What vegetables go well with fennel – and how about herbs and spices? If you are wondering how to use fennel and what ingredients to best pair it with, read on! Well help you discover some delicious combinations in this plant-based flavour pairing guide!
Apples, beetroot, Brussels sprouts, celeriac, corn, cucumber, garlic, grape, grapefruit, green bean, guava, kohlrabi, lemon, mushroom, olive, orange, peach, pear, pomegranate, potatoes, tomatoes, watercress, watermelon. Dill, elderflower, thyme, chickpea, cumin, chervil. Chicken, fish, mussels, sausage.
What does fennel taste like?
Fennel has a unique and distinct licorice or aniseed flavour. Its a herb in the carrot family, with feathery leaves or fronds and yellow flowers.
The variety typically used in cooking is known as Florence fennel, finocchio or simply called fennel bulb.
Its a popular ingredient in Mediterranean cooking and can give a dish a refreshing burst of flavour, or a delicate, aromatic, sweetness depending on how you use it.
When you cook fennel, the anise taste becomes more mellow and mild. The sweet notes also become more pronounced.
So now we know what it tastes like, what other ingredients go well with fennel?
These are some of the most popular ingredient combinations for fennel. Use them to create your own dishes!
- Fennel + blood oranges (add a light dressing, lettuce, nuts or olives to make a refreshing salad)
- Fennel + lemon + olive oil (try this combination in our Simple Fennel Pasta)
- Fennel + beets/beetroot + vinegar or orange juice
- Fennel + tomatoes + herbs (great roasted with pasta or potatoes)
- Fennel + vegan cheese + nuts (e.g walnut or almond) + apple or pear
Heres a list of vegetables, fruit and other plant-based ingredients that go with fennel to get your creative juices flowing! Bold items are particularly good matches to try.
- artichokes (great on pizza!)
- arugula/rocket
- beetroot
- carrots
- chillis
- cucumber
- garlic
- ginger
- kale
- leeks
- mushrooms
- onions
- potatoes
- tomatoes
- watercress
- black pepper
- coriander
- curry powder
- fennel seeds
- fennel pollen
- star anise
Plant-based cheeses and dairy alternatives
- plant butter (we like Naturli or Flora Plant Block)
- oat or soy cream
- vegan ricotta (made from soy or cashews)
- vegan feta (such as Violife Greek)
- vegan parmesan cheese
Fennel 101 – Foods That Go With Fennel
FAQ
What food pairs well with fennel?
What does fennel taste good on?
What foods is fennel used for?
What can you eat with fennel?
Top lemony steamed clams with a crisp fennel and parsley salad for an easy, summery dinner. A can of white beans makes it even more satisfying. The sausage that goes on pizza often has dried fennel seed in it—here, you’ll up the fennel flavor by adding half a thinly sliced fennel bulb on top. Store-bought pizza dough makes this a speedy dinner.
What is the best substitute for fennel?
Fennel can be consumed both raw and cooked. Fennel bulbs and the feathery tops are commonly eaten while fennel seeds are used as a seasoning or digestive aid. Fennel imparts a licorice or anise-like flavor to salads, slaws, or to cooked meals or side dishes. If you don’t have fennel bulb, you can substitute celery or the bulbous white part of bok choy. Both lack licorice flavor but have similar textures. Anise seed is related to fennel and can be added to compensate for the missing licorice flavor. Anise extracts can also be found in local grocery stores and are sometimes used in baking.
What goes well with fennel seeds?
Fennel and orange are a natural pairing, and here they’re featured in an upside down cornmeal cake. The savory, herbal fennel adds just the right amount of complexity and pairs well with the lightly moist cake. And the thin orange slices come out beautifully sweet, almost like a candied orange. Another great way to use fennel seeds? Pasta sauce!
What flavor goes well with fennel?
The pleasant orange flavor pairs well with tender pieces of fennel. —Marion Karlin, Waterloo, Iowa This filling soup is a favorite with our family and is often requested for company dinners. A hint of fennel accents the flavor of this quick-to-fix bean soup, while spinach and tomatoes add color.