Fennel

About

Fennel has historically been an accessible, everyday vegetable, and its flavor quality varies by growing region, with Italian fennel generally considered finer than Romanian or Galician varieties, which tend to be more camphorous. The bulb's anise flavor softens with cooking. Like licorice, another anise-flavored ingredient, fennel pairs well with fruit, adds depth to bean dishes and broths, and is a classic match for seafood; this entry covers both the bulb (Florence fennel) and the seeds.

Pairs well with fennel

• CiLemonA light, clean pairing: Marcella Hazan dresses raw fennel simply with lemon juice, dissolved salt, black pepper and olive oil, a treatment…
• CiOrangeHighlighted as a notable pairing in a 1996 issue of Gourmet magazine, though it is a long-established combination in Italian cooking.
• FrTomatoFlorence fennel's anise flavor fades noticeably when cooked and can be almost entirely lost against assertive tomato.
• SuGarlicGarlic's warm, assertive character balances fennel's cooler, more reserved sweetness when the two are cooked together, softening a…
• WoAlmondWild fennel and almond combine into an anise-scented, creamy pesto.
• ChCheeseFennel's anise-like flavor suits sheep's cheeses such as pecorino; a Sardinian dish layers blanched fennel, breadcrumbs, and fresh…
• FfHoneyFennel-like flavor is common in many honeys, especially honeydew honey, which bees make from sap excreted by aphids rather than from…
• RoSesameFennel seed has a light, palate-cleansing quality, used in India as a mouth freshener after meals, in contrast to sesame's heavier,…
• RoCoffeeFennel syrup or a shot of ouzo can revive cold coffee, since coffee loses much of its aromatic complexity as it cools (professional…
• SpPeppercornAjwain seeds are sometimes compared to a mix of fennel and black pepper, though the flavor leans closer to thyme with a hint of anise,…
• FrPlumA Hawaiian seasoning called li hing mui, or "crack seed" powder, is made from unripe plum, licorice, sugar and salt and sprinkled over…
• CrPrunePrunes infused with fennel seed take on a flavor close to soft licorice, which harmonizes with their own molasses-like notes.
• EaRyeRye flour is often described as having an earthy, "continental" flavor.
• RoMaple syrupFennel seed's anise character complements maple syrup's cyclotene, or maple lactone, a compound that itself carries notes of coffee, toast…
• EaFava beanIn Greece, fresh fava beans, pinched from their pods, are a traditional snack alongside iced ouzo.
• WoPine nutCoca de pinyons, a Catalan flatbread, is made from an olive-oil-enriched bread dough rolled thin, scored, and topped with sugar, pine nuts…
• WoSweet potatoFresh fennel's sharper bite offsets sweet potato's mild, starchy sweetness.
• SpBay leafFennel fronds, bay leaf and lemon zest make a fragrant bouquet garni for seafood, and the same combination can flavor a dried-fruit…
• BeGooseberryA sauce of strained, lightly sweetened gooseberries with butter was once a classic accompaniment to rich fish such as mackerel, though it…
• BeElderberryThe mild fennel-like note in dried elderflowers becomes a fuller licorice flavor in the dried berries.
• SuLeekFennel and leek work together much like tarragon: with butter or cream added, the combination makes a rich soup or a luxurious sauce base…
• CrPassion fruitAn unusual pairing, suggested as a fennel and passion fruit chutney in the 2009 edition of Larousse Gastronomique, useful for using up a…
• SpNigella seedNigella seeds, from a plant in the buttercup family, have flavored Egyptian bread since antiquity and commonly top Indian parathas and…
• GrCarawayIn Germany, a spice blend called Brotgewürz ("bread spice") combines fennel, caraway, coriander and anise to flavor rustic breads like…