The dried pale green or light brown seed you might recognize from your spice rack—the one that looks a lot like cumin and caraway—is an aromatic spice known as fennel, with a flavor similar to (and often confused with) that of sweet anise seed.
What kind of spice is fennel?
What is Fennel: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable? Is fennel a spice, herb, or vegetable? Actually, it’s all three. Fennel plants, which are native to the Mediterranean basin, have a bulbous base that can be eaten like a vegetable, feathery fronds that are used as an herb, and seeds that can be dried for a spice.
What family is fennel in?
Fennel is a member of the Apiaceae (carrot or parsley family) and is related to cumin, dill, caraway and anise, all of which bear aromatic fruits that are commonly called seeds.
Is fennel a herb or spice?
Fennel is a perennial herb belonging to the carrot family – which also includes coriander, cumin, and dill. The word fennel traces its roots to the Latin word feniculum, the diminutive of fenum, meaning “hay” – thought to be a description of the seed’s aroma.
What spice is similar to fennel?
We suggest using the following spices in place of fennel:
- Anise.
- Cumin.
- Licorice root.
- Caraway seeds.
- Celery.
- Parsley.
- Onion.
- Artichoke.
Is cumin and fennel the same?
Fennel (Foeniculum Vulgare) and Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) are different plants with different growing conditions required. Fennel seeds are slightly larger in size and have a greenish tinge, whereas Cumin seeds are usually brown in color and slightly more compact.
What is fennel good for in cooking?
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’s another name for fennel?
Fresh fennel, also known as Sweet Anise, Finnochio, Florentine Fennel, and Florence Fennel is an aromatic vegetable, garnish, and flavoring.
What is fennel called in America?
Several cultivars of Florence fennel are also known by several other names, notably the Italian name finocchio. In North American supermarkets, it is often mislabeled as “anise“.
Is fennel part of the onion family?
Fennel is a member of the carrot family, though it’s not a root vegetable. The base of its long stalks weave together to form a thick, crisp bulb that grows above ground. Above the bulb, at the tip of the stalks, it has light, feathery leaves that resemble dill.
Is fennel the same as sweet anise?
Particular flavor: Fennel and anise share the black licorice flavor of anethole, but they do have slightly different profiles. Fennel seeds are less sweet than anise, with a milder flavor; anise seeds have a much sweeter, more powerful black licorice flavor. 3.
Is fennel the same as star anise?
That bulb with stalks and frondlike leaves resembling fresh dill is bulb fennel, not anise. Use it where fennel bulb is called for. Anise is a totally different plant whose seeds are used for flavoring. Fennel and anise taste similar, but not the same.
Is fennel a dill?
Dill and fennel often get confused for one another. They seem similar in appearance, but they are in fact two different plants used for different purposes and each possess unique characteristics that directly affect the nature of the dishes that they are used in.
What herb is closest to fennel?
The herb generally considered to be closest to fennel in terms of flavor and appearance is anise. There are a lot of similarities between fennel and anise. Even down to their origins, these plants are deceptively close. Both herbs are members of the Apiaceae family, which are more commonly called Umbellifers.
What does fennel taste like?
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.
Can I use coriander instead of fennel?
Coriander Seeds
Coriander seeds are equally aromatic as fennel seeds. Ground coriander seeds have a potent, intense, and pungent aroma. They can replace fennel seeds but be careful since they can overpower the dish. Add them to any recipe that calls for fennel seeds in a 1:2 ratio and go from there.
Which is better cumin or fennel?
2. Fennel seeds have a sweet flavour with strong anise seed and Licorice notes. On the other hand, cumin seeds offer a smoky and earthy note with a slight bitterness. But both of them are equally flavourful and aromatic.
Is it OK to drink fennel tea everyday?
There is no recommended daily limit established for how much fennel tea is safe to drink. Since fennel tea affects digestion, start with one cup at a time and see how your body reacts to drinking it.
Is fennel seeds good for weight loss?
Yes, that’s right! It has many important nutrients that make it an important spice to boost weight loss. Fennel seeds are a rich source of fibre, antioxidants, and minerals, all of which are important for burning fat and supporting good health.
Does fennel affect blood pressure?
Blood pressure
Dietary nitrates in fennel and other foods have vasodilatory and vasoprotective properties. Because of this, they can help lower blood pressure and protect the heart. A 2018 study found that blood pressure levels were lower after taking nitrate supplements.
What meat goes best 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.