How Do You Prepare and Cook Fennel
Nailing your fennel recipe prep and cooking can elevate your dishes no end, thanks to its distinctive flavour and versatility. Here’s how to prepare and cook it perfectly.
How to Prepare Fennel Before Cooking
- Start by cutting off the stalks and fronds, setting them aside for garnish or stock. Remove any tough, wilted or discoloured outer layers from your fennel bulb.
- Cut the fennel bulb in half and remove the core at the base.
- Slice it thinly for salads or thicker if you’re roasting.
- Don’t discard the fronds! Chop them finely to use as a fresh herb garnish to enhance the fennel flavour in your dish.
How to Cook Fennel
- If you’re roasting your fennel, toss your chunky slices of fennel with olive oil, salt and pepper, and roast at 180°C for 25-30 minutes until caramelised and tender.
- To saute, cook your sliced fennel in a pan with butter or a drizzle of oil over medium heat for about 10 minutes, until soft and golden.
- If you prefer grilling, brush your thick slices of fennel with oil, and grill on high heat for 3-4 minutes per side for a smoky, charred finish.
If you can’t get your hands on any fennel, celery is often a good flavour enhancer too, which will do a similar job to fennel in recipes. Similar to celery, fennel stems can be chopped or sliced and used in salads and stew recipes.
