What to do with fennel and artichoke.

[lizwizz]

We have started having a delivery of organic vegetables, but some of the things which have come are not ones we are familliar with. We have a fennel bulb and we think an artichoke, neither of which I have ever cooked with before. Can anyone suggest a suitable use for each of them, not necessarily in the same recipe. Many thanks.

[Buenchico]

I've just found dozens of possible suggestions. Rather than give you lots of links, I'll just give you this one:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
Put 'artichoke' into the search box ( - the one at the top left -) and click 'search'. Repeat for 'fennel'.

Since you seem uncertain about whether the vegetable you've got is actually an artichoke (and there are two types - globe and jerusalem - anyway), you might want to check the pictures here:
http://www.20kweb.com/clipart_vegetables_01.ht ml

Chris

[lizwizz]

Cheers Chris.

[Catso]

Fennel is gorgeous. Have it steamed (or boiled) as a vegetable. Nice with fish dishes. Or put it in stir-frys.

[lizwizz]

Right, now I've worked out its not an artichoke, but I can't find anything which matches it. It is like a small, purple swede, but a bit longer and thinner and slightly more pointed than a swede. At the top are a few stalks with leaves and the bottom goes to a point and has been cut, like it had a long root on it. The flesh is creamy white and firm.

[drchasuble]

Turnip?

[Catso]

You have kohl rabi, there.

Tastes like cabbage when cooked. You can roast it whole, or dice and steam/boil, possibly mashed. I did a very nice dish with it in a cheese sauce a few weeks back. It's very versatile and very tasty.

You never see it in the shops, which seems a great shame to me. Only available 'home grown', so perhaps it doesn't work if grown commercially.

[Catso]

Forgotten diced, raw, in salads.

[normyc]

cut up some fennel into bite size pieces, wrap in foil with some butter, then bake for about 30 mins mmmmm

[lizwizz]

Thanks Catso. I'm going to steam the kohl rabi with some fish and the fennel. Don't know whether they go together, but I'll soon find out!