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Home » Recipes

How To Eat French Breakfast Radishes

Oct 7, 2022Last Modified: December 2, 2022

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about How to Eat French Breakfast Radishes!

Several French breakfast radishes on a wooden cutting board with a glass bowl with sea salt in the background, a white dish with butter on the left side, and a cheese knife with wooden handle in the foreground.
Jump to:
  • 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die
  • What Are French Breakfast Radishes?
  • How Do The French Eat This Classic French Snack?
  • 🎥 Video
  • FAQ
  • Some Other Foods You May Enjoy!
  • Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!
  • French Breakfast Radishes With Butter

I was absolutely DELIGHTED to find French breakfast radishes at my local grocery store the other day. My eyes had been on the look out for these radishes ever since I read about them in the book 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die. I almost did a cartwheel when I saw them! 😅

1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die

I am working my way through the foods that are listed in the book 1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die by Mimi Sheraton. This is called my 1,000 Foods to Eat Project. Radis au Beurre, or red radishes with butter, is listed in the French section of the book and this is food #62 in my project.

In this book, the author Mimi Sheraton lists her choice for the 1,000 Foods of the World that you MUST try. So if you haven't tried these delightful red radishes before, please be sure to seek them out! You may stumble upon them at your local farmers market or even at your grocery store.

What Are French Breakfast Radishes?

French breakfast radishes, with their beautiful pink colors, are one of the most delightful radish varieties. They are typically long and slender, with a white tip on the end of the radish that extends to a long taproot.

A display of French breakfast radishes in a grocery store with a sign showing that they are $1.99 per bundle.

A fresh radish will have a crisp texture, and they have a mild peppery flavor.  The radish greens are also edible.

SpecialityProduce.com has a wonderful article on the French Breakfast Radish which also includes the nutritional value, applications, and geography and history of the French radishes for your enjoyment.

This article explains that these radishes are named "French breakfast radishes" because the English upper class enjoyed them for breakfast during the Victorian era. They were designated "French" because they originated in France.

French breakfast radishes on a wooden cutting board, glass bowl with sea salt in the background, white dish with salt on the left, and top right a wooden handle of a cheese knife.

So, it seems despite the name, the French do not eat these radishes for breakfast. Rather, they are commonly enjoyed as a delicious snack in France.

How Do The French Eat This Classic French Snack?

So now I will describe what I think is the perfect way to enjoy these raw radishes, as the French do. This method is written about in the 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die book.

You will need the following ingredients:

  • French breakfast radishes (if you can't find these, by all means feel free to use the standard radishes that we typically find in our US grocery stores called Cherry Belle)
  • Butter - Ms. Sheraton's book recommends a creamy sweet butter. I used Président® Salted Butter bar. You can also select unsalted butter if you prefer.
  • Coarse or flaky sea salt.
Several French breakfast radishes on a wooden cutting board with a glass bowl with sea salt in the background, a white dish with butter on the left side, and a cheese knife with wooden handle in the foreground.

Begin by cutting off the leafy tops of the radishes, leaving just a small amount of the stem. Also cut off the tap root and wash and dry the radishes.

Use a knife (I used a cheese knife) and cut off some of the butter. Make a slice into the radish with your knife, leaving the butter behind. Honestly I wasn't able to do this perfectly cleanly but that's ok! Just dab whatever butter might be left on your knife into the cut in the radish.

Now sprinkle a little salt onto the butter. Close your eyes and take a bite. You'll truly be amazed at how incredible this combination is. It feels and tastes so decadent and if you're like me, you'll always eat raw radishes with butter and salt from now on!

Several French breakfast radishes on a wooden cutting board with a glass bowl with sea salt in the background, a white dish with butter on the left side, and a cheese knife with wooden handle in the foreground.

I do hope you will enjoy Radis au Beurre at the earliest opportunity!

🎥 Video

Watch me try French Breakfast Radishes for the first time!

FAQ

Can you eat French breakfast radish greens?

The radish greens are edible! Try sautéing them in a little olive oil with your favorite spices.

Why are they called French breakfast radishes?

An article from SpecialityProduce.com explains that these radishes are named "French breakfast radishes" because the English upper class enjoyed them for breakfast during the Victorian era. They were designated "French" because they originated in France.

Why do the French put butter on radishes?

First of all the combination is delicious! The butter is added to temper the slightly peppery bite of the radish, and along with salt is the perfect trio!

Some Other Foods You May Enjoy!

Here are some other foods of the world that you MUST try, as listed in the book 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die:

  • The Beautiful Blood Orange
  • Cape Gooseberry
  • San Marzano Tomatoes

Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!

I invite you to come along on this food journey with me! Please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here.

Cheers!

Grace

French breakfast radishes on a wooden board one radish has butter and salt on i there is a white dish with butter to the left of the radishes and a glass dish with coarse salt at the top left.

French Breakfast Radishes With Butter

Grace
Also known as Radis au Beurre, French breakfast radishes with butter is a classic French snack! Best enjoyed with a great quality butter and some coarse sea salt you will love this indulgent way of eating radishes!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 mins
Total Time 2 mins
Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine French

Ingredients
  

  • 1 bunch French breakfast radishes
  • creamy sweet butter can use salted or unsalted as you prefer; try to use the BEST quality butter that you can afford
  • coarse sea salt

Instructions
 

  • Begin by cutting off the leafy tops of the radishes, leaving just a small amount of the stem. Also cut off the tap root and wash and dry the radishes.
  • Use a knife (I used a cheese knife) and cut off some of the butter. Make a slice into the radish with your knife, leaving the butter behind. Honestly I wasn't able to do this perfectly cleanly but that's ok! Just dab whatever butter might be left on your knife into the cut in the radish.
  • Now sprinkle a little salt onto the butter. Close your eyes and take a bite. Bon appetit!
    Several French breakfast radishes on a wooden cutting board with a glass bowl with sea salt in the background, a white dish with butter on the left side, and a cheese knife with wooden handle in the foreground.

Notes

Use the best quality butter that you can afford for best results.  If you use a salted butter, you may want to hold back on the amount of coarse sea salt that you sprinkle on the radish.
If you can't find French breakfast radishes, any other radish would work!  
Bon appetit! 
Keyword French breakfast radishes, radishes
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Aurore

    October 14, 2022 at 4:47 am

    5 stars
    As a french person, I confirm we don't have radishes for breakfast, but usually either as you said, as a snack, or for "apéro", that when we get some drinks before lunch or dinner. Kind of like an appetizer 🙂 Thanks for spreading the good word on radis au beurre !

    Reply
    • Grace

      October 14, 2022 at 8:21 am

      Bon jour Aurore! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment, I'm overjoyed! Eating radis au beurre was an absolute revelation to me and I wish everyone knew about the French way of enjoying radishes. Merci! I wish you a wonderful day, Grace

      Reply

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About Me

Hi I’m Grace! I'm married and a mom to my fur baby, Toby, and food and travel are two of my greatest passions! Since our bank account does not allow us to travel or eat out as much as we'd like, I decided I would cook delicious meals that could give us a taste of all the places we'd like to go. My goal is to get you in the kitchen, and inspire you to cook and taste delightful meals that will transport you too. Let’s throw some actual travel in from time to time, all with an emphasis on keeping your wallet full and happy as well. Let’s get cooking and let’s start exploring!! I'm excited to be on this journey with you!!

By the way most of these recipes are Toby taste tested and Toby approved!!

Chief Taste Tester Toby

Toby Chief Taste Tester

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