Are fennel roots edible?

[Lindsay]

Have grown fennel for the first time this year - the bulbs haven't swollen much, but are very tasty. But are those lovely long roots edible?  - I am reluctant to just throw them on the compost!  And can I freeze the leaves for use later as a herb? Again, I don't just want to compost them - or give them to the guinea pig!

[Lindsay]

[Baccy Man]

Every part of the Fennel plant can be eaten.
Fennel roots. bulbs and stalks can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable. Fennel bulbs can also be eaten raw.
Fennel stems and leaves can be chopped and used in salads or soups.
Fennel leaf stalks and flower heads can be eaten raw or cooked.
Fennel seeds can be used in liqueurs, tomato sauces, and pickles.
Fennel seeds can also be chewed and kept in the mouth as a breath freshener.
Fennel seeds can also be sprouted and added to salads.

[tim]

What a spiel!

I freeze a lot of herbs - Parsley, Thyme, Tarragon,Lovage, Oregano etc in case of emergencies. Never the same as fresh, butI dare you to complain!

[Lindsay]

Thanks - I will freeze the leaves to see what they are like.

It was more the roots I was interested in, the bulbs and the seeds I knew about.  Having googled, I see you can grate the roots and put them in salads - I just wondered if anybody else had tried this?

[antipodes]

no but I think I will, because mine have very big roots too. I can only imagine that they will also have that fennel type aniseed flavour?

[Hector]

What type of Fennel are we talking about here...is it the Florence one? Great that so much of it is edible.

[PurpleHeather]

Yes Baccy man (as always) is right every bit can be used. The flavour is rather strong, as is that of celery. I am not fond of either on their own but added to salads either are very refreshing. I would not use them together but it is a matter of personal taste.

I have tried fennel as a stuffing in fish, not too much as it can overwhelm.

[Hector]

So it is Florence Fennel? If so, that's excellent. The bulb is one of my favourite veg. Reminding me to plant some :)

[1066]

Hector - yes it is Florence Fennel, the bulbing sort. Very yummy! Raw or cooked - lovely roasted, great chopped up in a risotto etc etc
Nad yes the roots are pretty monsterous, so I'll have to look at using those this year. From trying to grow it a few times (some more successful than others) it seems to prefer an early or a late start - i.e. doesn't seem to like mid summer  :)

[worldor]

Are they perennial?

[amphibian]

Fennel grows as a weed in my garden, biggest root I have encounted yet was 4' long. I hate fennel so it just annoys me, if I liked it I'd forgive it.