fennel

[rosieapple]

We got a fennel in our veggie box this week. Never had it before, any ideas what to do with it? Thanks!

[andrea81]

Fennal is quite nice in a casserole, it is strong so only one needed. I think a meat or veggie casserole is good! I have made it in a chicken casserole with, carrots, and onions with a few tins of tomatos (Rosmary for seasoning). O'r you could make a normal 'stew' and put it in instead of leek.

Yum Yum

[thugulike]

I make a pork, fennel and gooseberry strogonoff which is delicious. Onions, celery and fennel, chopped and fried, add raw diced pork and seal. Add vegetable stock, chopped coriander (or dried coriander), seasoning and apple juice. Simmer for about 1.5 hours in oven then add gooseberries and cook until tender, adding cream just before serving

[andrea81]

In regard to my first answer, I did not use tomatoes, it was 'light ale' - I just remembered! ;-)

[Figi]

Roast it in olive oil as an accompanying veg - delicious!

[Mortartube]

Also nice roasted as Figi says, but 10 minutes before the end of cooking, grate fresh Parmesan over them and pop them back in the oven

[nickmo]

http://www.vegbox-recipes.co.uk will help in the future if there are things you get you aren't familiar with. Click the 'identify' section for pics and recipe links on the site.

Fennel can be eaten raw in salads, or stir fried, stewed, roasted - eat with meat, poultry, fish - try wrapping monkfish fillets round some bay leaves, tie with string to make a parcel, and bake on a bed of fennel....

Eat the soft green tips of the bulbs as well as the white base, or use them to decorate dishes. Cut off the hard root bit before cooking. Do not overcook either. Careful about using with too many other flavours as it has a quite distinctive aniseed flavour that can overpower other subtle tastes.