Fennel is the best! These recipes with fennel are all tasty, healthy, and showcase the unusual crunchy sweetness of fennel. It has a mild, anise-like flavor that's a welcome addition to many recipes.
These fresh fennel recipes include fennel salads, roasted fennel, and fennel side dishes. Fennel is best in the colder months and can be easily found from late August to early Spring.
Fennel is low in calories and nutrient-dense. It is used around the world in many types of recipes as it's an incredibly versatile ingredient.
If you want to know how to use dried fennel, check out our guide on using fennel seeds.
Citrus and Fennel Salad Recipe
This citrus and fennel salad is a wonderful winter salad recipe. It's a gorgeous salad with several kinds of citrus, slices for fresh mozzarella, and slivered fennel.
Tuna Melts with Quick-Pickled Fennel
Tuna melts with quick-pickled fennel is an elevated version of the diner classic, bringing bright herbaceous flavors to the forefront. Enjoy as an easy, make-ahead lunch or weeknight dinner.
Roasted Fennel with Red Pepper-Horseradish Sauce
Roasted fennel wedges gussied up with a super-simple roasted red pepper-horseradish sauce: A crunchy, bright, and hearty veggie dish that just earned its spot in your weekly meal rotation.
Winter Radicchio Salad with Avocado, Fennel and Orange
Winter Radicchio Salad with Avocado, Fennel, and Orange is a crunchy, colorful winter salad tossed in a citrus maple dressing!
Shaved Fennel and Asparagus Salad
This shaved fennel and asparagus salad recipe combines quinoa, Manchego cheese, red onion, and a zesty lemon dressing. It’s super refreshing and makes a great light lunch or side salad.
Savory Fennel and Spinach Stuffing
This Savory Fennel and Spinach Stuffing is a rustic and hearty vegetarian Thanksgiving side dish recipe! It's full of toasted bread and fragrant herbs.
Fennel Gratin Recipe
This fennel au gratin recipe is quite frankly wonderful. This is a perfect side dish for a holiday dinner or a special meal!
Chickpea Stew with Tomatoes, Feta and Fresh Herbs
This Chickpea Stew couples the sweet, deep flavor of meltingly tender onions and fennel with the bright, vibrant acidity of tomatoes. And you top it off with fresh herbs and briny, crumbled feta cheese.
Simple Chicken Salad with Fennel and Yogurt Dressing Recipe
Brighten up the flavors of a simple chicken salad with a tangy yogurt dressing and crunchy, fresh fennel. This chicken salad recipe is simple and easy to prepare, making it a great addition to your weekly meal prep!
You can eat it with crackers, as a sandwich, on top of a salad, or just by itself with a fork.
Blood Orange and Fennel Salad
This Blood Orange and Fennel Salad with arugula and avocado is everything on a cold winter day. It’s drizzled with a lovely Citrus Vinaigrette and finished with a big crack of black pepper.
Warm Fennel Salad with Grapes and Feta
This Warm Fennel Salad recipe features roasted fennel, grapes, white beans, and feta cheese. It’s the perfect, 30-minute vegetarian side dish!
Fennel, Black Pepper, and Grapefruit Gin and Tonic
This fennel and grapefruit gin and tonic recipe is an unexpectedly delightful cocktail! This is the gin & tonic to end all gin & tonics. You'll love the unique flavor combination.
Lemony Fennel Lentil Salad with Parsley
This healthy fennel lentil salad is bursting with flavor from cooked fennel, chopped parsley, green lentils, feta cheese, and a simple lemon honey dressing. With only 30 minutes of prep, you need to add it to your routine ASAP!
Healthy Baked Catfish Recipe
This healthy baked catfish recipe is definitely a winner! The fish cooks along with vegetables all in the same pan. An easy-to-make meal that's healthy, full of flavor, and ready in minutes!
4-Ingredient Fennel Salad with Dill
This crunchy Fennel Salad with Dill is absolutely addicting with delicious Parmesan cheese mixed into the dressing. It’s super easy to make and will become a family favorite in no time!
Recipes with Fennel
These fennel recipes are fantastic! Check out our favorite winter salad with fennel and citrus.
Ingredients
- 1 large grapefruit, peeled & sliced into rounds
- 2 Cara Cara oranges, peeled & sliced into rounds
- 3 blood oranges, peeled & sliced into rounds
- 1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced, some fronds reserved
- 8 ounces mozzarella, sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Arrange the grapefruit, oranges, mozzarella, and fennel on a plate.
- Sprinkle the fennel fronds across the top.
- Mix the olive oil, balsamic, and salt briskly to create a vinaigrette. Dress the salad with the vinaigrette right before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 350Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 684mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 6gSugar: 21gProtein: 15g
Is fennel good for you?
Fennel is great for you! Fennel is nutrient-rich, heart-healthy, and anti-inflammatory. (source)
When is fennel in season?
Fennel is best from late autumn to early spring. It's available for much of the year, but it's especially delicious in the winter months.
How to Choose the Best Fennel
Ripe fennel will have a white bulb or very pale green bulb that is firm to the touch with no discolorations. If there are any mushy spots or bruises, the fennel is past its prime.
Very fresh fennel with have green stalks and fronds jutting out of the top. If the fronds are wilted or feel moist, they are going bad.
Grocery stores will often trim the stems and fronds from the fennel bulbs as they tend to wilt faster.
Interested in More Veggie Guides?
Check out our recipes with beets, recipes with swiss chard, December seasonal produce guide, January seasonal produce guide, and our February seasonal produce guide.