Radish and Chive Baguettes

French cuisine has always been widely thought of as sophisticated and even somewhat extravagant. Traditional haute cuisine, as it was called, was marked by elaborate preparation and finished off with an exquisite presentation. If you’re familiar with some French dishes, you’ll find lots of ingredients and cream sauces being used. For many years, French cuisine was the gold standard of an elegant dining experience.

Believe it or not, though, French cuisine used to be very simple. It was only in the mid-15th century that people began to add drama to French cooking, thanks to the influence of Catherine de Medici of Italy. Following her marriage to King Henri II, she began to revolutionize French food and culture.

Among the traditional yet simple meals the French enjoyed were Salted Radish and Chive Baguettes. This recipe pays homage to this popular French sandwich.

Salted Radish and Chive Baguettes can be done in five minutes or even less! As I mentioned, traditional French cuisine can be simple, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t lacking in flavor. Aside from the delicate taste of thinly sliced radishes, what makes this sandwich recipe an elevated experience is the use of Beurre de Baratte, or French butter.

This isn’t just any ordinary butter. Beurre de Baratte is incredibly rich, with a higher fat content than American butter. It can be salted with fleur de sel or have a sweet flavor when unsalted. Beurre de Baratte is more reminiscent of cheese than regular butter. An alternative is grass-fed Irish butter, which will taste just as scrumptious. Both go incredibly well with the tender flavors of sliced, salted radish and the slightly nutty taste of baguette slices. Sprinkle some chives for that oniony taste and you’ve got yourself a delightful French sandwich that’s simple yet luxurious!

Salted Radish and Chive Baguettes

Radishes are most popularly served in France on sandwiches swiped with butter and this Salted Radish and Chive Baguette honors that tried and true formula.

• Author: Norann Oleson
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: Serves 4
• Category: Appetizers

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 8 slices French baguette, sliced thin (about 3/4 inches)
• 8 tablespoons Beurre de Baratte or grass-fed Irish butter, softened
• 1 cup radishes, thinly sliced by a mandolin into rounds
• 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh cut chives
• Sea salt

Instructions

1. Spread butter over slices of baguettes, then lay out slices of radishes evenly.
2. Sprinkle lightly with salt and chives, then take a bite and enjoy!

Radishes are annual plants in the Brassicaceae mustard family. So, while they might look like a carrot or a turnip, radishes are actually more closely related to Brussels sprouts and cabbage. If you want to start growing radishes in your garden or on your deck in deep containers, and we’ll walk you through the whole process in our Radiant Radishes Gardening Guide!

Have you tried Salted Radish and Chive Baguettes? What did you think? Please let us know if you made any changes or have any suggestions.