fennel

[tracy]

hi guys i am growing fennel as i think it is a really attractive plant but today i have just realised that i have no idea what to do with it so any ideas would be more than welcome
cheers tracy

[wiccanlou]

You can use freshly harvested sprigs to flavour salads or boiled spuds just sprinkle on top. Try here for some tips.

[tootles]

Delia has a great recipe, boiled (lightly) and chopped into quarters, stuff into halved red peppers, add an anchovy fillet to each half pepper, 'drizzle' (stupid word) with olive oil and chuck into a hot oven until slightly blackened. Very yummy.
All my fennel has bolted!!!!

[Snadger]

Nice with trout or any fish for that matter. Chew the seeds as a breath freshener!

[Hilary B]

Yep, I like fennel as a seasoning for fish, especially any fish you cook whole. A few sprigs of fennel in the cavity left by gutting gives a lovely flavour to trout, mackerel, etc...
At our Spanish retreat we get wild fennel (everywhere) and it gets used for almost everything I can't season with rosemary (which also grows wild everywhere in that area). Making use of what you've got is something I enjoy.

[tracy]

would love to know where your spanish retreat is and what you grow there ??
how much of the year do you spend there
sprigs of fennel you say not the bulb at the base ??

[Alice]

Tracy, you can slice the bulbs and saute with onions, garlic, mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes, beans or anything you like and serve as a vegetable.
You can also freeze them.

[tracy]

do i have to blanch it before freezing or just freeze as is cheers tracy

[Alice]

Tracy I just slice it, lay it in a single layer on a tray, pop the tray in the freezer for a couple of hours then tip it into a freezer bag or box and clip closed.
Same for chillies, peppers, leeks, beans, carrots, peas, herbs and much more.
I know it's a big debate but I don't blanche and have never had a problem.

[maximepaul]

Jamie Oliver has an excellent Fennel risotto receipe in Jamie's Italy book
I have cooked it a few times now and always seems to go down well! (either that or my family are just polite!)

[maximepaul]

Alice do you freeze your green chillies straight away from picked? ive loads of green chillies still waiting for them to go red!! i have no patience lol