What is Daikon Salad?

Daikon salad (大根サラダ) is a popular Japanese salad dish that features the crunchy texture and peppery taste of the daikon radish.

While there are different ways to prepare it, most versions include a tangy soy sauce-based dressing. Many are topped with umami-rich bonito flakes and strips of nori seaweed, creating a harmonious blend of flavors and textures.

julienned daikon radish on a wooden chopping board

How I Developed This Recipe

I’ve always been a fan of daikon salad, but I wanted to create something special—an “addictive izakaya-style” version that would keep you coming back for more.

What’s my secret? I added canned tuna to the crunchy daikon to give it a little extra flavor. The real star of the show, though, is my homemade dressing. It’s seriously addictive!

I’ve made this salad really simple to put together. Why not give it a try and see what you think?

shredded daikon radish in a bowl coated with canned tuna and condiments — Canned tuna and daikon radish are a good combo!

Key Ingredients & Substitution Ideas

Ingredients required to make addictive daikon salad on a white background with labels

Daikon radish: Choose a fresh white daikon with green leaves that look nice and crisp. The key to this salad’s texture is the crispness of your daikon!
Canned tuna: Feel free to choose your preferred variety—water-packed or oil-packed is fine. Both types work well in this recipe, so just choose based on your taste or what’s readily available in your pantry.
Mayonnaise: I used Japanese mayonnaise, but any type will do. It’s used mainly to bind everything together, so feel free to use the one in your fridge!
Dressing ingredients: Mix together dark soy sauce, sugar, toasted sesame seeds, toasted sesame oil, olive oil, garlic paste, lemon juice, and a pinch of white pepper powder to create a flavorful blend.
Toppings: Sprinkle kizami nori (finely shredded dried seaweed) and bonito flakes (katsuobushi).

Jump to Full Recipe Measurements

Addictive daikon radish salad topped with bonito flakes, sesame seeds and kizami nori served in a glass bowl next to black chopsticks and a Japanese fan in the background

Visual Walkthrough & Tips

Here are my step-by-step instructions for how to make Addictive Daikon Salad at home. For ingredient quantities and simplified instructions, scroll down for the Printable Recipe Card below.

This section aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the cooking steps and techniques with visuals. It also includes more in-depth tips and tricks and explains why I do what I do.

STEP

Prepare the Daikon

Cut the daikon into matchstick shapes.

Daikon radish cut into matchsticks on a wooden chopping board

Put them in a bowl. Sprinkle with salt and give it a gentle massage into the daikon.

julienned daikon radish in a mixing bowl with salt

Let it sit for about five minutes to draw out the excess moisture.

STEP

Make the Dressing

While the daikon is resting, mix all the dressing ingredients together in a separate bowl. The key here is to whisk vigorously to create a smooth, well-integrated dressing.

Dressing for daikon salad mixed in a glass bowl

STEP

Drain the Daikon

After about five minutes, give the daikon a good squeeze with your hands to get rid of any excess water.

squeezed daikon radish in a steel mixing bowl on a white background

IMPORTANT

This process is really important because if you don’t, the salad will be watery.

STEP

Combine Ingredients

Next, add the well-drained tuna and mayonnaise to the bowl with the daikon. Just mix it all together gently but thoroughly to make sure everything’s evenly distributed.

daikon radish mixed with canned tuna and condiments to make addictive daikon salad

IMPORTANT

Drain the liquid from canned tuna well before adding it to the salad to prevent excess liquid.

STEP

Assemble and Garnish

Transfer the mixed salad to a serving bowl. Drizzle with the dressing and top with a generous sprinkle of bonito flakes and chopped nori.

Jump to Full Recipe Measurements

I hope you enjoy this Daikon Salad recipe! If you try it out, I’d really appreciate it if you could spare a moment to let me know what you thought by giving a review and star rating in the comments below. It’s also helpful to share any adjustments you made to the recipe with our other readers. Thank you!