Afternoon Snack: Radishes with Cream Cheese and Chives

Radishes are one of our favorite bright spring vegetables. Last year, we almost overdosed on radishes with butter and sea salt (so good), so we started thinking of another option for snacking. The creaminess of butter goes so well with a crunchy, spicy radish. Why not cream cheese?

We almost always have cream cheese on hand, making this a quick snack to pull together. But a soft, spreadable cheese like goat might be even better. And hey, we still love butter on radishes—we're not giving up that one. This is just a slightly less caloric alternative.

The chives just add a little punch of flavor, but they're not necessary. You could smear on some roasted garlic or a little dab of caramelized onions, even. Then sprinkle with some salt and pepper and take a bite.

Aren't they pretty? We think they'd even be a nice appetizer for a party.

(Images: Elizabeth Passarella)

Comments (5)

I made something similar last week: a dip with mascarpone and sour cream (a 3:1 mixture) mixed with a generous helping of chopped chives, chopped dill, the juice of 1/2 lemon, and salt/pepper that I used almost exclusively for radishes. The sweetness and creaminess of tte mascarpone/sour cream mixture with the punch of the radish was an awesome combo.

posted by rosebud on May 21st 2009 at 3:53pm
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We did! we had them as (among others) little appetizers for our engagement party! I swear, we used radishes and cream cheese but then dipped the cream cheese part in toasted chopped almonds...it was good! I bet the fresh herbs give it a springy little boost

posted by missmarie on May 21st 2009 at 6:23pm
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Growing up we grew radishes in the garden. When they were ready for eating, we'd pick them, trim off the stem and keep in a bowl of water for freshness. When I buy radishes at the farmer's market, they still don't seem to stay crisp in water. Anyone got tips for keeping them fresh until I can eat them all?

posted by Sassy in SF on May 21st 2009 at 9:29pm
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Butter on radishes? Well thanks. That's just what I needed to know. Here I am trying to break my butter habit and you offer this tasty tidbit. Cream cheese too! That's a little less calories (probably not----I'd just use more of it).

posted by SunnyBlue on May 22nd 2009 at 7:55am
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I just bought a full bunch of radishes the other day, and have been enjoying them in a number of different ways (shredded into chicken yogurt salad, for one). I'm going to now enjoy them with cream cheese, but as I'm non-dairy now all the way, it'll be Toffuti "Better Than Cream Cheese" (found cheap at Trader Joe's).

Favorite quote about radishes from "Naughty Marietta"--"You don't cook a radish, you eat it alive!"

posted by eightisenough on May 25th 2009 at 11:36pm
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