get that beautiful caramelization flavor. This recipe is done in just 12 minutes because roasting happens at a very high temperature. This makes them easy to pierce with a fork and if you love radishes in general, you might even love them just roasted with our the buttered sauce. My Buttered Roasted Radishes recipe uses a touch of extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and fresh cracked pepper in the roasting process. That’s it. 

The Butter sauce

Once the radishes are roasted, they a added to a browned butter sauce that I quickly pull together on the stove. It uses 5 tablespoons of butter, which I know seems like a lot but its French. They like butter and so do I. Plus, you use 3 cups of radishes in this recipe. In addition to the browned butter, I added a little lemon juice and honey to the mix. The honey adds just a touch of sweetness without it being overpowering. The lemon juice helps to pull all the flavors together nicely. 

Make the sauce just a few minutes before the radishes are die to come out of the oven and then just add them in and coat. It’s truly that simple. 

Tips for making my Buttered Roasted Radishes recipe

• Remove the greens and make sure to wash the radishes well. You could even soak them in water for a little bit to ensure all the dirt is off. 
• Make sure they’re well drained and no longer wet before cutting and roasting. Nothing will roast well when it is wet.
• Use the recommended amount of extra virgin olive oil for the radishes when roasting. Too much and they will not roast properly. You want them coated, but not swimming in it. Use your hands to coat them once they’re on the baking sheet.
• Prepare the butter sauce about 2 minutes before the radishes are done roasting. You only need 3 minutes to brown the butter and then adding the honey and lemon happens quickly. 
• Do make sure to use sea salt and fresh cracked pepper. The sea salt in particular is important for the flavor. 
• Also, use full butter and not margarine or a butter substitute. 
• You can save these in an airtight container for three days. The butter will seize so you will have to reheat them in order to have it melt again. It takes about 1 minute in the microwave. On the stovetop add in 1/2 a tbsp or water to help it along. 

Looking for more fresh, spring recipes?

Try these recipes if you’re looking of other season favorites!

• Lemon Artichoke Pasta {HERE}
• Mediterranean Grilled Asparagus {HERE}
• Classic Carrot Cake from scratch {HERE}
• Garlic Ricotta Arugula Pasta {HERE}
• Creamy Sour Cream and Chive Chicken {HERE}
• Sin Dried Tomato and Kale Frittata {HERE}

thank you so much for joining me today, friends! I hope that you love this Buttered Roasted Radishes recipe and that you come back again to visit at the farmhouse. You can find the full, printable recipe below. Happy eating!