Fennel Recipes: 25 Ways To Use The Versatile Vegetable (PHOTOS)

You've seen it before, in the supermarket or the farmers' market -- it's white, bulbous with green stems and has frilly dill-like fronds. It's fennel! Many people aren't that familiar with it, because it just looks so alien. But fennel is actually a wonderful vegetable with a sweet, anise or licorice flavor that's strongest when it's raw but much more mellow when it's cooked.

Most fennel recipes call for just the white bulb, which is typically cored and sliced or chopped, depending on the preparation. When thinly sliced, the fennel bulb is great in salads -- it's crunchy and slightly sweet and subtly licorice-like, but not as pungent as licorice root or black licorice candy.

But don't toss the stalks and fronds. The stalks can be used to make stock, or chopped and sauteed with other vegetables in a mirepoix (a typical French blend of onion, celery and carrot) for a soup or stew. The fronds can be added to salads or chopped and used to garnish dishes.

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• Spaghetti with Sardines and Fennel

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://givemeflour.com/?p=2877">Spaghetti with Sardines and Fennel recipe from Give Me Flour</a></strong>

• Simple Blood Orange and Shaved Fennel Salad

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://swatibansalrao.com/2013/02/02/simple-blood-orange-and-shaved-fennel-salad/">Simple Blood Orange and Shaved Fennel Salad recipe from Swati Bansal Rao</a></strong>

• Carrot Fennel Soup

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.artandlemons.com/2012/03/carrot-fennel-soup.html">Carrot Fennel Soup recipe from Art & Lemons</a></strong>

• Red Rice with Roasted Squash, Fennel and Beets

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://lemonsandanchovies.com/2012/10/red-rice-with-roasted-squash-fennel-and-beets/#.URuib1qfG3A">Red Rice with Roasted Squash, Fennel and Beets recipe from Lemons & Anchovies</a></strong>

• Molasses Fennel Rye Bread

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.luculliandelights.com/2012/09/bread-for-your-soup-molasses-fennel-rye-bread.html">Molasses Fennel Rye Bread recipe from Lucullian Delights</a></strong>

• Toasted Fennel & Orange Morning Cakes

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.roostblog.com/roost/toasted-fennel-orange-morning-cakes.html">Toasted Fennel & Orange Morning Cakes recipe from Roost</a></strong>

• Tomato Fennel Gratin

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://gourmandeinthekitchen.com/2012/tomato-fennel-gratin-recipe/">Tomato Fennel Gratin recipe from gourmande in the kitchen</a></strong>

• Cauliflower Fennel Gratin

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://junglefrog-cooking.com/cauliflower-fennel-gratin/">Cauliflower Fennel Gratin recipe from Jungle Frog Cooking</a></strong>

• Rosemary and Fennel Butter Biscuits

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.sunshineandsmile.com/2013/01/28/rosemary-and-fennel-butter-biscuits/">Rosemary and Fennel Butter Biscuits recipe from Sunshine and Smile</a></strong>

• Sausage, Fennel and Asparagus Pizza

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://bevcooks.com/2012/02/sausage-fennel-and-asparagus-pizza-a-chocolate-giveaway/">Sausage, Fennel and Asparagus Pizza recipe from Bev Cooks</a></strong>

• Turkey Fennel Meat Sauce

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://cookinskinny.com/2012/11/turkey-fennel-meat-sauce/">Turkey Fennel Meat Sauce recipe from Cookin' Skinny</a></strong>

• Bacon, Fennel And Apple Chutney

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/bacon-fennel-and-apple-c_n_1059506.html" target="_hplink">Bacon, Fennel and Apple Chutney</a> recipe</strong>

• Parsley-Fennel Salad

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/parsley-fennel-salad_n_1057512.html" target="_hplink">Parsley-Fennel Salad</a> recipe</strong>

• Roast Chicken And Fennel

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/roast-chicken--fennel_n_1061697.html" target="_hplink">Roast Chicken and Fennel</a> recipe</strong>

• Fennel Gratin

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/fennel-gratin_n_1062588.html" target="_hplink">Fennel Gratin</a> recipe</strong>

• Caramelized, Braised Fennel

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/caramelized-braised-fenn_n_1059841.html" target="_hplink">Caramelized, Braised Fennel</a> recipe</strong>

• Braised Pork-and-Fennel Meatballs

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/braised-pork-and-fennel-m_n_1059843.html" target="_hplink">Braised Pork-and-Fennel Meatballs</a> recipe</strong>

• Caramelized Fennel Tarts

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/caramelized-fennel-tarts_n_1061390.html" target="_hplink">Caramelized Fennel Tarts</a> recipe</strong>

• Watercress and Fennel Salad With Blood Orange And Thyme Vinaigrette

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/watercress-and-fennel-sal_n_1061277.html" target="_hplink">Watercress and Fennel Salad with Blood Orange and Thyme Vinaigrette</a> recipe</strong>

• Fish Al Cartoccio

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/15/fish-al-cartoccio_n_1151664.html" target="_hplink">Fish Al Cartoccio</a> recipe</strong>

• Fennel And Sausage Risotto

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/fennel-and-sausage-risott_n_1058384.html" target="_hplink">Fennel and Sausage Risotto</a> recipe</strong>

• Mussels Stewed With Apple And Fennel

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/mussels-stewed-with-apple_n_1049420.html" target="_hplink">Mussels Stewed with Apple and Fennel</a> recipe</strong>

• Fennel, Porcini And Chicken Cacciatore

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/fennel-porcini-amp-chi_n_1049644.html" target="_hplink">Fennel, Porcini and Chicken Cacciatore</a> recipe</strong>

• Pan-Fried Artichokes, Fennel And Chorizo Tagliatelle

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/pan-fried-artichokes-fen_n_1057557.html" target="_hplink">Pan-Fried Artichokes, Fennel and Chorizo Tagliatelle</a> recipe</strong>

• Apple-And-Fennel Roasted Pork Tenderloin

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/apple-amp-fennel-roaste_n_1056542.html" target="_hplink">Apple-and-Fennel Roasted Pork Tenderloin </a> recipe</strong>

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• Creamy Tomato Soup With Brown Butter Garlic Croutons

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2013/01/creamy-tomato-soup-with-brown-butter-garlic-croutons/">Creamy Tomato Soup with Brown Butter Garlic Croutons recipe from How Sweet It Is</a></strong>

• Roasted Tomato Soup

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.steamykitchen.com/14010-roasted-tomato-soup.html">Roasted Tomato Soup recipe from Steamy Kitchen</a></strong>

• Roasted Tomato Soup With Grilled Cheese Croutons

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://cafechocolada.blogspot.com/2009/02/roasted-tomato-soup-with-grilled-cheese.html">Roasted Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons from Cafe Chocolada</a></strong>

• Tomato, White Bean And Bacon Soup

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/tomato_white_bean_bacon_soup/">Tomato, White Bean and Bacon Soup recipe from Simply Recipes</a></strong>

• Warm And Spicy Cashew And Tomato Soup

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.dailyunadventuresincooking.com/recipe/warm-and-spicy-cashew-and-tomato-soup/">Warm and Spicy Cashew and Tomato Soup recipe from Daily Unadventures in Cooking</a></strong>

• Creamy Slow-Cooker Tomato Soup

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://passthesushi.com/creamy-slow-cooker-tomato-soup/">Creamy Slow-Cooker Tomato Soup recipe from Pass The Sushi</a></strong>

• Roasted Tomato Basil Soup With Orzo

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.foodiecrush.com/2012/10/roasted-tomato-basil-soup-a-recipe-roundup/">Roasted Tomato Basil Soup with Orzo recipe from Foodie Crush</a></strong>

• Roasted Eggplant And Tomato Soup

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/roasted_eggplant_and_tomato_soup/">Roasted Eggplant and Tomato Soup recipe from Simply Recipes</a></strong>

• Chilled Tomato Soup With Tarragon Crème Fraîche

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/chilled-tomato-soup-with-_n_1058309.html">Chilled Tomato Soup with Tarragon Crème Fraîche</a> recipe</strong>

• Cold Roasted-Tomato Soup With Fresh Tomato

  <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/cold-roasted-tomato-soup-_n_1057558.html">Cold Roasted-Tomato Soup with Fresh Tomato</a> recipe</strong>

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Comments

[Monkeyfister]

10:39 AM on 02/15/2013

If it tastes like licorice, I cannot get it anywhere near my mouth. Ouzo, Fennel, Anise... Can't smell it without wanting to sick-up.

[Julian Denise Greene]

06:04 PM on 08/18/2012

My mouth has been watering for shaved fennel salad using the recipe on 101cookbooks.com. But I came by a lovely fennel bulb this morning and got distracted by your recipes, instead, so I'm planning on the Fennel Gratin beside my roast chicken tonight. Thanks for this!

[Fromageball]

08:13 PM on 01/29/2012

I randomly bought fennel a few years ago because I wasn't sure what it was. I just sliced and roasted it with some olive oil, salt and pepper and it was delicious. It's one of my favorite vegetables now, I just hate how expensive it is sometimes on the east coast. Anyway all of these recipes sound fabulous. I'm definitely going to try some of them - I also add it to various soups and stews, and with other roasted veggies.

[pegreads]

01:35 PM on 01/27/2012

I noticed the video on fennel soup also included the cores, they weren't removed. But, that's the first white colored chicken stock I've ever seen.

[pegreads]

01:27 PM on 01/27/2012

My favorite is the bulb sliced (top to bottom with core in) thin with a little oil or spray olive oil put on a cookie sheet and roast turning halfway through, add a touch of salt and they never make it further than the tray to my mouth.

By the way folks, if you are going ot cook your fennel DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT do more than slice off the barest part of the dirty root end. LEAVE THE CORE IN, it is edible and is a large part of the bulb you are throwing away. My way of cooking that core helps keep the slices together and tastes just like the rest of it. I even roast the tougher outer leaves just not the tops that are too tough.