Oven Roasted Fennel with Parmesan
Oven Roasted Fennel with Parmesan
Description
Fennel is a flowering plant species in the carrot family. It is a highly flavorful herb used in cooking and along with the similar-tasting anise.
Fennel is low in calories but rich in nutrients linked to many health benefits.
This very easy recipe can be a great and healthy side dish for your dinner table. It would be perfect with chicken, fish or seafood.
What is Fennel
Fennel ( Foeniculum vulgare- family Umbelliferae) is an aromatic yellow flowered European plant with feathery leaves. It is used as a culinary herb,highly flavorful with the similar-tasting anise. It is low in calories but rich in nutrients linked to many health benefits. It is an excellent source of vit.C,niacin,calcium, iron,magnesium,phosphorus and copper.
Fennel is a layered,bulbous vegetable that originated in the Mediterranean and has been used for centuries.
The entire fennel plant;the bulb,leaves and seeds, are not only edible but delicious. Each part of the fennel plant has a different texture and use: the bulb, the long stalks that make up the length of the plant and the fringe of fronds at the top all have their place in the kitchen.
Fennel tea is also very popular for its health benefits. According to herbalists, fennel seed is an effective aid to digestion. It can help the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal system relax and reduce gas, bloating and stomach cramps.
Ingredients
Preparation
-
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
-
Arrange the fennel slices on a baking dish.
-
Mix olive oil,minced garlic,salt & pepper in a small bowl.
-
Toss the mixture over the fennel slices.
-
Sprinkle the parmesan cheese on top.
-
Bake for 35-40 minutes in the oven or until the edges begin to caramelize.
-
Serve immediately.
Note
How to Cut Fennel?
Slice off the stalks and fronts. Remove the root end. Cut the fennel bulbs horizontally into slices.
How to Cook Fennel Bulb?
Fennel can be used raw or cooked. There are different ways of cooking fennel. To soften the flavor of the fennel bulb, try braising, sautéing, roasting, or grilling it. Fennel stalks can take the place of celery in soups and stews, and can be used as a "bed" for roasted chicken and meats. Use fennel fronds as a garnish, or chop them and use as you would other herbs, like dill or parsley.
How to Roast Fennel?
My favorite way to cook fennel is roasting the fennel slices with olive oil and garlic. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Arrange the slices on a baking dish and toss with olive oil and minced garlic mixture. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top and bake for 35-40 minutes or until the fennel wedges are cooked through and beginning to caramelize at the edges.
What Should I Serve with Roasted Fennel?
This roasted fennel recipe is a delicious, savory and healthy side dish for especially seafood and light meats. It would be perfect with chicken or fish.
How to Store Leftovers?
You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can even freeze them in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
If your grocery store carries fennel bulb, you should find it in the produce aisles, probably near the root vegetables during the peak season from fall through early spring.
The fennel bulb is enjoyed raw, where its anise flavor is most pronounced, and cooked for a sweeter, mellower version of itself.
The entire fennel plant is not only edible but delicious. What can you do with fennel stalks and fennel fronds (those cute frilly green leafy things attached to the stalks) after you use the bulbs?
You can use fennel stalks to top yogurt dips,eggs,stir fries,toasts and seared meats. They will add texture and flavor to salads and pastas. You can also use them for cooking fish:laying a few stalks and fronds alongside the fish will infuse the fish with sweet fennel-tastic favor.
Use fennel fronds as a garnish, or chop them and use as you would other herbs, like dill or parsley.
And also fennel tea which is made from dried fennel seeds, is good for digestion, treat bloating gas or cramps and may act as a diuretic.
Fennel has a very mild anise or licorice flavor that can be enhanced or sweetened depending on how it is cooked (or not cooked). Roasted fennel has a much mellower and sweeter flavor that pairs well with seafood and light meats.
