Ensaladang Labanos, Filipino Radish and Tomato Salad
Ensaladang labanos is the sharp little side salad of the Filipino table, white radish sliced thin and dressed with the native cane vinegar, tomato, and onion. It is the plate set next to something rich and smoky, a grilled eggplant or a fried fish, to reset the palate between bites. Traditionally it is salted or seasoned with a little bagoong, but the vinegar and the tomato's own juice carry it well enough on their own. Apple cider vinegar stands in for the sukang paombong, and a firm squeeze of the radish keeps everything crisp.
Ingredients
- 1 Daikon radish, peeled, quartered lengthwise, and sliced thin
- 4 Radishes, sliced thin
- 2 Fresh tomatoes, cut into wedges
- 1/2 Red onions, sliced thin
- 2 tbsp Apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp Cilantro, chopped, optional
- 1/4 tsp Black peppercorns, cracked
Method
- Toss the sliced daikon and radishes with the vinegar and let them sit 10 minutes. Labanos is sharp and peppery raw, and the acid softens that bite and draws water out of the slices, doing the work a salt-and-squeeze would do, but without the salt.
- Gather the radish in your hands and squeeze gently, then pour off the liquid that has collected in the bowl. This is the step that keeps the salad crisp and concentrated rather than watery and dilute.
- Add the tomato wedges and red onion and fold together. The tomatoes give up their juice as they sit, and that juice becomes the rest of the dressing, so there is no need for oil.
- Crack the black pepper over and fold in the cilantro if using. Serve cold, alongside grilled or fried food, where the raw radish and the vinegar cut straight through richness the way this salad is meant to.
Nutrition
Estimated per serving: 45 calories, 2 g protein, 3 g fiber, 25 mg sodium. Computed from USDA FoodData Central reference values for the main ingredients. This is an approximation, not a laboratory measurement. How these are computed.
Cost per serving is estimated from US national-average retail prices for cheap staple forms, using BLS dried-bean prices and USDA produce prices. Prices vary by store and season, so treat it as a guide, not a receipt. How this is computed.
