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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.
I first learned about it in an episode of Barefoot Contessa when Food Network had just started. Ina Garten was roasting it, and she gushed about how amazing and underutilized it was.
I tried it soon after that, but it didn’t become a staple for me until I started cooking school. We worked with it a lot in class, and it quickly became one of my favorite ingredients. It’s been a staple in my kitchen ever since!
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.
Fennel is a bulbous vegetable that’s a member of the carrot family. It’s a very hardy, perennial herb with yellow flowers and feather-like fronds, or leaves.
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.
The origin of fennel is the Mediterranean, and it has many culinary and medicinal uses. There are two types: Florence fennel has a white bulb, as pictured in this post, and Sweet fennel (anise) is used for seeds.
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. They’re great used as an herb or a garnish.
What is fennel good 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. Fennel is 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.
Fennel seeds are also used to make sausages and absinthe.
What are the health benefits of fennel?
Fennel is a good source of vitamins and minerals including iron, magnesium, zinc, niacin, calcium, potassium, vitamin K and vitamin C.
It also has many medicinal uses, and is used to treat anemia, indigestion and constipation. It’s also believed to reduce heart disease, regulate blood pressure and improve brain function.
If you’d like to learn more, talk to your doctor about any conditions that you may have.
How to grow fennel
Plant by seed in midsummer, or 60 days before first frost, for nice, full bulbs. Grow in full sun and in rich soil that gets plenty of moisture and has a near neutral pH. A combination of compost and organic planting mix is ideal.
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.
How to cut fennel
(1) Place the fennel on a cutting board, and using a sharp knife, remove the stalk and the base of the fennel. If slicing the salads, remove the core. Leave the core intact if cutting into wedges for roasting. Stand the fennel upright and cut in half. (3) Slice thinly for salads, slaw 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!
This roast spatchcock chicken is everything you love about juicy, roast chicken without the effort! It's an easy one pot dinner that the entire family will love, and it cooks up in about an hour!
Fresh fennel, with its faint licorice flavor, sliced very thinly and served raw, is uniquely delicious, and this orange, fennel, and pickled onion salad is absolutely stunning.
Roasted Eggplant Fennel Pizza with Whipped Garlic Feta
If you love white pizza, you’ll love this roasted eggplant fennel pizza! It has a whipped feta and ricotta base with toasted pine nuts, creamy roasted garlic cloves and an olive oil drizzle to top it off.
Creamy Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad is fresh, crunchy and utterly addictive! It's tossed with savory bacon, crisp apple and creamy coleslaw dressing for one delicious side dish!
Olive Oil Braised Chicken with Citrus, Fennel and Turmeric
The full flavor of olive oil paired with a bit of the chicken’s fat creates a luxurious liquid that kept the protein incredibly moist and full of intense flavors.
Crock Pot Stuffing is golden brown, full of flavor, and frees up precious oven space! It's a delicious Thanksgiving side dish that's made completely from scratch and it can be prepped entirely in advance!
This Fennel and Apple Slaw is crisp, crunchy and packed with sweet and savory flavor! It's tossed in a creamy coleslaw dressing for the ultimate side dish!
This One-Pan Roasted Chicken with Fennel is a simple and comforting way to feed your family and friends. With some advance prep, it is ready in 45 minutes.
This healthy baked catfish recipe is definitely a winner! The fish cooks along with vegetables all in the same pan. An easy to make meal that’s healthy, full of flavor, and ready in minutes!
Peppery arugula, crisp fennel, juicy blood oranges, and crunchy walnuts are tossed with a light vinaigrette to create an explosion of flavors that you will enjoy anytime of year.
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! 😉
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
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!
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!
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!