IT’S THE FENNEL COUNTDOWN!!!

Fennel is probably my favorite vegetable. Every time I eat it, I am reminded of Italy.

Braised Fennel and Shallots with Parsley and Orange Zest

Fennel pairs perfectly with seafood and is great shaved into salads or tossed into pasta dishes. Here are our top fennel recipes to get you inspired.

Last month I was thrilled to be asked to create some recipes to celebrate the launch of Crane Cookware’s new range of copper pans. Cooking with copper brings out my gentler, more delicate side. It’s innate elegance and stature forces me to stand up straight, pull myself together and treat the pan and its ingredients with discerning, graceful deference.

Fennel is a crunchy, assertively anise-flavored vegetable that mellows and sweetens when cooked. Here, the vegetable is prepared in the style of carciofi alla Romana, or braised whole artichokes, which is a simple preparation of simmering them in aromatic olive oil until incredibly tender. The braising liquid is infused with bright lemon, fragrant garlic and fresh herbs, which impart the fennel and shallots with layers of flavor. This versatile side dish can be served warm or at room…

Sliced Fennel and onions are sautéed first then slowly cooked until they are caramelized to a toasty brown, finished with Parmesan, lemon, and Italian parsley. A great side dish with a sweet flavor and licorice notes.

Caramelised Fennel is an easy recipe using fennel bulbs. Cooked on the stove top still sweet and sticky this side dish pairs well with pork, ham, chicken and beef. Whilst super easy to make the caramelized fennel gives you something a little more fancy than a plate of onions to share with the table. @sweetcaramelsunday

I’m not one to braise things. I’ll roast, sauté, bake, & even fry, but braising isn’t in my usual kitchen repertoire. This recipe for saffron & garlic braised fennel is such a simple & easy way to infuse your food with even more flavor that I think I found a new trick to add to my kitchen routine. Fennel may seem like a difficult & mysterious vegetable, but it’s actually incredibly easy to cook. This simple recipe takes 30 minutes to make & is a unique and flavorful side dish for any meal.

Pair the anise flavour of fennel with creamy goat’s cheese, orange and buttery toasted hazelnuts for an inviting side dish. It makes a delicious accompaniment to fish or roast chicken