Chicken Braised with Daikon Radish – A Light, Flavorful Dish for Summer Meals

Combining chicken with daikon radish is a wonderful way to bring freshness and variety to your family’s summer meals. Chicken is a nutritious and versatile ingredient that appears frequently in Vietnamese home cooking. From salt-roasted chicken, lemongrass chili stir-fried chicken, chicken salad with lime leaves, to salt-baked chicken… there are countless delicious dishes you can prepare.

Among these, chicken braised with daikon radish stands out as a simple yet uniquely comforting dish. The sweetness of the radish blends beautifully with the tender chicken, creating a mildly savory and aromatic meal that pairs perfectly with warm rice.

1. Ingredients for Chicken Braised with Daikon Radish

• Chicken: ½ whole chicken

• Daikon radish: ½ root

• Ginger: 3 slices

• Green bell pepper: 1 whole

• Garlic: 2 cloves

• Cinnamon bark: 1 small piece

• Seasonings: Salt, 1 tbsp cooking wine, 1 tbsp soy sauce

Daikon radish is inexpensive, nutritious, and a great ingredient to pair with chicken in braised dishes. Its natural sweetness helps balance the savory flavors and provides a refreshing taste.

2. How to Make Chicken Braised with Daikon Radish

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

• Rinse the chicken thoroughly. You can rub the pieces with coarse salt to remove any odors, then rinse again with clean water. Chop into bite-sized pieces.

• Peel the daikon radish, wash, and slice into medium-thick rounds or half-moons.

• Rinse the green pepper, remove seeds and stem, then cut into chunks.

• Peel the ginger, wash, then slice thinly.

• Peel the garlic cloves and slice.

• Rinse the cinnamon bark and pat dry.

Step 2: Stir-fry the Chicken

• Heat a little oil in a pan and add the chicken pieces.

• When the chicken begins to turn golden and slightly darker, add ginger, garlic, and cinnamon. Stir until fragrant.

• Add soy sauce and cooking wine, tossing well to coat the meat.

• Continue stir-frying until the chicken is lightly browned, then pour in enough water to cover about two-thirds of the chicken.

Step 3: Braise with Daikon Radish

• Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover and simmer over low heat for about 20 minutes.

• Add the sliced daikon radish and continue simmering for another 10 minutes, or until the radish becomes soft and absorbs the broth.

• Add the green pepper along with a pinch of salt, adjusting the seasoning to taste.

• Cook for an additional 5 minutes, then turn off the heat and serve hot.

Though very simple, this dish is incredibly fragrant and visually appealing once cooked. The chicken remains tender and flavorful, while the radish becomes soft, slightly sweet, and refreshing. Chicken braised with daikon radish tastes best when served with freshly steamed rice.

3. Tips for Making Chicken Braised with Daikon Radish

• When choosing chicken, select one with a thin, light-yellow skin. The meat should look fresh with no unpleasant odor or bruises on the skin.

• Good daikon radishes are straight, firm, and feel solid when held. Slightly crisp skin usually indicates freshness and sweetness.

• Although daikon is nutritious, people with weak digestion, low blood pressure, or frequent diarrhea should avoid eating too much, as it may cause discomfort.

Additionally, for an even richer flavor, you may add a few slices of shallot or a small amount of oyster sauce. Some cooks also like to reduce the sauce further at the end to create a glossy, slightly thicker coating on the meat and radish. This enhances the aroma and makes the dish even more appetizing.