D is for Daikon and Potato Cakes

The satisfaction I felt having tracked down the Daikon is wearing off. Chopping off a section for the Miso Soup doesn't seem to have reduced its size. I suspect it may have the power to grow back overnight. There is a kind of gloom hanging over its corner of my kitchen and even Freddie seems a little too scared to pick it up and clonk his sister on the head. Having googled "Daikon" I think I know why. I have found websites in Japan selling soft plush cuddly Daikons. They come in various sizes and sport a variety of expressions. There is even the celebrated Dokonjo Daikon that captivated the nation's attention when it grew through tarmac and featured on the nightly news. The toy sales-spiel reads, " Yay! Daikon are here! These tranquil Mother radishes are for cuddling, not cooking, in case you were confused. This Daikon Mother sits on a blue pillow and wields a chibi Daikon!"
I'm not confused, I'm frightened. Tranquil mother radishes are not to be messed with. Which is why it is imperative that I despatch our daikon promptly. You know the film, "The hand that rocks the cradle"? Well, I don't trust this vegetable in my home.
I hacked off what I hope is a life-threatening amount of Daikon this evening and boiled it, half and half with potato. I fried a cup full of lardons and finely chopped spring onions and stirred it with the salted mashed Daikon/Potato. I added an egg to bind it all together and having let the mixture chill in the fridge, shaped it into cakes and dusted it with flour before frying it in a lightly-greased pan on a medium heat. I turned it over till it was golden on both sides. To make sure the Daikon was truly dead, I cooked the cakes in the oven for 20 minutes.

 

We had the last laugh - Freddie and Alex thought the daikon cakes were delicious and scored them 8 out of 10. Only half a Daikon left to eat...