25 Fennel Recipes (+ Produce Guide)
If you’re wondering how to use fennel, look no further than this collection of 25 Fennel Recipes! You’ll find a number of recipes to inspire you, along with its nutrition benefits, how to cut fennel, and so much more!
Fennel was never an ingredient that I sought out, or even heard of when I became a stay at home mom over 20 years ago.
It became a staple for me when I started cooking school. We worked with it a lot in class, and it quickly became one of my favorite ingredients.
I’ve since been to Italy and experienced it in a wide range of ways, which inspired me to use it even more.
If you’re not familiar with fennel, it’s a bulbous vegetable that’s a member of the carrot family. It has a mild anise flavor and is crisp and crunchy raw, or tender and delicious when roasted.
The bulb is in layers similar to cabbage, but the layers are thicker and harder. The fronds are very delicate and may be used as an herb would (think dill). While the stalks are edible, they’re quite tough and aren’t widely used.
Fennel really shines in the winter, starting in January and peaking in February, when it’s ideal for roasting, salads, and soups.
I hope the information that I’ve included here, along with the 25 Fennel Recipes at the bottom of this post will inspire you try it, or use it more often.
What does fennel taste like?
Fennel has a very mild, sweet anise flavor. It’s crunchy, crisp and bright when served raw, and like onions, it becomes very tender and the flavor mellows significantly when it’s cooked. It’s extremely versatile and pairs well with root vegetables, chicken, pork, lamb and fish.
Fennel fronds are aromatic, delicate and have a mild anise flavor, so they’re great used as an herb or a garnish.
What is fennel used for?
Fennel is used as a vegetable in a variety of dishes. It adds a crunchy, crisp texture when it’s used raw in salads or slaw, and the fronds may be used as an herb or garnish. It’s also amazing cooked and makes a great addition to soups and roasted vegetables.
The seeds of the fennel plant are widely used as a spice. Fennel seed is featured in Indian, Middle Eastern and Asian cuisines. In fact, fennel seed is one of the 5 spices included in Chinese 5 spice.
The seeds are also used to make sausages and absinthe.
Choosing and storing fennel
Choose fennel that is firm with bright green stalks and fronds, and a bulb that’s free from discoloration.
It should be stored in the crisper drawer for up to 1 week. Remove the stalks to save space in the refrigerator if you’re not planning to use them. Just don’t forget to reserve the fronds!
I like to prep my fennel ahead and store it in an air tight container to add to my salads during the week.
Seasonal produce is best when it’s stored correctly. For a complete overview of how to choose and store fruits and vegetables so they stay fresh longer, see my guide to choosing and storing produce.
How to cut fennel
- Place the fennel on a cutting board, and using a sharp knife, remove the stalk and the base of the fennel. Place the bulb on its side and slice in half lengthwise. If slicing for salads, remove the core. Leave the core intact if cutting into wedges for roasting.
- Slice thinly for salads, slaws and stir fries, or cut into wedges for roasting! See the video below for a full tutorial on how to cut fennel.
25 delicious fennel recipes
There are so many delicious ways to use fennel, and I hope the recipes inspire you to to try it or use it a lot more often!
Arugula and Fennel Salad
Frisee Citrus Salad
Spicy Fish Tacos with Fennel Slaw
Italian Sausage Tomato Orzo Soup
Radicchio Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
Oven Roasted Spatchcock Chicken
Roasted Eggplant Fennel Pizza with Whipped Garlic Feta
Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese
Spring Green Risotto with Peas, Asparagus, and Fennel
Creamy Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
Olive Oil Braised Chicken with Citrus, Fennel and Turmeric
Slow Roasted Pork Shoulder with Fennel, Lemon and Rosemary
Golden Beet and Fennel Soup
Easy Crock Pot Stuffing
Fennel and Apple Slaw
Oven-Roasted Orange Chicken with Fennel
Italian Parmesan Baked Fennel
12 Comments on “25 Fennel Recipes (+ Produce Guide)”
I always enjoy your produce of the month guides! I’ve never cooked or used fennel in a recipe, but I’m totally inspired to now! Thanks for the tips on cutting it too. I’ll be sure to consult that when I make my first fennel purchase! 😉
Thank you Leanne and I hope you get to try fennel soon! 🙂
Yup, I’m totally guilty of NEVER using fennel!! haha I just don’t ever think about it … which is such a shame! Love this round-up so I have ideas on what to use it in once I finally buy some lol
Thanks for the interesting fennel info!
Ok, I’m SOLD! I never use fennel because you’re right, I didn’t know what to do with it. Now I’m looking forward to trying it in some dishes!
I never knew what to do with fennel for so long so I’m trying to make up for lost time! lol . I hope you enjoy some of these recipes!
Thank you for getting this excellent info out in the www! And thank you for including my salad recipe with Orange, Fennel, and Pickled Onions! All the other links look enticing too. Off to the store for fennel!!
Shared all around!
Thank you for sharing Letty and your salad looks wonderful! 🙂
Fennel is such an interesting veggie! I started playing around with it more a couple years back. Love all of the recipe ideas that you highlight in this post!
It really is! Thanks Nicole and I hope you get to try some of the recipes!
I haven’t tried Fennel in many dishes, but I like the idea of adding it to a salad. It tastes really good raw.
That’s my favorite way to use it Joanne!