You can smell the liquorish when you do that dice of fennel. Fennel can be eaten raw, cut into sticks or wedges and dipped into sauces or olive oil as an appetiser. If you’re planning on using a vegetable peeler, the fennel is easiest to work with when it’s in quarters instead of halves. Position the fennel halves cut-side down on a cutting board. And that's how you chop fennel. Hold onto the fennel with your non-dominant hand, taking care to keep your fingers out of the way. You’ll see a thick white core in the middle, use the knife to cut that away. To store fennel seeds, remove the seed heads from the fennel. Roast (40-50 mins). This versatile and sweet vegetable has a slight anise (licorice) flavor and a snappy texture. Simply place the little piece you saved in a shallow dish, glass, or jar of water, with the base facing down. It can be eaten cooked or raw and all parts of it can be eaten. When you cut up your fennel to cook with, leave this base and just a little bit of the attached bulb intact. To dice fennel, use the same rules as for dicing an onion. You will not be using them for the cooking process, but you can set them aside to eat raw later. First, cut the bulb away from the stalks. Photo by: Julie Martens Forney Julie Martens Forney. Both the base and stems of Florence fennel can be cooked by braising or roasting, which make it sweet and tender. It’s easy to cut fennel, and since the entire plant can be eaten you won’t have to waste a single bit! Cut once more into quarters. I cut it in half vertically and then cut each half into several wedges. To get long slices of fennel, first cut off the stalks and fronds and set them aside. What is Fennel? How To Slice FennelNow we take our fennel bulb, trim just a little bit off of the bottom. Store the Fennel Seeds in a Jar. To dice, keep the core intact and cut through the bulb (pole-to-pole) in a series of narrow, side-by-side cuts. Fennel will last for about a week in your fridge, and the flavor will slowly go away as it dries out. Fennel salad recipes (see below) are a wonderful way of enjoying fresh fennel, which adds elegance and structure to salads. Cut off the root end of the fennel bulb. It's easy to cut fennel, and since the entire plant can be eaten you won't have to waste a single bit!Of all the root vegetables, fennel is one that cooks might not know much about until the Top with grated fresh parmesan and enjoy as a snack or a side dish. How to Cook Fennel? Using a sharp knife slice off the bottom of the bulb, and slice longways. The Spruce. Spring is fennel season. Breaking News. Peel off any outer layers of the bulb that have wilted. You can also put the fennels in a paper bag and shake it firmly to release the seed heads. your password It goes well with many other vegetables – and one great advantage is that you can enjoy it raw, fried, or cooked. Fennel can be cut back early in the season to encourage bushier growth and should be deadheaded for seed harvest and to prevent over seeding of new plants. Place the quartered pieces on a baking sheet along with other vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers and a few sprigs of thyme. Now spread out the fennel seeds … First remove any brown or cracked parts of the bulb, then cut off the stalks and fronds. Using fennel in your cooking is a wonderful way to add fresh flavor to your favorite dishes. Add 1/4 cup of olive oil, 6 coarsely crushed garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon of thyme, and 1/8 teaspoon of crushed red pepper to the bowl. How to cook fennel. Store the trimmed bulbs, stalks and leaves in the refrigerator for five to seven days. Cut the bulb in half. Regrowing fennel plants is very easy. With the help of a knife, cut the seeds gently. This kind of cut is great in salads, for instance, or, if sliced thickly, as part of a crudité platter. To do this, cut the fennel into slices with a knife or slicer, briefly turn it in a little flour and fry it in the pan. Cut the bulb into quarters or into slices, depending on what your recipe calls for. Fennel bulbs come from the carrot family of plants (who knew?!). Best Way to Cut Fennel. Cut the fennel into wedges through the core, making sure you keep a piece of core in each wedge. This type of slice works well for grilling because the layers won’t fall into the coals. You'll end up with individual strips of sliced fennel. Using a sharp knife, cut the fennel into very thin, 1 ⁄ 4 inch (0.64 cm) slices and set aside. Dice the Bulb. After washing your fennel, use a sharp knife and cutting board to slice the fennel. To start, trim off the stems. your username. With the cut side down, slice the bulb vertically into 1/2-inch-thick slices, cutting right through the core. Place the bulb upright on a cutting board and cut it in half vertically. You can cut the fennel right down to the ground, and it'll be up again next Spring. Love it or hate it, you can’t deny that fennel offers a certain je ne sais quoi to any dish. Log into your account. When you buy fennel at the store, it might simply be the bulb, or it might include the bulb, stalks and fronds. Then, cut the halves into quarters. This can easily be done with a paring knife. See our favourite fennel recipes. Welcome! Grill fennel until lightly charred, about 4 minutes per side. The edible parts of fennel are the bulb and the dill-like fennel fronds. Boil or steam (up to 20 mins for a whole head, or up to 12 mins for wedges). The Spruce . Thinly slice to add crunch to fall salads, use it in place of onion to perk up tomato soup, or braise it with chicken or pork for a savory dinner. So whenever you’re looking for a raw salad ingredient or a warm vegetable side dish, fennel is a tasty all-around choice for both. To roast the wedges, spread them cut-side-down on a baking sheet with a little space between each one. How to Cut Fennel. Cut the clean and trimmed fennel bulb into spears or bite-size chunks. Toss fennel on a rimmed baking sheet with oil; season with salt and pepper. Once you learn how to cut it properly, you will be adding fennel to everything! 3. To chop the fennel, we're going to cut it first in half and then, we're going to cut out this little core, right here. The bulb is the bottom part that is big and round. Rinse any dirt or debris off the fennel in cool, running water. Dicing Fennel. If I plan to roast fennel, I slice it 1/2-inch wedges. Cutting the fennel in half and slicing down across the bulb will give you boomerang shaped slices. Now cut each cored fennel quarter into lengthwise slices, to your desired thickness. 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