Fennel

Even self-professed cauliflower haters will love this dish, if you can convince them to try it. The cooking time depends on two things: how crunchy you like your cauliflower, and how fresh it is (a very fresh one cooks in half the time!)

A simple, quick, and easy soup, this classic oyster stew is flecked with droplets of golden butter and flavored with aromatic vegetables, whole milk, and plenty of briny, fat oysters.

I have a soft spot for recipes that feel fancy without taking much time, and these braised butter beans check every box. They taste like something you would order at a little neighborhood restaurant, the kind you remember long after the meal. During testing, we kept dipping bread straight into the pan and saying the same thing: these beans are pure comfort.

Recipe video above. "The secret is the bacon..." It really takes this sausage roll to another level! Also, sautéing the onion and celery before mixing into the filling makes it sweet and more moist than the usual, and using panko instead of normal breadcrumbs also contributes to making the filling of this sausage roll so moist.The addition of fennel adds an extra burst of flavour but it's optional. Pork and fennel are great mates and though most everyday suburban bakeries won't use it, you'll find better bakeries use it (like Bourke St Bakery). If you're wary, drop it to 1/2 teaspoon. Or just skip it!

Chicken thighs are roasted with classic fall ingredients for a quick, flavorful sheet-pan supper. The toasted fennel seeds subtly amplify the anise flavor of the roasted fennel and play nicely with the apples and onions. Look for an apple on the tart side as it will naturally sweeten as it cooks in the oven. If you want to use bone-in chicken breasts you can, just make sure to cut the cooking time by a few minutes so they don’t dry out. Serve with a bright, bitter green salad flecked with blue cheese and toasted walnuts.

A complex and colorful chickpea stew, this is rich with vegetables, olive oil and Parmesan cheese. You can vary the vegetables to use what you’ve got. Here, I keep to the basics, adding carrots for sweetness, fennel or celery for depth, cherry tomatoes for looks. Tender greens, wilted into the bubbling mixture at the end, are optional, but they do add a bright, almost herbal note. I particularly love using baby mustard greens, which are pleasantly peppery. But spinach, arugula and kale work well, too.

A crowd-pleaser for all ages, this classic spaghetti sauce is thick, meaty and, most importantly,  perfectly coats each strand of spaghetti. Garlic, tomato and ground beef are the foundation of this simple sauce, and a mix of dried fennel seeds and herbs adds savory depth. Red wine and a bit of sugar bring out the sweetness of the tomato. The flavors of the sauce intensify with time, so feel free to make it in advance, refrigerate and reheat later. The sauce also freezes well so you can have it on hand for future meals. Don’t tell spaghetti, but this sauce is also delicious layered in a lasagna or stirred into a cheesy baked pasta dish.

This fennel orange salad will make you fall in love with salads! Shaved fennel and juicy oranges are tossed with a spiced-infused citrus vinaigrette, then finished with mint and pistachios. Elegant, refreshing, and full of fun flavors.

My easy roasted fennel recipe is sweet, caramelized, and buttery! Learn how to cook fennel with simple seasonings and some flavor options.

Vegan Italian Sausage Crumbles are so easy to make and a great meat replacement for certain plant-based recipes. Made with Textured Vegetable Protein along with a mix of herbs and spices like ground fennel seeds, sage, thyme, and more, these veggie crumbles are the perfect addition to favorite savory plant-based recipes like chili, pasta sauce, pizza, and more. Low-fat, high in protein, and gluten-free.

Luxurious and hearty, cheap and easy, this vegetarian pasta uses mostly pantry staples, requiring just a few fresh ingredients, like baby spinach, rosemary and heavy cream. Canned chickpeas form the foundation of the dish: They’re cooked until crisp and caramelized. Half are then saved as a garnish, while the rest are simmered until they break down and thicken the sauce. You can swap out your greens or beans, and if you want to experiment with flavor, raid your spice cabinet: Ground coriander, toasted fennel seeds, coarsely crumbled pink peppercorns or a sprinkle of smoked paprika perk up the dish.

The smoked paprika to the parmesan crust makes this air fryer white fish so delicious. For variety, mix up the spices and use any you like. A combination of chili powder, chipotle or smoked paprika is great or try an herbed mixture of thyme, oregano, and/or fennel. A finer grated parmesan will cling better to fish and create a nicer crust.

Yield: 12 x half-litre (US pint) jars

Fennel Orange Salad is an exciting mix of sweet and spicy flavors. It's a simple, fresh winter salad perfect for any meal.

Chinese five spice is a traditional Chinese spice blend made with cinnamon, fennel, cloves, star anise, and Sichuan peppercorns.

EatSimpleFood.com This braised fennel, onion, & carrot pot roast recipe is saucy and savory.  The beef is so tender it falls apart.

These braised chickpeas are a one-pot wonder featuring tender chickpeas simmered in a rich, aromatic tomato-olive oil broth, infused with the subtle sweetness of fennel. Largely hands off, it’s a great comforting weeknight dinner perfect for cozy sweater season!

Orange juice and fennel give this quick Meatball Pasta Bake supper bright, fresh flavor. Chop fennel as you would an onion, or omit it, if desired.

An easy to prepare side dish, the Roasted Fennel is buttery, caramelized on the edges and deliciously sweet in flavour. (Whole30, Vegan & Keto)

paccheri tossed in a white wine butter sauce with italian sausage, caramelized onions & fennel, lots of garlic, wilted spinach, grated pecorino cheese, fresh herbs, and buttery pistachios over top servings: 4

What to make with Fennel Fronds? This Fennel Frond pesto is a great way to use up those fennel greens and reduce any food waste.

In her book, Kale & Caramel: Recipes for the Body, Heart, and Table, Lily Diamond calls this kale salad "a paean to all things spring, to the powerful fusion of fresh vegetables and herbs and lemon and feta, to the brightness of unadulterated flavors in symphony with each other." Keep this gem on hand for days when the CSA produce starts to pile up or the moments when you need an effortless and beautiful salad for a sweltering spring day.

This hearty winter salad is perfect for a holiday dinner!