Fennel, not just salads: here are 12 recipes to enjoy them at their best

From the creamy velouté to the crunchy gratin, discover all the delicious ways to appreciate fennel to the fullest, going beyond the classic salad.

Fennel is a vegetable well known for its aromatic and digestive properties. They are widely used in the kitchen, especially for the preparation of first courses and both hot and cold side dishes. Fennel is rich in water and low in calories. They have diuretic properties and are rich in flavonoids. They are typical of the winter season.

Here are many ideas and recipes taken from the web to prepare, cook and enjoy fennel at its best.

Spaghetti with fennel and cherry tomatoes

To prepare a quick and fragrant pasta using the most tender stems and the green part of fennel, start by placing a pan of salted water on the heat to cook the pasta. While the water comes to the boil, dedicate a few minutes to preparing the sauce: heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil in a large pan and add two Tropea spring onions cut into thin slices. Let them brown gently until they become transparent and fragrant.

In the meantime, cut the tenderest fennel stems into chunks and chop the more aromatic green part. Add them to the spring onions in the pan and let them flavor for a few minutes. At this point, add a dozen cherry tomatoes cut into pieces, mix well and add salt. If you like a touch of spiciness, add a pinch of chilli too. Let the sauce cook over medium heat for about ten minutes, stirring occasionally.

When the pasta is al dente, drain it and transfer it directly to the pan with the sauce. Sauté everything together to blend the flavors and serve immediately. It is a simple dish but rich in flavour, perfect for enhancing every part of the fennel

Fennel cream soup

Never throw away the outer layers of fennel or the parts that are often considered waste, including tufts, but use them to prepare tasty cream soups based on seasonal vegetables. For example, for 2 people, all you need to do is cook 1 small fennel and 2 potatoes in 750 ml of vegetable broth. Use the immersion blender to give yours fennel cream soup the desired consistency and flavored with aromatic herbs and spices. Serve your cream soup with croutons.

Risotto with fennel and carrots

Here is a very simple recipe to prepare a tasty dish risotto with fennel and carrots. The preparation of a fennel and carrot risotto is a culinary experience that combines delicate flavors and enveloping creaminess. In this proposal, the distinctive aroma of fennel mixes harmoniously with the sweetness of carrots, creating a balanced and tasty dish. Toast the rice and gradually add the broth, layer by layer, until you obtain a creamy consistency.

Fennel and cheese flan

Finally we offer you one vegetarian recipe to enjoy a very rich dish based on fennel and cheese. This is one fennel flan which you can easily prepare in the oven. This recipe is anti-waste, as it requires the use of stale bread. Blanch the fennel before assembling the ingredients and baking them. Here is the complete recipe.

Fennel cream

Thanks to this recipe you can prepare a fennel cream to be served in a truly elegant way. You will accompany her with gods crunchy artichokesso as to combine two very healthy seasonal vegetables in a single dish.

Start by washing and cleaning the potato and fennel, then cut them into pieces. In a saucepan, heat a drizzle of oil and add the fennel, potato and bay leaf. Brown everything for 4-5 minutes and then cover the ingredients with water. Cook for about 20 minutes, then blend the mixture (excluding the bay leaf) until you obtain a cream with a not too thick consistency. Season with salt and pepper according to your taste.

Clean the artichokes, removing the toughest leaves and the internal beard. Cut them into strips, coat them in flour and fry them in hot seed oil.

Pour the fennel cream into four glass cups and arrange the crunchy artichokes on top. Add a pinch of salt for a finishing touch and enjoy this delicious combination of creaminess and crunch.

Pan-fried fennel

One of the quickest ways to prepare a hot fennel-based side dish is to shorten them cooking in a pan. Sauté the fennel over high heat with oil and soy sauce and season them with aromatic herbs such as marjoram and tarragon, with the addition of garlic and onions to taste.

Light fennel gratin

THE fennel au gratinhere is one of the most traditional preparations for these vegetables which are very light in themselves and which lend themselves to being enriched with more substantial ingredients, such as grated cheese. You will also need breadcrumbs, salt and pepper. You can blanch the fennel before cooking in the oven.

Fennel, corn and bean salad

To prepare a fennel, corn and bean salad for two people, start by carefully washing two small fennels, removing the tough outer parts and slicing them finely with a mandolin or sharp knife. Transfer the fennel into a large bowl and add two tablespoons of red beans, previously cooked and drained (or, if you prefer, use white Spanish beans), along with two tablespoons of sweet corn. Complete the mix with a handful of Taggiasca olives, which will add a tasty and Mediterranean note.

For the dressing, emulsify a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, a pinch of salt, freshly ground black pepper and a pinch of mustard in a small bowl, which will give a strong and aromatic touch to your salad. Pour the dressing over the salad, mix well and serve immediately to enjoy all the freshness and balanced flavors of this light and nutritious dish.

Fennel gratin with turmeric

Here is a vegan recipe for preparing fennel au gratin with turmeric, a light, easy and quick side dish without the use of traditional béchamel sauce and without the need for premature cooking of the fennel.

The breading composed of breadcrumbs and turmeric gives the fennel a vibrant color and a unique crunchiness, making this dish a delicious and innovative option to enrich your menu. With a simple and uncomplicated preparation, you can enjoy these gratin fennels in no time. Here is the complete recipe to follow.

Red radicchio and fennel salad

Here is a recipe for preparing a tasty salad of red radicchio and fennel, which will allow you to enjoy the beneficial properties of both vegetables. You can enrich your salad with walnut kernels, orange slices and balsamic vinegar. Here is the complete recipe.

Fennel and orange salad

Here is the recipe for preparing a fresh fennel and orange salad, with the addition of olives and walnuts. You can season your salad with salt and good extra virgin olive oil.

Winter fennel salad

For those who love to taste raw fennel, Here is an original idea to experiment with the preparation of a winter fennel salad. After cutting the fennel into thin strips, you can enrich your salad with orange segments, walnuts and slices of parmesan. Season thefennel salad with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper.