That’s something my parents and grandparents, who also lived through the Depression, liked too: radish sandwiches. Only they would butter one slice of bread, and put mayo on the other. A hint of salt finishes it. I still make radish sandwiches to this day.
Otherwise? Raw and plain, with a little salt. Great healthy snack!
My favorite way to eat them is sliced into thin slices, mixed in a salad with lots of fresh green lettuce and a little bit of chopped onions. Olive oil, wine vinegar, salt and pepper and mixed well. Beautiful spring food.
I just Googled “beef stew with radishes” and it appears that you’re supposed to use daikon radishes, not the round red variety. I’ve had daikon, and it’s usually available at my local grocery store. It’s milder than the red radishes, and they’re usually the size of large zucchinis. They can be eaten raw, or pickled, or cooked for that matter.
I’ve also only had them raw, and mostly ate them in salads, though I’d sometimes deliberately pick them out if they were whole. Pick them out and eat them, that is.
I rank raw radishes right up there with celery - just slightly to the south of cardboard. Never tried them cooked, however. Might make a big difference.
I love daikon radishes, too. I usually shred them raw along with carrot and toss them with a little vinegar. Serve them as a side salad with Asian food. They are also a necessary ingredient in bahn-mi.
Bread, Obatzda ( a camembert-style cheese kneaded with butter and flavored with salt, pepper, paprika powder, a drop of beer and some caraway) and salted sliced radishes. The spreadable, “hand-processed” cheese goes very well with the tangy veggies.