Flavor description
Native to the Mediterranean region, this licorice-flavored member of the parsley family is one of Italy's most popular vegetables.
Most fennel available in American markets is grown in California. The type you'll find--Florence, or bulb, fennel (sometimes labeled "fresh anise")--has a bulbous base, stalks like celery, and feathery leaves that resemble Queen Anne's lace.
Fennel seeds don't come from bulb fennel but from common, or wild, fennel. The seeds are slightly nutty, with the expected licorice flavor, and are widely used in sausages, stews, soups, and curries.
How to use
Like celery, the entire plant is edible. The crisp and slightly sweet bulb is especially delicious served raw in salads. Whether braised, sautéed, roasted, or grilled, the bulb mellows and softens with cooking.
Chopped fennel works especially well in Italian tomato sauces, but add it late in the cooking process so the flavor isn't diluted.
Trim the stalks about an inch above the bulb.
If you want pieces to stay together for grilling, keep the root end intact. Otherwise, trim about a half inch off the root end before cooking.
To slice fennel, stand the bulb on the root end and cut vertically.
How to find
Look for small, heavy, white bulbs that are firm and free of cracks, browning, or moist areas. The stalks should be crisp, with feathery, bright-green fronds. Wrapped in plastic, fennel keeps for just a few days in the refrigerator; the flavor fades as it dries out.
Related Recipes
Fennel Salad with Green Olive Vinaigrette
Chicken with Fennel, Tomatoes, and Zucchini
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