Fennel

[Steven Wilson]

Ok, getting a very late start on the garden this year and discovered the Fennel I thought had failed last year is thriving. This place has the best ideas, so any one have any good Fennel recipes? All I came up with last year was some Fennel flavored tea and a few potato dishes.
Thanks
Steven

[Bill Raymond]

You can add sliced fennel bulb to a salad, or chopped as a seasoning in tomato sauce. It's used in Italian cooking, so you might check further in that direction for some ideas. Giada DeLaurentiis has used it in a number of recipes that you might find on her website.

[Bob Menzel]

I don't have a name for it (Fennel Stew?), and the measurements are entirely up to your tastes:

Fennel, 1/2" slices (with the grain)
Onion, 1/2" slices (with the grain)
Shrooms, 1/4" slices
Tomatoes, chopped
Garlic, crushed
Salt & Pepper (black or red flake) to taste

Saute the Fennel, Onions, Shrooms, and Garlic. Add the chopped Tomatoes and simmer to the level of doneness you prefer. (I do not like mushy veges)

[Steven Wilson]

Sounds good Bob
I've gathered some morels and ramps from a recent trip to the hills I might try that with. Shame the tomatoes and onions aren't up yet, could have a "never been to the market" meal.

[David King]

Fennel soon became a weed in my garden. Word to the wise?

[Adam Savage]

Now, looking at the photo, is that herb fennel you have? Rather than bulb fennel, I mean.
If herb, then Im pretty sure it goes well with many fish dishes. Steamed salmon with a fennel mayo? Trout wrapped with sliced spuds, fennel and m,ushrooms?
Just a thought....

Adam

[Bill Raymond]

If it's herb fennel and not bulb fennel, you can save the seeds to use as seasoning.

[Steven Wilson]

Thanks for the info. Not sure what type it is, the stalks get about 2 1/2"-3" wide. I mainly grew it becouse I like to pick a bit of the top and chew on it for the flavor while in the garden.
Thanks
Steven

[Bob Menzel]

You'll want bulb fennel for that recipe. If it's not, you might try roasting fish in a bed of the fronds, if it's a whole fish stuff the cavity with them too.

[John Sonksen]

Now, looking at the photo, is that herb fennel you have? Rather than bulb fennel, I mean.
If herb, then Im pretty sure it goes well with many fish dishes. Steamed salmon with a fennel mayo? Trout wrapped with sliced spuds, fennel and m,ushrooms?
Just a thought....

Adam

I always thought they were one and the same, the herb being the top part of the plant and the bulb being the bottom?

[John Sonksen]

if you're going to use the bulb it's important to cut out the woody heart of the fennel, it is pretty much inedible. Personally my favorite part of fennel is the seeds which I like to use in Indian food and Italian sausage. You can slice it about a 1/4" thick, dress it with olive oil, salt and pepper and grill it which is very nice.

[Simon Magennis]

Someone told me about a fennel (vegetable/bulb) and chicken receipe that is traditional in some part of Italy. At work yesterday they served a potato and fennel bake. Not sure what else was in it but it was nice.

[Steven Wilson]

Used the fronds on some fried perch(along with a little old bay of course) and tasted very good. Not as over whelming as the seeds can be. Thanks for the ideas.

[Karl Hoyt]

I just transplanted my fennel to a place in teh garden where it will be less invasive...... mine was about 4' tall... so now it's ovber near the mint in the north corner of the garden, where it won't overshadow my garden beds....

(i have the non-bulb type, when I cut it way back, it looked like bamboo

kfh