How To Cut a Radish Star

How To Cut a Radish Star, a photo by sherimiya ♥ on Flickr.

I've been asked how I make the star-cut radishes. You know, the ones with the star-shaped cut in the center; basically the most common cut I ever make (besides the radishroom). It's really very easy, which is why I do it so often (along with the flower cut baby carrots which I always do as well). There may be other ways to do it, but this is how I cut a radish star.

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1. Start with a radish; remove root and stem.
2. Cut in half with a sharp knife.
3. Place the radish half on the cutting board, flat side down. Make the first cut at a slight angle, near the center, right down almost to the bottom. Make the second cut a slight distance away from the first cut, at an angle, to meet with the first cut at the bottom, to make a V wedge.
4. The wedge will stick to your knife and slide out easily.
5. Turn the radish 90 degrees and make a similar V wedge perpendicular to the first one.
6. There will be two half-wedges instead of one due to the space left by the first wedge. Now you have a cross.
7. Repeat the wedge-making cuts right along one of the angles made by the cross.
8. See? Repeat one last time along the last angle.
9. There you have it! A lovely star. Or firework, or flower blossom.

Any knife will suffice. You can also make the wedges all start at the same point at the bottom of the radish, so that they look like leaves of a plant. Don't you love how a few easy cuts can add an elegant touch to your bento, in just seconds? I'm a big proponent of quick and easy bento decoration. If I can do it, it means you can get by with basic knife skills and not a lot of extra effort or time. Hope you can try it yourself. Have fun!