This aromatic vegetable is equally delicious raw or cooked and can be added to salads, side dishes, or main courses. Try it every which way with our favorite fennel recipes.
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.
Caramelized Fennel, Celery, and Sardine Pasta
Fennel and celery are cooked until tender and golden, then tossed with whole-wheat pasta, lemon zest, and canned sardines in this light dinner. Its ready in just 25 minutes!
Fennel Basics
Often likened in taste to licorice, fennel is in fact far more subtle with a texture similar to celery, and, unlike licorice, the flavor is savory, not sweet. Raw, fennel is cool and crunchy. Cooked, fennel turns mellow and the flesh softens; it is wonderful alongside fish or chicken or tossed with pasta.
In Season: Fennel season lasts from mid-fall to early spring.
What to Look For: Fennel is easily identifiable: It has a fat white bulb (like an onion) and a feathery top of green stalks and fluffy fronds (though some grocers cut these parts off). Choose firm, greenish-white fennel bulbs with no soft or brown spots. If the fronds are still attached to the bulb, they should be bright green with no signs of wilting.
How to Store: Wrapped in a paper bag and refrigerated, fennel can last three to five days. But, as bulbs tend to dry out over time, its best to use them as soon as possible.
How to Trim and Core: Whether served raw or cooked, fennel bulbs must be trimmed first. Cut the stalks from the top of the bulb, then remove any tough outer layers. Some recipes call for the removal of the triangular core. This can easily be done with a paring knife. Fennel trimmings dont have to be thrown away. Sprinkled fronds are regularly used as a garnish for soups, stews, and pastas. The stalks add flavor to stocks or roasted poultry or fish (stuff them into the cavity).
11 POWERFUL Benefits Of Drinking Fennel Water Every Day – See What Happens!
FAQ
What does fennel pair well with?
Which spices go with fennel?
What smells good with fennel?
What Spice goes well with fennel?
The sweetness of yellow seeds will complement the sweetness of your Fennel. The spicier black seeds will balance out the sweetness. Try a pinch of dried oregano if you want a more placed spice that won’t necessarily kick you in the palate. This spice, like Fennel, has a slight sweetness to it, so mixing them will make that out more.
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 salad?
Fennel wedges, Italian cherry peppers, and olives are given a quick turn in the oven before being served alongside juicy pork loin encrusted with a fennel, coriander, and black peppercorn rub. Crisp fennel complements the chewy, nutty farro in this salad. Radicchio, fresh mint, and lemon juice make the dish bright and refreshing.
What fruit goes well with fennel?
Fennel’s sweet side means it partners well with summer fruit, like the ginger-spiced plums in this salad. Topped with fans of candied fennel and bathed in a golden syrup, this lemony upside-down cake looks as cheery as the sun. Fennel, candied in a lemon-vanilla syrup, is the dessert topping you never knew you needed.