What Is Fennel, and How Do I Use It?

Faith Durand
Faith DurandSVP of Content
Faith is the SVP of Content at Apartment Therapy Media and Editor-in-Chief of Kitchn, and the author of three cookbooks, including the James Beard Award-winning The Kitchn Cookbook. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband and two daughters.
Follow
updated May 3, 2023
pinterest
comments
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Post Image
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Q: I keep hearing how fennel is in season. What is it, and what are innovative ways to use it?

Sent by Brie

Editor: Brie, fennel is a bulbous vegetable with a tall, wispy, fronded top that looks rather like dill. The fronds can be used in salads, but the main attraction of fennel is the bulb itself. It’s very firm and crunchy, and it tastes a bit like licorice and anise. It has a fresh, bright taste and it’s one of our favorite vegetables for salads and slaws. It can also be grilled or braised until tender.

The bulb is made of overlapping layers of vegetable, almost like a cabbage — but very firm and hard. To be used in salads, fennel should be sliced very thin, and it’s easiest to do this with a mandoline.

Here are some past posts and recipes that incorporate fennel:

• Virtual CSA Box: Fennel
• Recipe: Fennel, Orange, and Shallot Salad
• Recipe: Fennel and Radicchio Winter Salad with Pecans
• Recipe Review: Fennel Braised in Pernod
• Recipe: Fresh Fennel and Lemon Slaw
• Recipe: Cream-Braised Fennel a la Orangette

Readers, any tips on working with fennel? Favorite recipes?

Next question?

Related: What Can I Do With Fennel Tops and Fronds?

(Image: Faith Durand)

Filed in:
Vegetables
Ingredient