Takuan in Japan is usually eaten at the end of the meal with rice and miso soup, but there are ways to accomodate it Western-style!
Here is a suggestion for a cold pasta recipe for a light refreshing dish during the summer heat.
As for a vegan version use vegan pasta!

INGREDIENTS: (for 2 people)

Pasta (or vegan pasta): 200 g
Takuan: 50 g (cut into thick filaments)
Cucumber: 100 g (cut inot thick filaments)
Salted konbu seaweed: 20 g (cut into thick filaments)
Roasted sesame seeds: A little

RECIPE:

Boil the pasta to your liking in 2 liters of water and 1 tablespoon of salt.

Prepare aside the takuan and cucumber (small and crunchy Japanese style) cut into thick filaments and salted konbu seaweed.

Transfer the boiled pasta into a bowl full of icy water.
Drain well.

In a bowl drop the pasta, takuan, cucumber and seaweed and mix well.
Note: Use your imagination if you want to add taste and seasoning but keep in mind you don’t need any more salt!
Suggestions: sesame oil, umeboshi meat, gomadare/sesame dressing, etc.

Serve in a plate and sprinkle wit roasted sesame seeds!

For more color and taste you could add thinly cut pimento!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery