I was cackin' myself earlier on this season on reading dire warnings that fennel nearly always bolted when sown early. Well good news: mine didn't. ;DI watered regularly and trimmed the tops a bit when they seemed to be getting a bit over hairy and .. . result! Question is: what do I do with it now!!? Any good recipes that come to mind?
Oh Sam, don't get me started on fennel recipes, I could bore you to death ;D
I have posted somewhere today that I made fennel soup yesterday and it was absolutely fab ;D My niece, who'd never eaten fennel (and I'm fairly new to it too) was in raptures over it, told her friend about it and now she wants me to make her some ;D
There are some good recipes on here but I also Googled and found a Covent Garden Soup one, and one which used turmeric (which I plumped for).
My lotty mate grows fennel for us both and he introduced me to it and he roasts chicken on a bed of fennel, garlic, onion, chicken stock or white wine. then when chicken cooked you add cream to thicken it up a bit. I used chicken breasts for mine. The fennels are sliced thickly. I just browned off the veg a bit first. I think fennel is supposed to cook for at least 30 mins in this dish to get most of its flavour. Happy cooking :)
Sound good Wardy. Could I trouble you for that soup recipe or point me in the right direction. I like the sound of that. ;D
Hmph, well mine did, twice, third lot eaten by slugs! Now do I bother trying again or is it really to late this year? Marshalls have a fennel for sowing in July!
I'm going to give it a go. The seeds my mate has given me are "Selma" the plants he's grown are getting very big so need eating like right now ;D
The soup recipe or the chickeny thing Sam ???
So, if I can get to the plot soooon, I might sow a row direct and see what nature bringeth.
Quote from: EJÂ Marshalls have a fennel for sowing in July!
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I usually sow another batch in July and generally get favourable results Alan
Good to hear Alan, then this is the last time I will try! In the meantime...what to do with a row of lovely ferny bolted fennel!?!??!?!?
I'm still babying my fennel along. No signs of bolting yet so hopefully all is ok. Is cutting the foliage back supposed to help stop them bolting Sam?
Well, I'm not sure if it's the prescribed method, but I certainly find it helps. I just trim the tops with a pair of shears. Works for me ....
Thanks Sam :)