What is fennel used for in cooking? All parts of the fennel plant—bulb, stalk, and the feathery fronds—are edible, and will add texture and flavor to salads, slaws, pastas, and more. Thinly sliced raw fennel bulb adds a sweet licorice flavor and crunchy texture to salads.
What food goes well with fennel?
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.
What flavor does fennel add to food?
licorice
Fennel has a very mild anise or licorice flavor that can be enhanced or sweetened depending on how it is cooked (or not cooked). When diced and sauteed with onions as one of the first steps when making a soup or stew, fennel becomes very sweet.
What are the benefits of using fennel?
Benefits
- The main fennel bulb is a plant-based source of potassium, sodium, phosphorus, and calcium.
- Research shows that fennel seeds may have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and antiviral effects.
- Insufficient potassium intake can increase a person’s risk of developing high blood pressure.
What is fennel and what does it taste like?
Also known as sweet anise, Fennel is an early spring vegetable in the carrot family native to the Mediterranean region. You can use the entire plant for its aromatic, black licorice-like flavor profile. A common ingredient in Italian and French cooking, fennel has a licorice scent that pairs well with seafood and pork.
Which meat goes with fennel?
Cooks love pairing fennel with pork, chicken, and sausage, and the more daring will even add it to lamb dishes. The herb in all of its forms is also a popular choice for almost every type of fish, including shellfish.
How long does fennel last in the refrigerator?
seven to ten days
Store fresh fennel bulbs in the fridge to keep them fresh for seven to ten days. Cut the fennel stalks off the bulb and store them in a plastic bag or an airtight container.
How do you cook with fennel?
You can eat it raw, roasted, or cooked in salads, stews, soups, and pasta dishes. In fact, fennel is often used as the base for flavorful broths that chefs use to braise fish and meats.
Does fennel taste like celery?
Some people compare the flavor to that of anise or licorice. Others say it tastes like a cross between celery and dill. Fennel does have a slightly sweet taste, with a hint of citrus. In terms of texture, raw fennel is similar to celery or cucumber.
Is fennel similar to onion?
Fennel is a vegetable that’s a member of the carrot family, but it looks more like a cross between an onion, celery and dill! It has a large bulbous root, stalks, and leafy fronds at the top. The bulb can be eaten cooked or raw thinly sliced, and it has a black licorice or anise flavor.
Who should not take fennel?
You should not use this product if you are allergic to fennel or if you have: past or present cancer of the breast, ovary, or uterus; or. a history of endometriosis or uterine fibroids.
What are the side effects of fennel?
Side effects of Fennel include:
- difficulty breathing.
- tightness of chest/throat.
- chest pain.
- nausea.
- vomiting.
- hives.
- rash.
- itchy or swollen skin.
Is fennel good for your gut?
Fennel has been shown to help with digestion by reducing inflammation in the bowels and decreasing bacteria that cause gassiness. One study also showed that fennel oils could help relieve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Is fennel a blood thinner?
Fennel might slow blood clotting. Taking fennel along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Can fennel cause gas?
Thanks to anethole, one of the essential oils contained in the vegetable, fennel has the ability to counteract the formation of intestinal gas and relieve abdominal contractions and cramps, aerophagy and flatulence. This property of fennel, called carminative, is well known.
What part of fennel do you eat?
Technically speaking, all parts of the plant are edible, but most people will find the stalks too tough and fibrous to eat. The leaves can be chopped and used to flavor salads, dressings, marinades and sauces. They tend to have a slightly more citrusy flavor than the base. The base (or bulb) is delicious raw or cooked.
What seasoning goes with fennel?
“I really like raw fennel in salads, but I also enjoy it braised in a very aromatic vegetable stock of onions, celery, coriander seed, star anise, thyme, and bay leaves with olive oil and sliced lemon, paired with a branzino or orata.”
How do I add fennel to my diet?
To use:
- Crush or grind whole fennels seeds just before you add them to your cooking or tea.
- Add toasted fennel seeds to dishes to give them a sweet, licorice flavor.
- Make a simple tea by crushing a spoonful of fennel seeds and pouring hot water over them.
- Add a tablespoon of the seeds to batter for baked goods.
Can you eat fennel raw?
The fennel bulb is enjoyed raw, where its anise flavor is most pronounced, and cooked for a sweeter, mellower version of itself. But don’t pitch the rest! The entire fennel plant is not only edible but delicious.
How do you know when fennel has gone bad?
Fennel that is spoiling will typically become soft and discolored; discard any fennel that has an off smell or appearance.
Do you need to wash fennel?
Wash and clean the fennel bulb and remove the core which is too tough to eat. Slice through the bulb and cut off the core. You should trim off the leaves and stalks, and book them for later use like garnish if you like.