This Genius Mother’s Day Tradition Only Calls for One Ingredient

Besides the bright pops of color that tulips provide as they emerge in small green spaces around Brooklyn and the ability to take a walk without a heavy coat on, there’s one main reason I look forward to spring: the return of fresh, bright produce.

Seasonal treats like ramps, asparagus, artichokes, and snap peas are just a few delicious signs of warm weather that I look forward to every year, and they’re undoubtedly ingredients that chefs seek to highlight on seasonal menus across the country when available. But there’s one chef who’s taking his — and his family’s — love for a spring vegetable a step further by using it to surprise and delight.

If you’re on the hunt for a Mother’s Day tradition that feels special but doesn’t require much effort or expense, you may want to take a page from Spanish chef José Andrés’ book. The restaurateur and recent star of Netflix’s Chef’s Table: Legends has used TikTok to highlight the simple way he makes his wife feel special on the holiday every year: with a fresh crop of her favorite spring produce.

What does Andrés do for his wife on Mother’s Day?

In a social media video posted in 2021, Andrés explains that he is “picking up my amazing radishes on Mother’s Day, because what I do is I plant radishes every year early — in February — to have radishes for my wife. She loves the radishes.” You can even catch a glimpse of Andrés’ wife, Patricia Andrés, whom he has been married to for roughly three decades, in the background of their garden.

This simple tradition is a wonderful way to show a loved one that you remember what they enjoy and are willing to plan ahead to make a day feel special for them. As the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles explains, radishes are also very easy to cultivate at home from seed. They don’t require a lot of space to grow, and — depending on the exact variety you’re growing — they’ll be ready to harvest in about 4-5 weeks after planting.

If you purchase a packet of seeds, the packaging will provide basic details on how to plant them, the frequency of watering required, and when they are likely to be ready for harvest. You can tell radishes are ready to pick when you see the tops of the root vegetables peeking out from the surrounding soil.

What are French breakfast radishes?

You may notice that the radishes Andrés is harvesting in this clip aren’t identical to the round, red spheres (usually referred to as garden radishes) that you most commonly see in American grocery stores. That’s because these are French breakfast radishes, sometimes simply called French radishes, an heirloom variety of the vegetable with a slightly oblong shape and a gradient of vivid pinkish-red and white colors.

These roots have a crisp, firm texture and a mild flavor that’s subtly sweet. Compared to their spherical counterparts, which you might be more familiar with, French breakfast radishes are a little less spicy in flavor but still possess peppery notes. Due to their milder flavor and oval shape, they make an excellent snacking radish.

You can eat the greens of these and all other radishes either raw or cooked, so don’t throw them away! The leafy greens will have peppery notes just like their roots, and you may find that they taste similar to arugula.

How should you eat French breakfast radishes?

The refreshing and slightly fiery flavor of French radishes doesn’t require many ingredients or much effort to highlight. I love enjoying the crispy root vegetables with just a smear of butter and a sprinkle of flaky salt on top, which also creates a beautiful and quick spring appetizer. If you’re serving radishes at a Mother’s Day brunch, you could make an elegant tartine with toasted sourdough, butter, sliced radishes, and flaky salt, or you could use them in a springy salad. 

For anyone feeling more adventurous, you can cook radishes too — like in this recipe for Chicken Piccata with Radishes. Their texture will soften slightly after roasting, but they still have a bit of a bite, and the cooking will enhance their essential sweetness. If you think you don’t like radishes, then cooking them might convert you. There’s really no incorrect way to enjoy these pink and white hued delicacies.