Last Updated on April 2, 2024

Looking for a substitute for daikon radish for your favorite recipes? We have rounded up some 8 suitable substitutes for daikon radish that will help you get a similar flavor and texture with ease.

Daikon Radish Substitute Ideas

Daikon radish is normally white-grey in color with a long cylindrical shape, but can also come in purple or pink varieties.

When shopping for Daikon radishes you may find them labeled as mooli or odori daikon – all terms that refer to the same crop! What does daikon radish taste like? Daikon has a mild peppery flavor with a hint of sweetness.

It contains several essential vitamins including Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and folate, and is known for its ability to aid digestion and weight loss, as well as its cancer-fighting properties.

I love cooking daikon. Here are my recipes with daikon radish:

Daikon Radish in miso broth
Daikon Radish Stew
Pickled Daikon (Daikon Kimchi Style)
Korean Pickled Daikon
Vegan Zaru Soba (Cold Soba Noodles)

Despite its popularity in Asian cooking, it can be difficult to find outside of East Asia. Here are some alternatives if you’re unable to find Daikon:

1. Red Radish (table radish) 👑

Despite trying to find alternatives to daikon. But I have to say, these substitutes are not 100% mimic the flavor and taste of daikon radishes.

The only substitute I can think of that is closest to Daikon is red radishes. Thus, it is the winner of the list.

And they’re inexpensive and easy to find in most grocery stores. This is the type of radish you will be able to find all year round. It is red on the outside and white on the inside.

They are related because they are in the same family. The crisp, peppery flavor is very similar to that of daikon radishes whether prepared raw or cooked.

2. Turnip (Purple Top White Globe)

Turnips are sweeter than Daikon but will still bring the crunchy texture your recipe needs.

The Purple Top White Globe turnip is a fast-growing, crisp, fine-grained turnip. It has a purple top and a white bottom. Raw or cooked, it has a mild, sweet flavor.

3. Parsnips

Parsnips are long, tapered root vegetables. A parsnip resembles a carrot, and they belong to the same family.

However, parsnips do not taste like carrots. The flavor is nutty or earthy and they’re sweeter than sweet potatoes, perfect for making creamy parsnip soup.

4. Carrots

One of the most common substitutes for Daikon due to their popularity as well as their similar color scheme. This makes them suitable for salads or soups in place of radishes if that is what your recipe calls for!

They may not look quite the same as the traditional Daikon radish but they certainly offer the same qualities in terms of flavor and texture.

5. Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi, a member of the cabbage family, is sweet but peppery in flavor, with a similar taste and texture to broccoli stems. You should always buy firm, solid kohlrabi when you buy it.

6. Jicama

This popular Mexican vegetable has a lovely crunchiness plus sweet flavor from sugars present within making it one of the best substitutes in terms of texture and flavor profiles when looking for something similar to daikon.

7. Rutabaga

Rutabagas are root vegetables that are a cross between turnips and cabbage. The taste of rutabagas is sweeter than that of turnips, which is sharper. To be more specific it tastes like a less-sweet carrot and has a slightly bitter flavor.

Rutabagas become sweeter when cooked and have a similar taste to potatoes.

Allow yourself more cooking time by using rutabaga instead of radish since it is harder than most root vegetables however, you’ll still get some sweetness with your peppery taste.

8. Cucumbers

Cucumbers are another potential replacement; when compared to Daikon, cucumbers tend to be less sweet and crunchier but still provide an element of freshness for certain recipes.

Similarly, jicama provides another crunchy substitute when diced or grated into salads or soups.

Zucchinis are another suitable alternative due to their similar textures and mild tastes when cooked.

Preparing Substitutes for Daikon Radish

Taiwanese-Daikon-radish-stew-with-mixed-vegetables — Taiwanese Daikon radish stew with mixed vegetables

In addition to these vegetables mentioned previously, there are also some other additions that will contribute similarly unique flavors as Daikon radish.

For instance, turnips have flavors resembling freshly cut grass along with subtle sweetness.

Turnips tend to lose most of their crunch when cooked so it may depend on which type of dish they’re being used in as to whether they’re suitable or not.

Parsnips have an earthy flavor with distinct sweet undertones once cooked; while kohlrabi has similar qualities without quite being as mild or sweet-tasting.

Overall there are plenty of suitable substitutes for traditional daikon radishes available depending on what dish you’re making.

This will vary depending on the flavor profile you desire from your meal – experiment and see what works best for you!