15 Fresh and Funky Fennel Recipes
Fennel, with its sweet licorice flavor, is a wonderfully unique addition to your dinner table. Whether you want to toss it on the grill, caramelize it on the stove, roast it in the oven, or simply eat it raw, fennel is an unsung veggie hero that deserves more attention.
With that said, check out some of our favorite fennel recipes to try in your own kitchen!
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Caramelized Onion and Fennel Tarts
Whether you're hosting a dinner party or are just looking for a tasty little mid-day morsel, these tarts from Welcome to the Table are the way to go!
Onions, fennel, white wine, and salt are sauteed before being combined with goat cheese, egg, and fresh rosemary. The whole mixture is then added to slices of puff pastry and baked up to perfection.
The use of puff pastry makes these tarts especially easy to make, but end up looking quite fancy.
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Roasted Beet and Fennel Soup
When you're looking for a healthy, warm, and filling soup, look no further than this recipe starring beets, fennel, and onions!
Beets are roasted in the oven before being combined with onion, fennel, and garlic. The whole mixture is blended up to a smooth, soupy consistency before being served and topped with a swirl of sour cream.
Serve your soup as an appetizer or alongside some roasted chicken and potatoes for a well-rounded fall dinner.
Photo Courtesy of Feasting at Home
Smoked Salmon, Avocado, and Fennel Salad
Smoked salmon, fresh avocado, fennel, and a homemade creamy dill dressing come together to create this elegant, summery salad.
Hearty enough to serve as a meal on its own, this salad has a satisfying, crunchy texture that contrasts well with tender smoked salmon.
If you want to keep the salad leaner, Sylvia of Feasting at Home recommends simply subbing in an olive oil-based dressing in place of the creamy one listed in the recipe.
Photo Courtesy of Love & Olive Oil
Caramelized Fennel Mac ‘n Cheese
Consider this fennel mac and cheese a more grown-up version of your favorite meal as a kid.
Caramelizing the fennel gives it a whole new flavor, one that's sweet, super flavorful, and perfectly tender.
This mac and cheese recipe calls for 4 types of cheese and a panko breadcrumb topping, giving it a creamy, crunchy texture that's just what you'd want from your mac.
Find the full recipe at Love & Olive Oil
Tangy Brisket With Fennel and Herbs
Another recipe featuring caramelized fennel, this tangy brisket is is seared and then slow-cooked to achieve tender, moist meat that's a total crowd-pleaser.
Calling for just a handful of simple pantry ingredients and a 4-5lb piece of brisket, this recipe takes a bit of prep but does most of the work on its own.
While this recipe may be intended for a holiday gathering, we think it'd be delicious as a summer dinner served in the backyard with lots of local summer fruit.
Photo Courtesy of Love & Lemons
Arugula Salad with Lemon and Fennel
This simple, easy arugula salad is made up of just a handful of ingredients, allowing for the fennel to be the star of the show.
Fennel and radishes are shaved thin and marinated before being tossed with arugula, olive oil, lemon juice, and salt and pepper.
Enjoy this salad as a simple lunch or pair it with oven-roasted salmon and baby potatoes for a light and healthy summer dinner.
Find the full recipe at Love & Lemons
Lemony Chickpea Soup with Fennel and Sumac
Seasoned with Middle Eastern spices, this lemony soup has a rich, flavorful broth that's extra warming on a cool night.
Diced onions, fennel, and celery are sauteed before being combined with canned chickpeas, broth, water, and spices.
Let all the flavors meld together before serving your hearty soup with a slice of crunchy Co-op Bakery bread!
Photo Courtesy of A Couple Cooks
Perfect Roasted Fennel
If you're looking for a simple way to enjoy your fennel as a side dish, consider this oven-roasted fennel!
Fennel is cut into quarters before being tossed with olive oil and salt and oven roasted for 20-25 minutes.
Top them off with a simple squeeze of lemon juice and serve them as a side to roasted salmon, chicken, or even steak.
Find the full recipe at A Couple Cooks
Spaghetti With Lentils, Tomato and Fennel
With a texture similar to that of ragu, this spaghetti with lentils is a simple and satisfying way to enjoy the sweet and licorice-like flavor of fennel.
Lentils are prepped and then caramelized with onion and fennel before being mixed with crushed tomatoes.
Serve the sauce over your favorite noodles with a sprinkle of pecorino cheese and extra fennel fronds.
Find the full recipe at NYT Cooking
Even More Fennel Recipes
Fennel Gratin from EatingWell
Fennel, Tomato, and Feta Skillet Bake from Cooking Light
Warm Whole-Grain Salad With Fennel, Arugula, Prosciutto, and Pecorino from Serious Eats
Crisp Grilled Salmon with Fennel-Olive Relish from Martha Stewart
Fennel-and-Sweet-Onion Pizza with Green Olives from Food & Wine
Fennel al Forno from NYT Cooking