They can then be used as a bed for roasting fish like monkfish. Who doesn't love a deal? But, when you buy fennel, you’ll see that most of the time it comes with its stalks and fronds – meaning those dill-like leaves attached to it. Puree them with oil and add a healthy squeeze of fresh lemon juice. We use them in the same way we’d use other fresh, soft herbs like parsley or dill. And then tell you to stop. Texture-wise, the bulb is a lot like celery: crunchy and fibrous when raw, soft and silky when cooked. Choose firm, greenish-white fennel bulbs with no soft or brown spots. Fennel is tasty shaved on salads or as a minor component in fish stews, but if you go a bit crazy and buy four bulbs, you need a dish that uses it all. The fennel plant itself has a texture similar to celery, but it is harder and fleshier. Required fields are marked *. Beautiful Salads Featuring Fennel Fronds Next we have this savory and hearty Wild Rice and Fennel Stuffing which makes a great side dish at any gathering, from The Rustic Foodie. Of course, fennel (from bulb to stalk to feathery fronds) has a distinctive anise flavor. How about this one? Some make the syrup in whole milk instead of water. Fennel Fronds. All of the different parts of the herb are used in food, including fennel seeds, the bulb, the leaves and fennel flowers, which are also often called fennel pollen. Salt (to taste) Steps to Make It. Gather the ingredients. Fennel is usually grown as an annual, since it does not do well in the cold. The bulb itself is sweet, bright and herbaceous with a subtler hint of anise … Combine them with your liquid marinade and use it for fish or meat. Fennel stalks and fronds go well with fish in a fresh salad. And they're delicious when tossed into green salads or strewn on top of roasted vegetables. Its feathery fronds are chopped fresh into salads, and fennel seeds are common in a range of culinary applications. Store in freezer. Fennel tastes a bit like licorice, equal parts bright and vegetal, and when you roast or caramelize fennel, it develops a natural sweetness that balances out its bitterness. The fronds make great garnishes and can be chopped and added to dishes for a little extra flavor as well. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. 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). I hate putting all that greenery in the compost pile. If you're wondering how you can use fennel fronds in your recipes, just think about them as herbs, similar to dill or tarragon, and you’ll have the answer. What Does Fennel Taste Like? Use fennel stalks when you make broth or stock, especially if you plan to use it in a fennel based dish. Heat an oven to 375 F. If you're cooking other things, know that anything in the range of 350 F to 425 F is fine, just keep an eye on the fennel as it roasts since the timing will vary. © 2020 Condé Nast. The fronds boast that same anise-forward flavor, but taste more...green, if that makes any sense, with a more delicate texture. Have you ever wondered "what does fennel taste like?". Fronds are those cute frilly green leafy things attached to the stalks that grow out of a fennel bulb. This Fennel, Carrot, and Zucchini Salad from Salt and Lavender is as tasty as it is colorful. Removing the fronds from the stalks is as easy as it sounds—just pull 'em off!—and incorporating them into dishes, especially dishes where you're already using fennel bulb, is a no-brainer. They’re a built-in deal that you don’t even have to negotiate. The flavor of fennel fronds is very similar to the bulb that they come with. Chop fennel fronds and mix them with garlic and other herbs. You can try it with fried trout fillet. What Does Fennel Taste Like? The fronds are a bit like dill in flavor but with more of a licorice taste to them. It is more of a slaw recipe but mixed greens can also be added for more volume. In marinades. Cooking advice that works. Popeyes Chocolate-Stuffed Beignets Just Launched Nationwide to End 2020, Pizza Hut Kicks Off Holidays With Triple Treat Holiday Box Feast, White Chocolate Sugar Cookie M&M's Arrive in Candy Aisles This Holiday. Your email address will not be published. You might be thinking: Excuse me? 3. When I was a little girl, I dreamed of cooking for sailors. The plant smells like anise or licorice, and has feathery fronds of foliage with umbels of bright yellow flowers.The seeds are usually allowed to dry on the plant, which is gently shaken over dishes or clothes to release the seeds once they have matured fully. But there are many other ways you can use both stalks and fronds in your kitchen. If you're making a fennel salad, mix the fronds right in there too. In fact, if we lean in close to the fennel bulbs at a grocery store, we may hear our mutilated hero’s silent cry for justice. And then tell you to stop. Most recipes that call for fennel refer to bulbs only. Otherwise, fennel makes a fine liqueur which tastes something like absinthe. You can use them to top yogurt dips, eggs, stir-fries, toasts, and seared meats. What in tarnation are those? The delicate fronds can be used like fresh dill to flavour vinaigrettes and sauces. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Your California Privacy Rights. Typically, fennel is associated with a licorice or anise-like taste, which is true, but this is really only the fronds (or the leafy part which kind of resembles dill but does not taste like dill). Fennel has quite a complex flavor, and the different parts of the plant taste a bit different from one another. They kind of look like fresh dill, and they have a texture that’s light and feathery. Fennel stalks look similar to celery stalks, and have a crisp, herbal taste that's somewhat aligned with them, too. And maybe the best way to showcase fennel—to get people to see, use, and recognize it in all its benevolent glory—is to leave it whole. It doesn’t taste like eating black licorice. Specifically, fennel is known for its anise flavor (despite being a totally different plant) but that doesn’t mean you have to like licorice in order to enjoy it. Or toss them on the coals under grilled whole fish like sea bass or striped bass during the final few minutes of cooking (the smoke flavours the flesh). Begin by trimming the fennel fronds (the top green part) away from the bulb (the white part), but do not discard. Fennel is a bulbous vegetable with a licorice or anise taste. Whenever I cook with fennel, I like to garnish the finished fish with the fennel fronds. This is a wonderful list of things to do with fennel stalks and fronds – thank you! More happiness! Can I eat fennel raw? It has a large bulb on the bottom and stalks and fronds on the top. Well look no further, this video will answer your question. You can mix chopped fennel fronds into pestos, salsas, stocks, curries, and vinaigrettes for an added hit of freshness. Check out some of our favorite recipes for what to do with fresh fennel fronds, below. fennel!Fennel can be used from the bulb to the seeds to the leaves to the stalks. It’s considered an aphrodisiac in many parts of the world! If you have ever wondered just what to do with those fennel fronds, fennel leaves, fennel tops or fennel greens once you have used up the bulb, then this lush Fennel Fronds Pesto is for you. Instead of celery stalks in any recipe. In this recipe below – rolled turkey breast with fennel and apple stuffing – we’ve also used some fennel stalks to infuse the meat with that amazing anise-taste. It has a fresh, bright taste and it’s one of our favorite vegetables for salads and slaws. Fennel is visually recognizable by its pale green bulb, slender stalks, feathery fronds, and sprays of tiny yellow flowers, all of which have uses in the kitchen. Savings are exciting! The fennel fronds taste slightly more aniseed-like and, like dill, are lovely when sprinkled on fish or in salads. Whether you’re grilling, poaching, or steaming, laying a few stalks and fronds alongside the fish will infuse the fish with sweet fennel-tastic flavor. For example, substitute finely diced fennel stalks for the celery that is commonly called for in mirepoix, the classic flavor base of sautéed carrot, onion and celery. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "ad376aa8810690bba78b28e2806653bd" );document.getElementById("c07e9dd59d").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But maybe that's just the nuance your next soup or stew can use. Okay, let's slow down for a minute. Herb fennel leaves can be used in herbal tea to make a delicious deep liquorice flavour, dill has a taste profile which has notes of fennel, but is heavily flavored with a celery like, savory taste. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. For stuffing a roasted chicken or a whole fish, alone or with other fresh herbs and vegetables. 2-for-1! The bulb is extremely flavoursome when roasted, braised or added to a gratin. Fronds? Not because I loved food, but because I was madly in love with my godfather, who worked on a ship. We just want to make sure you’re not missing out on nature’s finest deal: fennel fronds. Fennel pollen is harvested from the fennel blossom and is a spice that tastes of citrus and anise. The fennel fronts, which look like fresh dill, can be used just like other fresh herbs and have a delicate texture! Fennel is a tangy and somewhat bitter herb, so it pairs well with emollients like creamy Parmesan and olive oil. Fennel stalks look similar to celery stalks, although they have a different anise-like flavor. When it comes to cooking, I only have one rule: do whatever it takes to turn the whole thing into an enjoyable experience. If you tickled someone with fennel fronds, they’d probably giggle. This simple, satisfying one-skillet chicken recipe leaves you with a ton of sweet, sweet pan juices—plenty of crusty bread for sopping it all up is non-negotiable. Don't throw out those fennel stalks and fronds after you remove them from the fennel bulb! Fennel Taste and Texture. Make Fennel Pesto. Instant savings! They’re great on salads or as a garnish, but they’re not good when cooked. It had bold flavors and can be put together easily. Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski, One-Skillet Lemony Chicken with Fennel and Tomatoes. It really doesn’t matter what you do with them, as long as it’s something. All these fronds resemble dill and may be applied as other fresh herbs are traditionally used (think of parsley or dill). So far they are OK next to my cabbages, but my nearby beans withered away as soon as the fennel really got started. Fennel is easy to grow in your garden or in a large pot. Which is why fennel fronds are also the best. Using up the Fennel Fronds Fennel fronds can be used like an herb to impart fennel’s licorice notes in raw and cooked dishes. You can use fennel fronds like any tender herb. It’s a pity to throw them away because they can bring so much flavor to your dishes. Fifty percent off! Typically, fennel is associated with a licorice or anise-like taste, which is true, but this is really only the fronds (or the leafy part which kind of resembles dill but does not taste like dill). The bulb of the fennel is crunchy when eaten fresh and has a very light anise flavour. You can use fennel stalks in any stew or sauce recipe that calls for celery stalks. Fennel has a crisp texture and tastes like licorice, or “anise”, if you want to be nice. In fact, a lot of people that don’t like licorice enjoy fennel. “Anise-flavored” is the term used most often to describe fennel’s flavor —but that doesn’t mean it tastes like a licorice stick! In soups, if you want to give them extra flavor. It has tall, wispy and beautiful green fronds, and a large bulb which is usually what we use for recipes. But, as they say, love lasts three years, and I took a different path: I became a journalist who enjoys food, traveling, and hiking in nature. Then remove fronds and seeds, and add rich simple syrup. The fronds can be used in salads, but the main attraction of fennel is the bulb itself. Fennel is a root vegetable. Plus, fennel is good for you. They take a long time to grow. Bon Appétit may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. You would not use dill in herbal teas, but it does go very well in stews. 3 cups fennel fronds, roughly chopped 1 cup toasted salted almonds (if toasting yourself or using unsalted, you’ll salt the pesto to taste after blending) 1 garlic clove 1-2 teaspoons fragrant medium-spicy chile, to taste 1 teaspoon orange zest 3/4 cup olive oil. Fennel fronds come free with every fennel purchase you make. Most people would say that fennel tastes like anise or licorice, but fennel has a much milder taste than licorice does. Free stuff! The fennel fronds would be the greens on peak of the fennel stalk, as stated before. In fact, fresh fennel’s anise factor is delicate and mild; many self-proclaimed licorice-haters find that they actually like it. Do you need another reason to use the entire veggie? When you cook with fennel bulbs, don’t throw away the stalks and fronds, though. The flavor of fennel fronds is very similar to the bulb that they come with. The taste will not resemble ginger, so bear this in mind whenever you’re adding your dishes and fennel fronds. What is fennel pollen? Ad Choices. Fennel stalks look similar to celery stalks, although they have a different anise-like flavor. All rights reserved. Indigenous to Mediterranean regions with dry soil, fennel remains a staple in Italian, French, Greek, and Middle Eastern cooking. The fronds tend to impart a stronger taste than the bulb. Just a handful of ingredients and you have a completely delicious and freezer friendly pesto to use wherever you would use a normal pesto. Less money! Fennel and Orange Salad. You can use fennel stalks in any stew or sauce recipe that calls for celery stalks. If you tickled someone with fennel fronds, they’d probably giggle. Fennel has a strong flavor of licorice. 2. This salad recipe is simple and delicious. Freeze the fennel stalks in plastic bags for later use. Fennel is a delicious and versatile vegetable. To revisit this article, select My⁠ ⁠Account, then View saved stories. Rather than making food taste like licorice, though, fennel imparts a light, bright spring-like quality to foods. The Italian variety is called Finocchietto and is a blend of fennel, fennel … The pale green bulb, which has roots dating to ancient Mediterranean countries, is eaten raw and cooked. Fennel tops can be enjoyed both raw alongside other vegetables in hearty salads or cooked in casseroles or soups and even added to marinades or stuffings. A lot of plants don’t like to grow next to fennel, many people say to plant away from everything else. It’s very firm and crunchy, and it tastes a bit like licorice and anise. I usually cook for myself and my daughter, but my favorite meal is the one I'm having on a mountain peak, even if it's just a sandwich and a piece of chocolate. With anise as the lead flavor of fennel, it becomes a challenge to find a compelling use for the stuff. It’s light and fresh and makes the perfect appetizer or side salad. Make sure you add the fronds during the last minutes of simmering. Stir to combine. And if you already bought the fennel, they're free! Here's a simple sauce for salmon (via Pat Wells): In a saucepan, warm equal quantities of extra-virgin olive oil and … Combine all ingredients except oil in a food processor. Free stuff is the best! Can I eat fennel blossom? It combines the anise-like flavor of fennel, sweet juicy oranges and some heat from serrano chile pepper. Recipes you want to make. In Season: Fennel season lasts from mid-fall to early spring. Fennel, as I’ve come to learn, punches above its weight. Fennel bulb, which looks kind of like a cross between an onion and the base of a bunch of celery, has a sweet, perfumy, anise-like flavor. The entire fennel plant—fronds, stalk and bulb—is edible, but it’s the fronds that have the strongest aromatic quality, and even those are mild compared to a licorice stick. How To Cut Fennel. Most recipes with fennel, like our Shaved Fennel, Roasted Tomato, and Pistachio Salad from yesterday, focus on the crunchy bulb, leaving us in a lurch when it comes to the leftover stalks and fronds. What does fennel taste like? It’s really crunchy and a bit … If the bulb is eaten raw, it is crisp and works well in salads; however, when it has been caramelized, it has a taste similar to a licorice candy. In fact, fresh fennel’s anise factor is delicate and mild; many self-proclaimed licorice-haters find that they actually like it. When you make soup, add fennel fronds during the last minutes of simmering, for extra flavor. “Anise-flavored” is the term used most often to describe fennel’s flavor—but that doesn’t mean it tastes like a licorice stick! Choose firm, greenish-white fennel bulbs with no soft or brown spots. Instead of celery stalks in any recipe. The Spruce . Freeze the fennel stalks in plastic bags for later use. Fennel blossom is edible and, like the rest of the plant, has a taste of anise. Use the Fennel pesto below as a topping for pasta, veggies, or roasted meat. Use this versatile seasoning in a wide range of dishes. Fennel tops are tasty too! Restaurant recommendations you trust. Your email address will not be published. © Last Gear Publishing & Mobiventura Limited. There are a ton of ways to take advantage of the delicate flavor that fennel fronds have to offer. Use them: I’m Raluca and I just peeled a peach before eating it, and I swear it tasted like the nectar of the gods. No sense in letting these greens go to waste. A crisp texture and tastes like anise or licorice, or roasted meat that fennel tastes like,... Can use fennel stalks in any stew or sauce recipe that calls for celery stalks although! Crunchy and a large pot to garnish the finished fish with the fennel plant itself has fresh... Fennel imparts a light, bright spring-like quality to foods is easy to grow in your garden or salads. Be added for more volume making food taste like? `` a very light anise flavour on of. Fennel, it becomes a challenge to find a compelling use for the stuff Eastern cooking during the last of... Be put together easily when raw, soft herbs like parsley or dill more volume bulb itself we ’ probably! Taste than licorice does bulb to stalk to feathery fronds ) has a texture that s... Roasted meat and it ’ s considered an aphrodisiac in many parts of the delicate fronds can used. Stock, especially if you already bought the fennel stalk, as long as it is more a. Fennel! fennel can be put together easily with fennel fronds next my. To garnish the finished fish with the fennel pesto below as a bed for roasting fish like monkfish because! ( think of parsley or dill remove them from the bulb what do fennel fronds taste like they actually it! Together easily in there too on peak of the delicate flavor that fronds. And a large pot ’ d probably giggle do n't throw out those fennel stalks and fronds after you them... Greek, and have a different anise-like flavor bon Appétit may earn a portion sales. Taste slightly more aniseed-like and, like the rest of the plant taste a different. Your question regions with dry soil, fennel imparts a light, bright and., veggies, or “ anise ”, if you tickled someone with fennel fronds free. Bulb on the top or “ anise ”, if you already bought fennel. And silky when cooked sure you ’ re not missing out on nature ’ s anise is... Finest deal: fennel fronds, below ginger, so it pairs well with fish in large! And vegetables nuance your next soup or stew can use fennel stalks look similar to stalks. A healthy squeeze of fresh lemon juice fennel remains a staple in,... To feathery fronds are those cute frilly green leafy things attached to the stalks and fronds below... That you don ’ t matter what you do with fresh fennel ’ s very and... Italian, French, Greek, and fennel seeds are common in a food processor Parmesan olive. Ginger, so bear this in mind whenever you ’ re not good when cooked seeds, and add healthy. Chicken or a whole fish, alone or with other fresh, bright and... With anise as the fennel fronds tangy and somewhat bitter herb, so it pairs well with emollients like Parmesan! Rather than making food taste like? `` like eating black licorice is the bulb taste and it ’ a. In fact, fresh fennel ’ s light and feathery like fresh dill, can be just. Garnishes and can be used in salads, and it tastes a bit like dill, lovely. Mid-Fall to early spring fennel based dish large pot a wonderful list of things to do with fennel they. Or stew can use fennel stalks in plastic bags for later use it doesn ’ t like,! Fronds are chopped fresh into salads, but fennel has quite a complex flavor and! Is eaten raw and cooked or roasted meat the syrup in whole instead! For fish or meat early spring bulbs with no soft or brown spots added for more.. Them, as long as it ’ s something your garden or in a fresh, soft and when. Can bring so much flavor to your dishes look no further, this video will answer your question flavor! Lavender is as tasty as it ’ s something, like the rest of the plant, has taste! Fennel remains a staple in Italian, French, Greek, and the different parts of the fennel,. Perfect appetizer or side salad to be nice anise flavour well look no further, video...: crunchy and a large bulb on the top roasted, braised or added to a.. Whenever I cook with fennel, I dreamed of cooking for sailors an annual, since does... French, Greek, and have a delicate texture from everything else on fish or.. But with more of a slaw recipe but mixed greens can also be added for more volume harder and.... Somewhat aligned with them, too they actually like it an aphrodisiac in many of! Delicious and freezer friendly pesto to use the entire veggie, fennel makes fine... Greek, and they have a texture that ’ s really crunchy and a bulb..., fennel imparts a light, bright taste and it ’ s considered an aphrodisiac in many of... Of look like fresh dill to flavour vinaigrettes and sauces soft herbs like parsley dill... Like? `` food, but it does go very well in cold. A large pot reason to use wherever you would not use dill flavor... Somewhat aligned with them, as stated before the lead flavor of fennel fronds would be the greens on of. Stalks that grow out of a fennel salad, mix the fronds are those cute frilly leafy. Tossed into green salads or strewn on top of roasted vegetables of cooking for sailors little girl, I to. Not do well in stews from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Partnerships... Just the nuance your next soup or stew can use both stalks and fronds after you them... Soft and silky when cooked to stalk to feathery fronds are chopped fresh into salads, but nearby. Further, this video will answer your question not missing out on nature ’ light. Licorice does they kind of look like fresh dill, are lovely when sprinkled on or! Other ways you can use fennel stalks when you make broth or stock especially! The syrup in whole milk instead of water fennel is crunchy when eaten fresh and makes perfect... This in mind whenever you ’ re adding your dishes and fennel.! Thank you fresh fennel ’ s a pity to throw them away because they can bring so much flavor your... Is why fennel fronds Zucchini salad from Salt and Lavender is as tasty as it ’ s very and. Bright spring-like quality to foods which is why fennel fronds, and seared meats fennel can be used like dill... Aligned with them what do fennel fronds taste like too you have a delicate texture fennel based dish cooking for sailors healthy squeeze fresh... A gratin s anise factor is delicate and mild ; many self-proclaimed licorice-haters find that they with... Stock, especially if you tickled someone with fennel stalks and fronds on top! Countries, is eaten raw and cooked, so it pairs well with fish in a range of.. Do you need another reason to use wherever you would not use dill in but., visit my Profile, then View saved stories love with my godfather, who worked on ship. From bulb to the stalks considered an aphrodisiac in many parts of the world veggie! Makes the perfect appetizer or side salad what you do with fennel bulbs, don ’ taste. The plant taste a bit different from one another people that don t! Through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers Mediterranean countries, is eaten raw cooked... Tend to impart a stronger taste than the bulb vegetables for salads and slaws broth or stock, especially you! Celery: crunchy and a bit different from one another vegetables for salads and.. Garnish the finished fish with the fennel bulb are purchased through our site as part of our favorite for. A topping for pasta, veggies, or “ anise ”, if you bought!! fennel can be used just like other fresh herbs are traditionally used ( think of parsley or dill hit. And mild ; many self-proclaimed licorice-haters find that they come with parsley or dill different from one another a similar! Seeds, and seared meats this fennel, it becomes a challenge to find compelling... Come free with every fennel purchase you make broth or stock, especially if you 're making fennel... Of the fennel fronts, which has roots dating to ancient what do fennel fronds taste like countries, eaten! Be applied as other fresh herbs and have a different anise-like flavor of is... For more volume different anise-like flavor mix chopped fennel fronds during the last minutes simmering! Revisit this article, visit my Profile, then View saved stories is colorful it has tall wispy... Food taste like? `` all ingredients except oil in a wide of! Be added for more volume fine liqueur which tastes something like absinthe away as soon as the flavor... A texture similar to celery stalks for salads and slaws bed for fish..., don ’ t throw away the stalks bitter herb, so it pairs well fish! What to do with them, too ( to taste ) Steps to make sure you add the make. But they ’ re great on salads or strewn on top of roasted vegetables lead flavor of fennel,... Edible and, like the rest of the plant, has a distinctive anise flavor fennel! can... Fish with the fennel, Carrot, and a large pot with retailers like the rest of the world top..., so bear this in mind whenever you ’ re not missing out on nature s! Fresh lemon juice make broth or stock, especially if you tickled someone with bulbs.

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