What Is Fennel bulb and How Can I Use It?

Fennel bulb rewards a little know-how: how to choose it, cook it, store it, and substitute in a pinch. Browse 202 recipes to cook with it.

What is fennel bulb?

Fennel bulb is the swollen, pale base of the fennel plant, a crisp vegetable in the carrot family with a clean anise or licorice note. The bulb is what you slice and cook; the feathery green fronds on top work as an herb.

Raw, it snaps like celery and tastes brightly of licorice and green apple. That sharp anise edge is the whole point for some cooks and the dealbreaker for others, so taste a sliver before you commit a whole dish to it.

The good news for the licorice-wary: heat changes it completely. Roasted or braised, fennel turns soft, sweet, and mellow, and the anise fades to a gentle background warmth closer to caramelized onion than candy.

How to Use Fennel

Eat it raw for crunch and bite. Shave the bulb paper-thin against the grain, ideally on a mandoline, then toss it with citrus and oil for a salad like Apple, Fennel & Celery Root Salad with Hazelnut Vinaigrette or Salad Greens With Pears, Fennel & Walnuts.

Cook it to coax out the sugars. Cut the bulb into wedges through the root so they stay together, then roast at 400°F (205°C) until the edges brown, or caramelize sliced fennel slowly for a Pizza with Caramelized Fennel, Onion, & Olives.

Use the whole vegetable. The fronds are an herb: scatter them like dill over fish or salad. The trimmed stalks add anise depth to stock and braises, as in this Fish Stew with Herbs.

What Fennel Pairs With

Fennel was born to meet fish and pork. Its anise edge cuts through richness, which is why it turns up beside seafood in dishes like Bluefish with Fennel & Tomato Sauce.

It also loves citrus, especially orange, plus apple, pear, olives, Parmesan, and a generous hit of black pepper.

The usual mistake is slicing raw fennel too thick. A chunky raw piece is stringy and aggressively licorice; shave it thin and the same bulb turns delicate and crisp.

The second mistake is throwing out the tough core when you don't need to. Keep it for wedges that hold together when roasted; cut it out only when you want loose, shavable slices for salad.

Substitutes

For raw crunch, celery is the closest stand-in on texture, though it brings none of the anise. Add a pinch of crushed fennel seed if you want that flavor back.

Cooked, sweet onion or leek covers the soft, mellow role fennel plays in braises and soups. Again, a little fennel seed restores the signature note.

When a recipe calls for fennel only as a flavor, half a teaspoon of toasted fennel seed per bulb gets you most of the way there without the vegetable.

Buying and Storing

Pick firm, heavy bulbs with tight, white-to-pale-green layers and no browning or splitting. Fresh, green fronds still attached are the best freshness sign; limp or yellowed tops mean the bulb has been sitting.

Squat, rounder bulbs are often called male and tend to be more tender than the flat ones.

Trim the stalks but leave the bulb whole until you cook, and refrigerate it in the crisper drawer, loosely bagged, for up to a week. The fronds wilt fastest, so use them within a day or two.

Cut fennel browns at the edges, so slice it close to serving. If you must prep ahead, drop the pieces into cold water with a squeeze of lemon to hold their color.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find fennel bulb: Fennel bulb is usually found in the produce section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Fennel bulb is a member of the Vegetables and Vegetable Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

茴香灯泡

British (UK) term

Fennel bulb

en français

bulbe de fenouil

en español

bulbo de hinojo

How much does fennel bulb weigh?

Related

Vegetables and Vegetable Products

Recipes using fennel bulb

There are 202 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Charred New Potato & Fennel Salad

Easy and tasty. Serve it with some delicious summer BBQ, arrange the salad over a bed of fresh greens to get some veggie boost.

Braised Fennel With Onions & Red Potatoes

With It's Wonderful Smell Of Licorice And It's Fresh Sweet Taste.. This Braised Fennel Is Very Tasteful!!

Lentil Soup with Steamed Vegetables

I like natural flavors of veggies without any seasoning inc. salt.. I often steam them and serve them as a side to other dishes.. sometimes they are tossed into the soup like in this example.. you may steam various veggies in various seasons of the year..

Pan Seared Scallops & Fennel Over Soba Noodles

Pan-seared scallops with fennel over soba noodles plates golden-crusted scallops on Japanese buckwheat noodles in a Pernod and orange pan sauce. East-meets-West restaurant plating at home.

Couscous with Fennel & Pinenuts

Quick, easy and delicious. Serve it as a side dish or a vegetarian main dish by using vegetable broth.

Grilled Summer Vegetable Taco

We used leftover grilled vegetable salad to make these quick tacos, and they were very yummy!

Quinoa Salad with Fennel, Mushrooms & Nuts

Quinoa is a kind of seeds that contains lots of protein, this healthy seed is versatile to prepare, such as this salad. It's delicious and packed with goodness. A great side dish or a whole some meatless main course.

Arugula, Chickpea, Roasted Pepper & Artichoke Salad

Vibrant salad combining peppery arugula, chickpeas, roasted red peppers, and artichoke hearts with citrus vinaigrette and shaved Parmesan. Fresh, colorful, and packed with Mediterranean flavor.

Sri Lanka Annasi (Pineapple Curry)

Annasi curry simmers fresh pineapple chunks in coconut milk with curry leaves, lemongrass, and green chilies for a sweet-tangy Sri Lankan side that pairs brilliantly with rice.

New Potato, Fennel, Onion & Mushroom Pie with Mozzarella

Delicious! Made this pie for dinner yesterday, and it came out great. Happened to have all the ingredients that the recipe called for, so gave it a go, and it was surprisingly delicious.

Grilled Summer Vegetable Salad with Cherry Tomatoes & Feta Cheese

Summer squash, zucchini and fennel bulb are all freshly seasonal. Fire up the BBQ, grill these fresh vegetables, toss with juicy cherry tomates, a light and tasty vinaigrette and feta cheese. You can pair it with any grilled meat. Next day the leftover can be wrapped into wraps, or tortillas, or topping for pizza, another quick, easy and delicious meal!

Roasted Fennel & Sun dried Tomato Pasta Salad

An American invention, this pasta salad is done right. Caramelized fennel and red onions with sun-dried tomatoes with a light vinaigrette.

Caramelized Onion & Fennel Phyllo Tart with Goat Cheese

Give a traditional tart a modern twist by using phyllo pastry that is lower in fat and calories. Caramelized onion and fennel are loaded with yumminess, a bit dijon mustard is brushed on the bottom, and some creamy goat cheese are sprinkled on top. Delicious! What more can I say?!

Quinoa & Arugula Salad with Pears, Walnuts, Dried Fruits, & Jack Cheese

Quinoa is getting more and more popular, it has a very unique and delicious taste, also it is high in fibre and protein. In this recipe, we use fresh pears, arugula, lightly toasted walnuts and dried fruits, mixing in some Jack cheese. It can be served as a side dish, but it also can be a delicious and nutritious main dish!

Cheesy Roasted Vegetable Tart

Fresh fall vegetables: broccoli, fennel and leeks. Or you can use cauliflower, cheesy flavor in the delicate crust with a nice tang from the olive tapenade.

Fennel, Zucchini & White Bean Pasta

Roasted fennel and zucchini are loaded with deliciousness. White beans not only give the dish protein boost, but also add some creaminess that's packed with health benefits. An easy and hearty dinner can be served within no time.

Roasted Mushroom & Fennel Salad with Radishes & Citrus Dressing

Roasting delivers loads of flavor and meaty mushrooms with texture. The fennel adds lovely subtle sweetness punctuated by the fresh crunch of the radishes topped with a light citrus dressing.

Chicken with Fennel Red Pepper & Rice

Absolutely fine dish.. What's the best? I like the taste of rice and fennel...Thanks for this idea...

Kohlrabi, Carrot & Fennel Slaw

Crunchy, refreshing and tasty. A great side dish with any barbecued meat.

Apple & Fennel Salad with Cider Vinaigrette

This is a very tasty and refreshing salad, and it was so quick and easy to make, liked the sweetness and sourness from apple juice and cider vinegar, which just right balanced. Crunchy apple and fennel give the salad great texture and flavor, mixing in the peppery arugula, a simply delicious salad recipe that fits every occasion.

Arugula, Fennel, & Orange Salad

Also made this arugula salad. Sliced crunchy fennel, sweet orange segments, and black olives are gently tossed with olive oil, honey, and lemon juice. Refreshingly tasty.

Barley Risotto with Fennel

For cooking this risotto, we use slow cooker, so even no stir, the risotto is cooked wonderfully, and you can choose barly or brown rice, add more fibre.

Spicy Hot Italian Sausage

Homemade hot Italian sausage stuffed into hog casings with pork butt, fennel seed, garlic, red pepper flakes, and cayenne. The real deal for pasta, pizza, and grilling.

Roasted Squash & Fennel with Thyme

We love this simple and tasty recipe, toasted fennel adds more flavor to the squash, and they are fresh and tasty.

Celery, Cucumber, Fennel & Radish Salad with Vinaigrette

These crunchy vegetables make a refreshing and delicious salad. If you have your own vegetable garden, they are the easiest vegetables to grow. Or find them in the grocery store.

Scallops on Fennel Puree with Honey Balsamic Drizzle

Pan seared scallops served on a bed of fennel puree with a sweet Balsamic drizzle. This recipe was inspired by Masterchef New Zealand contestant Rob and I've modified the ingredients and instructions to match those that are commonly available in North America along with experimentation to make the recipe lower in fats yet every bit as flavorful.

Quinoa & Veggie Salad with Apples, Dried Berries, Walnuts & Cheddar

Easy to make, and it was delicious as well as packed with good-for-you ingredients. Will be making it again soon.

Fennel Jam

This caramelized fennel jam is packed with yumminess and so easy to make. It's ideal as topping for hot dogs, pizzas or burgers.

Sweet Gherkin Pickles

Sweet gherkin pickles: classic four-day pickling process for whole baby cucumbers with sugar, vinegar, turmeric, and pickling spices. Crunchy sweet-tart canned pickles for the pantry.

Court Bouillon - Master Chefs

Classic French court bouillon with onion, carrot, celery, leek, fennel, thyme, and peppercorns. This aromatic poaching liquid is a building block for cooking fish, shellfish, and delicate proteins.

Roman Pickles

Roman pickles brine fresh lettuce leaves with vinegar, dill, fennel, and salt for an ancient pickling method straight from Columella's first-century cookbook. Crisp, briny, and unexpectedly fresh.

Wild Rice & Hazelnut Salad

Chewy wild rice tossed with toasted hazelnuts, orange-soaked currants, crisp apple, and fresh fennel in a citrus vinaigrette. A stunning grain salad for any season.

Shaved Spring Vegetables & White Bean Salad

Shaved spring vegetables are crunchy and refreshing, and white bean absorb the flavor from the light and tasty vinaigrette. A well balanced spring or summer salad.

Shrimp, Orange Scented with Vermouth & Fennel

Sauteed shrimp with softened fennel, fresh orange zest, basil, and a splash of dry vermouth. This aromatic Mediterranean-inspired seafood dinner is elegant enough for company but ready in under 45 minutes.

Fennel Nicoise

Fennel Nicoise braises quartered fennel with tomatoes, white wine, and thyme for a silky Provencal side dish served cold. A do-ahead starter from the South of France.

Roast Pork in Cumin Sauce

Roasted pork gets bathed in an exotic cumin-spiced sauce loaded with dates, pine nuts, and aromatic spices, creating a historical Roman-inspired dish that brings ancient flavors to modern tables.

Kakavia

Kakavia is the Greek fisherman's soup: tomato, fennel, and herb broth simmered with mixed fish, lobster, shrimp, and scallops, ladled over thick toast. Rustic Mediterranean seafood stew at its most generous.

Stuffed Shells with Fennel Sauce

Pasta shells stuffed with tofu, mozzarella, mushrooms, and red pepper, baked under a fresh fennel and tomato sauce. A lighter, plant-forward spin on stuffed shells.

Scalloped Salmon or Trout

Scalloped salmon or trout baked in shells with sauteed fennel, bacon, and a mustard béchamel. An old-school British fish starter with anise sweetness and smoky depth.

Tvfn Chef Du Jour

Spice-crusted seared ahi tuna with Chimayo chile, cumin, and fennel rolled into a bold crust and flash-seared rare. A 10-minute restaurant-quality appetizer you can slice paper-thin.

Apricots With Anisette & Fennel

Preserve summer apricots in anisette liqueur with fennel for sweet-spiced fruit that brightens winter desserts and cheese plates all year long.

Eight Spiced Crispy Skinned Snapper in a Thai Hot And

Eight-spice crispy skinned snapper with Szechuan peppercorns, star anise, cinnamon, fennel, cumin, coriander, white pepper, and ginger. Pan-seared then oven-roasted for shatteringly crisp skin.

Italian-Style Fish & Vegetables

One-skillet Italian fish with mushrooms, fennel, basil, and tomato slices topped with melted Parmesan. Use catfish, orange roughy, or sole for a complete dinner in under 25 minutes.

Potatoes in a Thick Sauce

Indian spiced potatoes in a thick tomato sauce with ginger, coriander, cumin, fenugreek, and garam masala. A vegetarian potato curry with whole spice tempering and bold flavor.

Pasta & Garbanzo Beans with Roasted Vegetables

Pasta & Garbanzo Beans with Roasted Vegetables recipe

Greek Fish Baked in Grapevine Leaves

Greek fish baked in grape leaves with lemon-thyme-fennel marinade and anchovy butter. Whole small fish wrapped and oven-baked for moist, herbed, Mediterranean-style flesh and dramatic presentation.

Jo Parodi's Bagna Caulda

Bagna cauda, a warm Italian dip of olive oil, butter, garlic, and anchovies simmered until silky. Served fondue-style with fresh vegetables and crusty bread.

Lobster in Wild Watercress Dressing

Lobster steamed over fresh herbs and white vermouth, served with an emulsified watercress dressing and julienned peppers and tomato. An elegant, garden-fresh seafood platter.

Mixed Greens with Tangerines & Fennel

Mixed greens with tangerines and fennel tosses baby lettuces with shaved fennel, fresh tangerine segments, and a tangerine-peel rice vinegar dressing. Crisp, bright winter salad.

Stir-Fried Okra with Spices

Stir-fried okra with cumin, fennel, and cayenne pepper. Indian-spiced, low-slime technique that makes okra converts out of skeptics in under 30 minutes.

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