These Spicy Roasted Daikon Radish French Fries are a sure fire way to get everyone to love daikon radishes. Full of delicious Asian flavors and caramelized to perfection, it's one of the most unique daikon recipes.
Look, I'm just going to be totally honest with you. While they may look like potato fries, they're not -- nor are they trying to be potato fries.
They're Daikon Fries, and proud of it.
Of all the daikon recipes I've tasted, this is my favorite.
*Don't expect the same texture that you'd find in a potato French fry.
The roasting process leaves these Daikon Radish Fries with a wonderful caramelized "crust," but they will be considerably more soft than crisp.
Oh, and I wouldn't even think about dipping them in any sort of a sauce. There's simply no need.
The Ingredients
Each fry is a mouthful of these scrumptious flavors.
- Daikon - Try to choose heavy, plump. Daikon with bright green perky leaves attached.
- chili paste - I use Sambal Oelek.
- fresh ginger - Fresh ginger roots should be firm and feel heavy for their size.
- Tamari or soy sauce - Tamari is slightly thicker and richer than regular soy sauce, and it's usually gluten-free. You can use either.
- grapeseed oil - Or other neutral oil, like vegetable.
- sugar - Just a touch!
- salt - I cook with Kosher salt because I like its larger flake size and it usually doesn't contain additives. (If you use table salt, use half the amount.)
(See recipe card below for quantities.)
What is a Daikon Radish?
- Daikon is a long white Asian radish that looks like a parsnip, though it's usually much larger.
- Slightly less pungent than the small round radishes, they're quite good raw or pickled for an excellent crunch in a salad.
I love them the most roasted and doused in sweet and spicy Asian flavors, turned into Daikon Radish French Fries.
How to Make Them
- Preheat the oven to 475°F, and adjust a rack to the center.
- Cut the Daikon into sections approximately 3-inches long.
- Cut about ¼-inch slices off the side of each one, to make a base. Stand the sections on their bases, and cut them, vertically into slices about ¼-inch thick. Stand these slices on top of each other, and then cut them into sticks about ¼-inch thick. Add all of the Daikon slices to a baking sheet and set aside.
- Combine the oil, chili paste, Tamari or soy sauce, ginger, sugar and salt. Drizzle this over the Daikon and mix.
- Spread the coated Daikon fries on a sheet pan and roast them in the preheated 475°F oven until they are golden brown on all sides, about 30 minutes. (You should gently toss/flip them about halfway through the cooking time.)
- Add a double layer of paper towels to another baking sheet, and when the fries are done, add them on top of the towels to drain and cool.
(More detailed instructions are below.)
What to Serve with Daikon Radish French Fries
The possibilities are really endless, as these fries pair really well with all types of dishes.
They would be great added to an Asian-style menu, along with my Crispy Garlic Ginger Bok Choy Chips and Miso Gai Lan Egg Soup.
All of these flavors and textures will compliment each other beautifully.
Can you make them ahead?
I don't recommend making these too far ahead -- you don't want them sitting out for more than about 15 minutes before serving.
They're best as close to the time they come out of the oven as possible because they'll loose some of their crispness, and they're already a softer fry.
That said, even when they're softer, they're still amazingly tasty.
I often serve them with Asian Pear Marinated Flank Steak or Broiled Black Cod with Bok Choy.
And adding a green salad is always a great idea.
More of my Favorite French fry Recipes
- Curry French Fries with Coconut Lime Dipping Sauce
- Perfect Oven Roasted French Fries
- Smoky Chipotle Parmesan French Fries
- Chile Lemon Purple Sweet Potato Roasted French Fries
A Few More Daikon Recipes
You simply won't be able to stop snacking on them!
Thank you Melissa's Produce for sending me Asian produce which inspired this recipe, and others.
If you try this Daikon radish recipe, or any of my other recipes, I’d love to hear what you think in the comments. You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook to keep up with my mouth-watering recipes!
Spicy Roasted Daikon “French Fry” Recipe
Ingredients
- 3½ tablespoons grapeseed oil
- 1½ teaspoons chili paste (I like Sambal Oelek)
- 1 teaspoon low sodium Tamari or soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon ginger pulp, freshly grated
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt (use half the amount if you're using table salt)
- 5 cups (about 1 ¾-pounds) Daikon radish, peeled & sliced - see instruction no. 2. for instructions
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 475°F, and adjust a rack to the center.
- Make the seasoning. In a small bowl, combine the oil, chili paste, Tamari or soy sauce, ginger, sugar and salt.
- Prep Daikon. Cut the Daikon into sections approximately 3-inches long, then cut about ¼-inch slices off the side of each one, to make a base. Stand the sections on their bases, and cut them, vertically into slices about ¼-inch thick. Stand these slices on top of each other, and then cut them into sticks about ¼-inch thick. Add all of the Daikon slices to a baking sheet and set aside.
- Assemble. Drizzle this over the Daikon slices and then use your hands to toss them until they're all evenly coated and in a single layer.
- Roast. Place the baking sheet in the preheated 475°F oven and roast until they are golden brown on all sides, about 30 minutes. (You should gently toss/flip them about halfway through the cooking time.)
- Drain, cool and serve. Add a double layer of paper towels to another baking sheet, and when the fries are done, add them on top of the towels to drain and cool.
NOTES
NUTRITION
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David
This is a perfect recipe for all my friends who are avoiding carbs! (As opposed to me… The crazy one who is eating all the carbs he can find!) I am so glad to see that you use and love sambal oelek! For those of us who can’t eat sriracha, it’s a great alternative!
valentina
I DO love Sambal Oelek and am never without it in the fridge. And I too am not avoiding carbs -- at least on purpose. 😉 Enjoy!
David
I remember when you first posted this, and then reposted it in 2019. After that, we made them several times wishing that we had started much earlier with your first posting. I served them most recently with my sesame tuna burgers, and they were a perfect accompaniment.
Ron
You don't have to sell daikon radishes to us, we love them. But, never have I thought of oven baking them, BRILLIANT. I can't wait to try your Daikon Radish French Fries, now I just have to find some nice sized daikons. Thanks for sharing Valentina.
valentina
Thanks so much, Ron! Happy to hear there are some daikon fans out there! Enjoy!
Eha
Tho' have loved daikon 'forever' have never thought to make chips out of them, especially since the latter simply don't appear on my menus for health reasons. But absolutely love the spicing and the ability to cook such in the oven . . . so can't wait to try !
valentina
I've been using these flavors on a few other vegetables lately, including a sweet potato stir-fry. It was great. Thank you for the comment and the visit. 🙂
Nancy Buchanan
Oooh.... Valentina, these look so good! I love daikon radishes and it's wonderful to see more recipes with them - a truly underappreciated vegetable in my book! Definitely going to have to make these ASAP!
valentina
Thank you so much, Nancy! Happy to give the daikon the spotlight for a bit. 🙂
David @ Spiced
Wow, these daikon fries look exactly like potato fries! But I hear ya on them being different. I'm ok with that as the flavors sound amazing, Valentina! We've really cut back here in an attempt to undo the holidays, and I'm thinking these would be a delicious side dish one night. Yum!
valentina
Yes! I hope you try them. I have to cut back too, but it doesn't seem to happening. At all. 😉 Cheers!
Danielle Wolter
I def want to be making these. What an awesome idea to use daikon for fries. ANd the flavors are so great. pinned!
valentina
Thanks for your comment, Danielle. And for pinning. Enjoy!
Neli Howard
This is so creative. I have never tried something like this before. I want to thank you for this great recipe! Looks very tasty. I definitely want to try it.
valentina
Thank you, Neli. I hope you love it!
Cathy
Valentina, this dish looks simply yummy! I've never had roasted daikon so you definitely have inspired me to try these sure to be yummy strips! Thanks for teaching me something completely new! Love it!
valentina
Thanks so much, Cathy. Yes, typically we see daikon served raw, in slaws, slads, pickled, etc. Hope you like this one.
lola@cheflolaskitchen
Okay, this is just so tempting! Grabbing them right from the screen. You're a pro-Valentina!
valentina
You're very kind. Thank you!!
Lucy Parissi
These fries sound fantastic - it's a great way to serve daikon.
valentina
Thank you, Lucy!