Cooking Series: Edible Flower Recipes, Easy French Buttered Radish Toasts

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Easy French Buttered Radish Toasts

By Nicole Gaffney

Updated: April 18, 2023

Published April 6, 2024

This easy recipe for French Buttered Radish Toasts takes a classic French hors d'oeuvre and makes it even better by adding fresh herbs and putting it on top of crispy toasted bread. It's super simple to prepare and is ready to eat in under 15 minutes!

I find that most foods taste better on bread. Radishes dipped in butter is a classic French hors d'oeuvre, but just like grilled zucchini, tomatoes, mushrooms and fava beans, this combination really comes to life on a piece of toast.

Radishes are one of the very first vegetables to emerge in spring because they grow so quickly. It only takes about 30 days for a radish to go from seed to harvest! I make this appetizer every year as a way to usher in spring and celebrate the beautiful textures, flavors and colors it brings.

Fresh chives add a mild oniony, herby flavor to the unsalted butter, while flaky sea salt gets sprinkled over the top for a salty, crunchy bite. The sliced radishes look beautiful shingled on top of the toasts, and I add edible flowers from my garden to make them even prettier.

Why This Recipe Works

• An easy, beginner-friendly recipe that anyone can make.

• Creamy unsalted butter is a classic pairing with crisp, peppery radishes and flaky sea salt. Fresh chives and toasted bread make it even better!

• Made in 15 minutes or less.

Ingredient Notes

• Radishes - Make sure your radishes are fresh. Look for radishes that still have the green tops attached. Any variety will work. I love using French breakfast radishes for their mild flavor, or watermelon radishes for their beautiful, colorful appearance.

• Butter - Use the freshest, best quality, artisanal unsalted butter you can find. If it's French butter, even better! It's important to use unsalted butter because we're topping these toasts with a generous sprinkle of crunchy salt.

• Bread - A French baguette is best for this recipe, but any good quality crusty bread will work.

• Chives - Chives provide an herbal, mild oniony flavor that goes so beautifully with these toast. If you can't get chives, you can the dark green tops of scallions, but make sure to dice them up finely. You can also use different herbs like dill, tarragon, chervil, parsley or basil.

• Sea Salt - I love Maldon sea salt for this recipe, but any big flakes of crunchy sea salt will work. Sel gris and fleur de sel are two other great options.

Helpful Equipment

• Mandoline Slicer - You can slice the radishes by hand using a knife, but a mandoline slicer makes it faster and easier to achieve thin, uniform slices. I recommend using a cut-proof glove to avoid getting cut.

Step By Step Instructions

1. Place the slices of bread in the toaster or toaster oven and toast until just lightly golden brown. You can also bake the toast in a 350 degree F oven for 5-8 minutes.

2. While the bread toasts, mix together the softened butter and chives until fully combined. 

3. Remove the bread from the toaster and allow to cool for a few minutes so the butter doesn't melt.

4. Divide the butter amongst the 6 toasts and spread it out into an even layer. 

5. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt, then arrange the radish slices over top. 

6. Arrange the toasts on a platter and sprinkle with a tiny bit more sea salt, chopped chives and edible flowers. Serve immediately.

   
   

Tips For Success

• Make sure the toasts have cooled completely before spreading the butter, otherwise it will melt.

• Use a top quality, fresh European style or cultured butter for best results.

• Edible flowers are optional and just for garnish, but if you have a garden they're easy to incorporate! Different herbs like chives, sage and tarragon all flower in the spring, as well as brassicas like kale, broccoli and collards!

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