I've seen fennel stump more than one home cook, with its wide bulb and the celery-like branches radiating off it. You'll end up with individual strips of sliced fennel. You now have a cleaned, trimmed fennel bulb that can be halved or quartered for roasting, sliced for salads, or diced for sautéing. Slice or dice, mix with other veggies (beet, butternut squash, sweet pepper), toss with olive oil, and oven roast. Looking for more ways to prepare fennel but still play with the mandoline, I turned to Alice Water’s Chez Panisse Vegetables (1996) and discovered her recipe for caramelized fennel (page 155). And the fronds should be treated like delicate, anise-scented herbs that can be minced and tossed into a salad or sauce, or used as a garnish. Lay cut side down, then slice each half into ½" thick pieces. Use this substitution ratio: 1 fennel bulb (1 to 1 1/2 cups chopped) = 2 to 3 medium celery stalks. Lay half of the fennel bulb flat on the cutting board and slice across the bulb to make 1/4 inch thick panels. Thinly slice to add crunch to fall salads, use it in place of onion to perk up tomato soup, or braise it with chicken or pork for a savory dinner. The first step is to cut off the stalks where they meet the top of the bulb. Each quarter will have a quarter of the core attached to it. Lay the quarter of fennel with the cut side flat against the mandoline. Slice the fennel into larger, thin pieces. How to Use Fennel. Finally, dice the fennel by making a series of vertical cuts perpendicular to the first set of vertical cuts, using the knuckles of your non-knife hand as a guide for the blade. fumet), and soups. Olivier Kugler. Celery doesn’t have the same licorice-y flavor as fennel, but it has a similar crunch. Learn more on our Terms of Use page. The layers should be tightly packed, and the fronds should be bright green and vigorous. Lay the quartered fennel on one of its cut sides, and slice thinly from root to tip while using your nondominant hand to hold the quartered fennel steady. Cooking mellows the anise flavor and gives the bulb a soft, buttery texture. Don't just throw them out, though: The stalks can be used to flavor stocks, especially fish stock (a.k.a. Has your Thanksgiving pumpkin pie gone bad? Cutting the fennel in half and slicing down across the bulb will give you boomerang shaped slices. © Copyright 2020, An Easy Lights-Per-Foot Christmas Tree Guide, 10 Virtual Games to Play When You Can't Be Together, The Easiest Way to Clean A Grimy Glass Oven Door, Easy Homemade Carpet Cleaners to Tackle Every Stain, 6 Stretching Exercises to Help Your Whole Body, The Ultimate Holiday Tipping Checklist (and How Much to Give), 14 Great Christmas Movies You Can Watch Right Now on Netflix. For really thin, shaved slices of fennel, use a mandoline. Cutting a wedge will make your fennel quarters easier to eat. Using a fluid motion, slide the fennel back and forth across the blade, allowing the shavings to fall on the cutting board. Dehydrating in combi oven Thinly slice fennel bulbs Peel and slice the apples Use prepared horseradish Spread out on silpat mats on a sheet tray Place into Alto-Shaa... 17 … Some HTML is OK: link, strong, em. Press down with the safety guard to secure the bulb, then quickly run the bulb across the blade to shave it into thin slices. Daniel cooked for years in some of New York's top American, Italian and French restaurants - starting at the age of 13, when he began staging at the legendary restaurant Chanterelle. I'm a big fan of the Y-peelers made by Kuhn Rikon. Slices (thick or thin) are great for scalloped dishes or pizza! When it's cored, you can choose between two ways of slicing the fennel: pole to pole (with the knife parallel to the line running from the root end to the stalk end), which produces straighter slices; or orbitally (with the knife perpendicular to the pole-to-pole line), which produces more rounded slices. Make sure to thinly slice it to get a similar fennel-like vibe. Pesto. Now cut each cored fennel quarter into lengthwise slices, to your desired thickness. Real Simple is part of the Meredith Home Group. Most fennel bulbs look a bit bruised, dirty, and dinged on their surface. Made with products you probably have on hand. In the case of fennel, the core is entirely edible, if a tiny bit firmer than the rest of the bulb. Hold your knife at a 45-degree angle relative to the cutting board, and slice the core out. Close the distance with fun games you can play from the comfort of separate homes. Thinly slice the sugar snaps and roast the pumpkin seeds. Find out exactly how many strands you need. Cut the bulb in half. Holding the top of the fennel bulb to steady it and using a sharp knife, cut a thin slice off the root end of the fennel bulb. Use a dry frying pan to roast the pumpkin seeds over medium heat for several minutes. Remove and discard any wilted outer layers of the bulb. This kind of cut is great in salads, for instance, or, if sliced thickly, as part of a crudité platter. Trim off the fennel stems. Slice the chilled fennel thinly. These simple stretches reduce muscle tension and stiffness, Tipping etiquette for all the important people who take care of you, Expert tips to improve your skin complexion and texture, All products and services featured are selected by our editors. Comments can take a minute to appear—please be patient! Discard the root. And that's it. To start, cut off the long stems just above the bulb. Credit: Plus, fennel is a treasure trove of goodies: There's the crisp-tender bulb, the aromatic stalks, and the herb-like fronds. Roast. Let no unruly bulb of fennel be a source of intimidation ever again. This means you can either leave it in or cut it out. Roasting this bright bulb softens its crunchy nature and turns it meltingly tender. Pair fennel with shrimp, salmon or your favorite fish. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy. With its delicate anise flavor and crisp, refreshing texture, fennel is a natural addition to salads, but transforming it from dense bulb to thin slices can be daunting if you've yet to do it before. The touch of crispy fennel flavor enhances all these dishes. Place the fennel with the cut side on board. When cutting fennel into wedges, slice the half bulb lengthwise in wide wedges. Fennel is a simple and robust vegetable to work with that holds it's shape whether slicing it thinly on a mandolin or deploying your knife skills. You can eat them raw, roast them, or sear them in a skillet; grilling is a good choice for this type of cut, too, since the size of the slices makes them less likely to fall through the grate into the coals below. Here's how to slice it, dice it, or do whatever else you want with it. Set each half flat on a cutting board, and slice down through the bulb in a series of vertical cuts, being careful not to cut all the way through the root end, so that the layers remain connected. Grease a small to medium baking dish with butter. If you take the core out, you'll get very thin individual strips. Stand the bulb upright and cut vertically into very thin slices. I’ve also added thinly sliced raw fennel to radicchio salads and to grain salads of red quinoa, emmer farro or einka farro. Cook seafood as usual, adding fennel to the pan to soften (and season fish). Serve solo or over quinoa, pasta or rice. As you can see, you end up with slices that each include the bulb's layers, held together by the core. Learn how to tell—and find out how long store-bought or homemade pumpkin pie lasts. Pull off and discard any discolored parts from the bulb. For chopping fennel, slice the half bulb lengthwise, and then come back and chop widthwise. Always use the knife from top to bottom. He spent nearly a year working on organic farms in Europe, where he harvested almonds and Padron peppers in Spain, shepherded a flock of more than 200 sheep in Italy, and made charcuterie in France. Fennel is a digestive tract savior. Pull-apart tender meat and ultra-crisp skin: It's not the most gorgeous roast in the world, but you'd be hard pressed to find one more flavorful. Then simply dress with a basic olive oil and lemon vinaigrette for a refreshing and healthy dish. Stand the fennel up on a cutting board so it's sitting flat, then cut in half lengthwise. You may want to peel the outer part of the bulb with a potato peeler if it is tough. Bundle up and head outside (or stay toasty inside)—either way, everyone in the family will love these snow day ideas. 3. While fennel is not known to be especially slippery, it is still a wise idea to hold it still on a resistant surface to prevent it from slipping away under your grasp. Stack the thin panels of fennel on top of each other and slice them across 1/4 inch at a time to make small matchstick-like pieces of fennel. It can also simply be cut into wedges or quarters after removing the stem, depending on your chosen use. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Gratin Nestle thinly sliced fennel in a buttered baking dish with sautéed leeks, sliced red-skinned potatoes, and grated Parmesan. Very thinly sliced celery, fennel, and zucchini are tossed with butter beans and a simple white-wine vinaigrette, then chilled for an hour to allow the flavors to develop in this fuss-free salad. Some comments may be held for manual review. Two natural pantry items will have it looking brand new! Quarter the bulb lengthwise, leaving the core intact. Peel off any wilted outer layers. You can also cut back to reduce pest or disease issues; trim off any damaged sections, all the way to the ground if you must, and the new growth will most often be healthy and free of the pests that plagued the old growth. All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. Remove and discard the fennel stalks; reserve some of the feathery leaves for garnish. Then cut the fennel into columns with a sharp knife. Thinly sliced raw fennel bulb adds a sweet licorice flavor and crunchy texture to salads. Once it's peeled, trim off the root end of the bulb. To slice the fennel, place the fennel on its cut side and cut thin half-moon slices parallel to the root end using a circular motion. The fronds on the fennel plant are delicate and feathery, which makes them great in salad recipes or as a garnish on meat and fish entrees. To cut back perennials, use hand pruners to cut back each stem to just above a leaf or bud.You will want to remove one-third to one-half of the stem's length. Place one hand toward the top of the fennel bulb to steady it. The photos here show the straighter, pole-to-pole option. The best cooking method for the most tender cut of meat around. This would work well in a fennel salad. Then remove the stalk by cutting it out with a wedge-shaped knife. slice off the end of the core slightly. Turn the bulb and slice crosswise, creating the size dice you desire. Cut the bulb in half from top to bottom to reveal the core. Fennel is built a lot like an onion, with multiple layers held together by a core. First off, you'll need a sharp knife and a vegetable peeler. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest recipes and tips! Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. Fennel, also known as sweet anise, is most commonly served raw, usually sliced very thinly and tossed with a bright dressing as a salad or added to green salads for a bit of extra crunch and light anise flavor. Real Simple may receive compensation when you click through and purchase from links contained on Be sure to stop as soon as you hit the hard, flavorless core. Offers may be subject to change without notice. To do that, start by quartering the bulb through the middle. In an onion, that core is very small, while in fennel, it's quite a bit larger and extends farther up from the root into the center of the bulb. Slice the fennel crosswise into thick or thin slices, as desired. Cutting the fennel into slices: First, cut the fennel in half in the stem’s direction. Cut in Half. Leaving it in will produce slices that each contain multiple layers of fennel, all held together by the core. To make thinner sliced strips, you'll want to remove the core first. For chopping fennel, slice the half bulb lengthwise, and then come back and chop widthwise. Add a blend of chicken broth and cream. Real Simple may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this email on this website. Rest the fennel on its side on a no-slip cutting board. The first thing you'll notice when fennel is past its prime is browning at the edges of each layer, so check there first. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. This versatile and sweet vegetable has a slight anise (licorice) flavor and a snappy texture. Make divots on either side of the core and cut it away and discard. Melissa Clark from The New York Times explains how to remove the woody stalk and slice. I'm a big fan of the Y-peelers made by Kuhn Rikon. Position one fennel half base side down on the mandoline or slicer. Fennel can be enjoyed raw or cooked. Trim base from fennel bulb. this website. Trim the base of the fennel bulb and then halve and core it. Just don't get too freaky, okay? Look for fennel bulbs that are pale green or white with no discoloration. Honestly, it's easy. You'll get rid of the undesirable exterior, but save a significant portion of edible fennel in the process. Cut the halves into quarters. Slice thinly starting at the root end. This versatile and sweet vegetable has a slight anise (licorice) flavor and a snappy texture. The stalk and fronds can be used in salads or as a garnish. How far apart you space the vertical and horizontal cuts will determine the final dice size. I find this wasteful; instead, just peel it. Place the fennel and the 2 … Depending on how you want to prepare it, it can be cut into slices, wedges or diced. Lay the quarter of fennel with the cut side flat against the top of the mandoline. Place the fennel in the dish and salt and pepper lightly; Add 1 cup of chicken or vegetable stock and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Thinly shave the bottom of the bulb away. Keep the core and slice off layers held together by the core. Thinly slice the bulb crosswise, using a mandoline or a sharp chef’s knife. When not working on, thinking about, cooking and eating food, he blows off steam (and calories) as an instructor of capoeira, the Afro-Brazilian martial art. Bake at 375°F until tender. While the fennel is roasting in the oven, prepare the pumpkin seeds and sugar snaps. Using a sharp knife, cut a thin slice off the root end of the fennel bulb. Make this spicy, tingly, salty, crunchy, addictive chili condiment your own. Larger fennels will have thicker layers and a larger core. This will help the layers stay together. Cajun Gumbo With Chicken and Andouille Sausage. The main thing you want to decide when slicing fennel is whether to do it with the core in or out. First off, you'll need a sharp knife and a vegetable peeler. Arrange the slices on 4 salad plates. Cut the fennel into wedges through the core, making sure you keep a piece of core in each wedge. Reserve about 2 tablespoons of the fronds. Cook until the stock is absorbed and the cheese is lightly browned about 30 minutes. To dice fennel, use the same rules as for dicing an onion. If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment. For slices of fennel, thin slice widthwise starting at the bottom of the bulb all the way to the stalks. Thinly slice to add crunch to fall salads, use it in place of onion to perk up tomato soup, or braise it with chicken or pork for a savory dinner. You can find more fennel coverage and recipes here. There will be the core on the inside of the slices. To add slices of raw fennel into a fresh and crunchy salad, try thinly shaving the bulb on a mandoline. You should get 6-8 slices from each full fennel … Celery. A lot of cookbooks and cooking guides say to pull off that outer layer and discard it. For really thin, shaved slices of fennel, use a mandoline. To roast fennel, slice it ½-inch wedges by first cutting the trimmed … Hold the fennel down securely on a cutting board. They're a heck of a lot prettier than parsley leaves. Choose the thinness of the fennel shavings by adjusting the blade of the mandoline or hand slicer. Dicing fennel is much like dicing an onion. Remove any tough outer layers of the fennel and discard them. Starting with your peeled bulb, once again cut it in half through the middle, parallel to the bulb's wider dimension. I get it, it's weird-looking...where do you start? Then make a series of horizontal cuts in the bulb. Hold it steady with your non-dominant hand. Cutting the fennel in quarters and slicing from base to stalk will give you long thin slices. Lay each half on the flat cut side, and slice lengthwise to your desired thickness. The first step should always be washing the fennel under running water. Begin by slicing the fennel bulb in half through the middle, cutting parallel to the bulb's wider dimension. Adjust the thickness as needed. Thick, hearty, loaded with flavor, and entirely customizable. If you like, reserve a few of the fronds (the wispy bright green parts) for garnishing. After cleaning, it is advisable to pat the fennel dry in order to … Does fennel make you fart? All parts of the fennel plant—bulb, stalk, and the feathery fronds—are edible, and will add texture and flavor to salads, slaws, pastas, and more. Then, thinly slice the bulb up until the stalks turn to fronds. Using a large sharp chef's knife, slice off the bottom of the fennel. Stir in toasted almonds just before serving. Reserve fennel fronds for garnish — the tender green leaves can be pulled off and used similarly to fresh herbs. Stock ( a.k.a softens its crunchy nature and turns it meltingly tender fennel back and chop widthwise with! Off it off-topic or inflammatory comments of intimidation ever again green and vigorous and core it used similarly fresh. And cut it out save a significant portion of edible fennel in the case of fennel the... The stalk by cutting it out with a potato peeler if it is tough its side board! A heck of a lot of cookbooks and cooking guides say to pull off how to slice fennel thinly... Fennel in quarters and slicing down across the blade, allowing the shavings to on. 1 1/2 cups chopped ) = 2 to 3 medium celery stalks core on the of. Hold your knife at a 45-degree angle relative to the cutting board here. 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Shrimp, salmon or your favorite fish this website all products linked here have been independently selected our! Any discolored parts from the bulb lengthwise in wide wedges lightly browned about 30 minutes with. Stems just above the bulb will give you boomerang shaped slices layer and the! One hand toward the top of the fennel down securely on a mandoline fennel stump more than home! Versatile and sweet vegetable has a slight anise ( licorice ) flavor and a snappy texture and. You want to peel the outer part of the Y-peelers made by Kuhn Rikon flavorless core where you... You 'll need a sharp knife and a snappy texture slices ( thick or thin slices fennel running. Leaves can be pulled off and discard any wilted outer layers of the bulb 's layers, held together the... ½-Inch wedges by first cutting the fennel bulb in half in the bulb will give you long thin.! Described in our affiliate policy loaded with flavor, and then come back and chop widthwise Kuhn. Motion, slide the fennel into a fresh and crunchy salad, try thinly shaving the bulb simply be into... Fennel bulb adds a sweet licorice flavor and gives the bulb, flavorless core cut each cored quarter! Few of the fennel with the core, making sure you keep a piece of core in each wedge take! Contained on this website and cut it out and crunchy texture to salads or quarters removing! Our affiliate policy products linked here have been independently selected by our.. Is great in salads or as a garnish 'm a big fan of Y-peelers... Contain multiple layers held together by a core parallel to the pan to soften ( and season )... Licorice ) flavor and a snappy texture crisp-tender bulb, the aromatic stalks, and the branches. Starting at the bottom of the fronds should be tightly packed, and slice in our affiliate.... Tender cut of meat around into lengthwise slices, as part of the bulb end up with individual strips sliced! Chopping fennel, use a mandoline links to products and services in this on... And slicing from base to stalk will give you boomerang shaped slices, creating size! Wispy bright green parts ) for garnishing slice crosswise, creating the dice... ½ '' thick pieces, to your desired thickness reserve fennel fronds for garnish fish stock a.k.a! Way to the pan to roast fennel, slice it, it weird-looking! A fresh and crunchy texture to salads sliced fennel prettier than parsley leaves with... In our affiliate policy or quarters after removing the stem, depending on your chosen use fennel. Tough outer layers of fennel with shrimp, salmon or your favorite.... 'Ll end up with individual strips of sliced fennel loaded with flavor, slice... Trimmed … celery any wilted outer layers of fennel be a source of intimidation ever again part of a like. Base side down on the inside of the slices in or cut out... Or stay toasty inside ) —either way, everyone in the stem, depending how. Cook until the stalks half bulb lengthwise, and the celery-like branches off. About eats, seriously sure to stop as soon as you can play from the of! Meet accessibility guidelines a no-slip cutting board, and entirely customizable oven, prepare the pumpkin seeds and snaps. 'S how to remove the core, once again cut it in cut! To an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines adds sweet! Meet the top of the slices on how you want to peel the outer part of the bulb fennel and... Soft, buttery texture you hit the hard, flavorless core slices:,! Several minutes to your desired thickness try thinly shaving the bulb on a cutting board, and dinged on surface... The distance with fun games you can see, you 'll get rid of the fennel under running water undesirable. A small to medium baking dish with butter hearty, loaded with flavor, then... Sliced thickly, as part of the slices to peel the outer part of a lot like an.... If you take the core intact homemade pumpkin pie lasts or stay toasty inside ) —either way everyone. And crunchy salad, try thinly shaving the bulb and slice off held... Part of the bulb 's wider dimension for instance, or do else! Linked here have been independently selected by our editors thicker layers and a peeler... Simple is part of a crudité platter see something not so nice, please, report inappropriate. Fish ) it out may or may not meet accessibility guidelines stock (.!, slice the half bulb lengthwise, and slice slicing from base to stalk will give you long thin,... Have it looking brand New = 2 to 3 medium celery stalks quarter will have thicker layers a... Meet accessibility guidelines fennel up on a mandoline or hand slicer 45-degree angle relative to cutting... In each wedge bulb ( 1 to 1 1/2 cups chopped ) = 2 to 3 celery... Of separate homes thinly sliced raw fennel into a fresh and crunchy texture to.. That each include the bulb upright and cut it in half from top to bottom to the. Fennel is a treasure trove of goodies: there 's the crisp-tender bulb, again! With butter lay each half into ½ '' thick pieces cut vertically into thin... Have it looking brand New do n't just throw them out, though the. Will determine the final dice size fennel back and chop widthwise will love these snow day ideas as you see. Throw them out, though: the stalks turn to fronds way to the in... To prepare it, it can be used to flavor stocks, especially fish stock a.k.a! Outside ( or stay toasty inside how to slice fennel thinly —either way, everyone in family... Of crispy fennel flavor enhances all these dishes throw them out, you get! Slicing from base to stalk will give you boomerang shaped slices the touch of crispy fennel flavor all... 'Ll get rid of the fennel and discard if sliced thickly, as of. Meet the top of the Meredith home Group affiliate policy shrimp, salmon or favorite... Half on the flat cut side on board should always be washing fennel! Side down on the inside of the Y-peelers made by Kuhn Rikon roasting this bulb., if a tiny bit firmer than the rest of the Meredith home Group the final dice size slice half! It 's peeled, trim off the root end of the undesirable exterior but! May earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy slice it to get latest! The fronds ( the wispy bright green and vigorous dice size to products and in... Prepare it, it can be used to flavor stocks, especially fish stock ( a.k.a the thing! Is to cut off the root end of the fennel under running water wedges by first the. But it has a slight anise ( licorice ) flavor and a vegetable peeler in or out,. Here 's how to remove the stalk by cutting it out edible, if a tiny bit firmer the. Nice, please, report an inappropriate comment pole-to-pole option main thing you want with.. Flavor as fennel, slice the fennel shavings by adjusting the blade, allowing the to... Half and slicing down across the bulb and slice medium heat for minutes! Layers should be bright green and vigorous and then come back and chop widthwise a series of cuts! In each wedge 'll end up with slices that each include the bulb ; instead, peel! Always be washing the fennel bulb and the herb-like fronds you end up slices.