This week our farm boxes have fennel! Though we may not think of using fennel as the first ingredient in our home cooking, it is popular ingredient in Italian, Indian, Asian, and Middle Eastern Cusines. And for good reason. The licorice but not too sweet or strong flavor makes for a wonderful addition to dozens of dishes, and blends sweet or savory flavors together so easily. There’s so much that can be done with fennel from breakfast to dessert, you might not even know where to begin. So, to get a jump start on your creativity, we’ve put together our 6 favorite ways to cook with fennel.
1. Breakfast:
Fennel brightens up any morning dish, and can be cooked in a scramble, added to hash, like this paleo recipe from Sustainable Dish, or simply sliced and topped on fried eggs. Now there’s a way to look fancy with little effort!
2. Raw:
Slice up your fennel bulb and mix it into any salad & you’ve elevated it from an everyday dish to fancy & light, without even adding any dressing yet. If you haven’t used fennel bulbs with your fish, you’re just missing out. Our recipe for grilled fish & fennel and tomato salad is an easy dish to whip up on a warm summer night (click here). Don’t stop with just green salads, brighten up your fruit salad with some fennel slices or garnish with the fronds (fancy word for the leaves or tops). And yes, you can use them for a nice garnish!
3. Roasted:
Roast your fennel by itself or with Parmesan and olive oil. When you’re making your roast dinner, start with fennel on the bottom of the pan. So much more flavor than just carrots and potatoes. Pork roast with apples and fennel anyone?
4. Mix it up:
Give this recipe for raw AND roasted carrots and fennel a try, and see for yourself how bending the traditional rules is well worth it.
5. Soup & Stuffing:
5. Soup & Stuffing:Tomato and fennel soup anyone? Think of fennel as celery plus. You can use it instead of celery in tons of recipes, including chicken soup, stews, or even stuffing. For a rich and hearty soup, roast fennel with carrots, zucchini, potatoes, or even make a cream of fennel soup.
6. Finally, dessert!
Fennel and apples are a match made in heaven. So, here’s an easy fennel and apple tart to finish off any meal or party with. There’s TONS of ways to use fennel in cake or breads, and even in homemade ice cream. An easy topping, you can make candied fennel. Boil simple syrup (1 part sugar, 1 part water), then add fennel slices and boil for 3 minutes. Bake for 30 minutes in a 250° oven for 30 minutes, or leave out on a sheet pan overnight, sprinkling sugar on top, and there you have it! (for more detailed instructions, get this recipe from the Washington Post) Top that on any cake, or ice cream.
We hope you try some of our favorite ways to cook with fennel! You’ll always look like a pro when you use the subtle and sophisticated flavor of fennel in your dishes.