On Saturday it was supposed to be the last of the cold and rainy days we have been seeing in Sydney of late. As a result our weekly soccer games were canceled. I had to take my Shun knife for re sharpening. We loaded the boys in the car and set out. As we were driving, listening to the Rio soundtrack and trying to make ourselves heard over the constant loud chatter coming from the backseat, we saw a sign that read "Grower's Market Today!"
"Here, Here .. turn here!!" I screamed like a banshee.
"Relax, we won't miss the turn!" replied Nick without batting an eyelid in his usual calm manner.
"Do you think, it is still on? I don't see any cars!" I said, my brow furrowed (It is unbelievable how my anxiety levels go from zero through the roof in a matter of seconds).
"Relax ..." came the very muted reply. (Does nothing ever faze my other half????)
"Oh, I see cars, I see cars .. oh oh I see the stalls! Yayy, the Grower's market is on!" I chanted to no one in particular.
On cue, "Yayyyy!" chimed in my boys from the backseat, followed by "Mum, What's a Grower's Market?"
Awesome! I had two sets of egar ears to educate. "You remember the Farmer's markets we often go to? Well, this is exactly the same ......."
It was my first time at the Castle Hill Grower's Market and at 11:00am with a light drizzle spraying our faces and the wind making its bite felt, we had the most amazing honey and port cured bacon and soft centered egg rolls before we explored the gorgeous fresh produce. An hour later, we walked back to the car with a bag of exotic mushrooms, a tray of free range eggs, an apple pie, a lamb pie, a roasted eggplant and pumpkin pie, rainbow radishes, tuscan cabbage, purple kale, jerusalem artichokes, red anjour pears, zucchini flowers, baby truss tomatoes, mandarins, cupcakes, elderflower cordial, croissants and some beautiful home made date pudding. Now you see why I was so excited!!
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The rainbow radishes were just gorgeous little things. With rings of bright pink, white and green they were mild and full of flavour. I made a simple purple kale and rainbow radish salad with an Asian dressing for our lunch the following day. They were a delight to photograph. Here is the recipe.
[print_this]
RAINBOW RADISH AND PURPLE KALE SALAD
Preparation Time - 10 minutes
Serves 2
Ingredients
2 medium sized rainbow radishes, peeled and thinly sliced
1 large stalk of purple kale, stem trimmed, roughly torn
Arrange the radish rounds on a plate. Fill the gaps with the purple kale. In a small bowl whisk together the lemon juice and olive oil (or sesame oil). Drizzle evenly over the radish and kale. Scatter spring onions and coriander. Finish off with a sprinkling of pepper and salt.
I share delicious, everyday recipes packed with big flavours. I believe that cooking and eating fresh wholesome food can be easily achieved by anyone. You just need a bit of practice and planning. I have been blogging for 20 years, have authored a cookbook Tasty Express and write a Substack Best Selling Newsletter - Live More Veg
Ellie @ Kitchen Wench
on August 1, 2011 at 8:41 PM
Just gorgeous! I've wanted to grown rainbow radish (also called watermelon radish, I believe) for awhile since I've never found it for sale anywhere here - after reading this, I'm off to go buy some seeds!
I am a professional blogger, food photographer and cookbook author based in Sydney, Australia. Cook Republic is a national award-winning blog. Here you will find hundreds of (triple-tested!) easy, delicious and family-friendly veg-lovin' recipes.
Really Gorgeous!!
This salad is breathtaking beautiful.....
The colors in the pics are such vibrant and lively!!!
this is gorgeous and classy!
well done!
😀
So vibrant. So Gorgeous.
Tobias
Just gorgeous! I've wanted to grown rainbow radish (also called watermelon radish, I believe) for awhile since I've never found it for sale anywhere here - after reading this, I'm off to go buy some seeds!
If you manage to grow them, let me know Ellie. I'd love to give it a go as well. I have purple carrot seeds at home and want to sow them in spring.
The salad looks fantastic. Fresh and vibrant. I live near Castle Hill. I wouldn't mind popping in the on their next one. Thanks for the tip!
not a problem Amy!
Love the look of this delicate salad. Going to find kale to make it soon.
WOW what gorgeous colors! I'm still in awe of how pretty this salad is -- not sure I could eat it and not be able to see it anymore ;p
Thank you, for whipping up this salad within seconds after we were oohhing and aahing over your photos 🙂 It tastes as delicious as it looks!
It was an absolute pleasure Petra. I love having such willing tasters 🙂
That rainbow radish is SO beautiful!!! What a beautiful and healthy looking salad.
That looks so colourful! i really like salads that look so good... it makes me want to eat healthy 🙂
What a pretty looking dish!
wow....ive never seen such pretty radishes before ! ive never eaten kale too. dont think its available here
Looks fabulous Sneh! Gorgeous, colourful & thank goodness the market was onnnn! Lovely images. dayle
Those radishes are so vibrant, really beautiful.
Gorgeous salad! Whoever hasn't been at a farmer's/grower's market before would think the colours are a Photoshop trick.
lol, very true Gaby!
I really want a Shun knife of my own 🙂
Your salad is beautiful!
You should get one Joyti, you'll love it!