Radish Salad

Radish Salad

　　Radish Salad is a specialty of Zhongxin in Heyuan. It is delicious, fragrant, appetizing, and highly favored by locals. People often bring some when going out or visiting relatives and friends.

　　 During festivals, meals tend to be heavy and greasy. In the first few days back at work, you can see people on the roadside daily — young and old alike — carrying white plastic bags filled with sweet and sour radishes or other tangy fruits, either snacking on them while walking or taking them home.

　　 When we went back to the countryside on the second day of the Lunar New Year, my uncle also served a plate of sweet and sour radishes at the table. My daughter showed no interest in the other dishes but was particularly fond of this radish dish — tangy and refreshing, it paired perfectly with the meal.

　　 A couple of days ago, when my daughter went to play at my colleague’s house, she also tried Radish Salad. When I went to pick her up, she told me it was really tasty. Seeing how much she loved it, even though I’d never made it before, I told her, “Tomorrow I’ll make a plate for you too,” hehe.

　　 I’ve eaten Radish Salad before, but I’ve never made it myself. When my grandfather was alive, it was a must-have dish at our home every Spring Festival. After he passed away, this flavor disappeared from our table. Thinking about it now, I really have the urge to try making it myself.

　　 I bought some white radish, sliced it thinly, and then wondered what to do next. So I asked around. First, you marinate it with salt for a while, then drain the water, rinse it with cold boiled water, and pat it dry. Then place it in a dish, pour in vinegar, add sugar, and mix well. I originally thought of using saccharin to make the radish even crisper, but it’s hard to find, so I just used white sugar instead — I can always add more if needed. After marinating it for a few hours, my first-ever homemade Radish Salad was complete. Hehe, I gave it a taste — the flavor was pretty good. Since my family doesn’t like spicy food, I didn’t add chili peppers, but I think it would taste even better with them.