Topic: Fennel

[tim]

Some didn't bulb, some went to seed, but we got something!

[Roy Bham UK]

I have some growing, I've never eaten it, how do I cook it and what does it taste like please?

[tim]

Aniseed.

We mainly use it sliced in salads: or cut in half, thingy of butter, s&p on each bit, wrap in foil & bake till just tender. 25-35min.

But see this - http://www.wholehealthmd.com/print/view/1,1560,FO_20,00.html

[Obelixx]

Fennel tastes mildly aniseedy.  Top and tail, keeping any frondy green leaves for garnish, if wished.   I use it finely sliced in salads and it makes good soups.  It can also be cut into wedges and steamed or boiled for about 10 minutes depending on the size and with a little lemon juice to keep the white colour.

Drain then dot with butter, sprinkle with parmesan or cheddar and grill or, pre-cook slightly less, heat the oven to 180C, dot with cubes of goats cheese, add lightly chopped sun dried tomatoes, scatter on some pine kernels and drizzle with olive oil.  Bake about 20 mins.  Serve with crusty bread.

[wardy]

Roy  only discovered fennel last year but love it.  It's absolutely delicious and just the thing for hearty stews and goes great with chicken and pork dishes.  My mate made it for me by cutting fennel and onion into thick wedges and frying them off in a bit of butter or oil to brown them a bit and then he sat a chicken on top, roasted the lot in the oven with lots of fresh thyme, salt and pepper and stock.  When chicken was done he added cream and stirred it up.  Lovely.  I used chicken portions myself and it worked very well, and I put some white win in as I'm quite posh  ;D

[BAGGY]

My sis did a really nice rabbit & fennel stew last year. Yummy

[wardy]

Sounds lovely that does.  My lotty mate cooked hare and celeriac casserole the other day  :)

[Roy Bham UK]

I do hope it succeeds as it sounds very different and tasty, thanks for the input Guys ;)

[Doris_Pinks]

Mine this year was a disater, all went to seed and no bulbing up, I put it down to lack of water, shame cos we love the stuff! Tim yours looks fantastic. Mind you the Guinea Pigs have been enjoying the foliage so at least someone in the Pinks household got to taste it! ;D

[Mrs Ava]

Never grown it successfully, bolts without fail!  Even late sowings go over.  Very nice Tim.

[Marianne]

Fennel is one of the loveliest plants in the garden.  It looks royal, smells and tastes delicious ! Well done Tim!
 ;D

[Jessie]

You did better than me Tim, my three survivors didn't bulb. Looks lovely :)

[BAGGY]

My fennel did diddly this year - serves me right for being smug about last year  :-\

[Obelixx]

My first batch of fennell bolted while we were on holiday in July but I've left them to flower and found a crop of two whole swallowtail butterfly caterpillars on them.  I found some more fennel plants in the market in August and planted them but they've been slow as it's been so dry here.   Looks like we'll be having baked baby fennel this week so we get the harvest before the frosts do.

[Marianne]

Oh dear ....  :'( :'( :'(  Who will take care of my bronze and other fennels .... Hope someone will love them !  :-[ :'(