Fennel Archives - Page 2 of 3 - De Ma CuisineDe Ma Cuisine

Monday

22

June 2015

0

COMMENTS

How To Use Fennel – From Bulb to Fronds

Written by Rachel, Posted in Fennel Pollen, How To, Thoughts, Vegetables

I’ve done a lot with fennel recently. It’s one of those veggies that I’ve had a difficult time with in the past. I’m not a huge fan of licorice, so it was tough to find a way to use it that I enjoyed.

It’s been a good challenge. I think I’m winning. Fennel is no longer on my dislike list.

The Fennel Fronds

They’re great on most any fennel dish, but also in places where you’d like just a hint of fennel flavor. Add them to salad dressings (especially ones with lemon), top parmesan crostini with a few fronds, or serve a bean soup topped with a squeeze of lemon and some fennel fronds.

I used them the other week on Fennel Pizza (along with the bulb). To me, they taste like mild fennel and the heat from the pizza subdued them even more.

The Fennel Stalk

The stalk is a bit more like celery – kinda tough and fibrous. So I like it best in things like soups and stews where it will cook for a while.

It was a fabulous addition to a Chicken Noodle Soup that I made a few months ago. I’ve also added it to things like Vegan Tofu Fried Quinoa and it would be great in stir fry, where things like celery would normally be added and the veggies are kept kinda crunchy.

It also worked well in a Veggie and Garbonzo Bean Shakshuka that I made recently. Everyone simmers and stews for a while, so they’re not so tough. The bulb could be used in place of the stalks, if you’re in a bit of a rush and don’t have time to wait for them to soften.

If none of these options work for you, just save the stalks to add to your homemade vegetable stock.

The Fennel Bulb

I’m not sure which is more favorite, the bulb, or the fronds. Both are versatile and taste great with so many things. I think the bulb might win because it can be roasted… but then the fronds can be chopped and used in a salad dressing… They both win.

I was looking through The Vegetarian Flavor Bible the other week and noticed that fennel pairs well with stone fruit. Who would have thought?! Not me. So I used it in a dish that I call Roasted Stone Fruit with Bulgur and Fennel. And let me tell you, the sweet, subtle flavor of the fennel worked really well with the stone fruit.

Since we’ve established that it goes well with bulgur wheat, I’ll also mention that I used it a few months ago with asparagus and mâche over some bulgur with a bright lemony dressing. It made for a fabulous spring lunch.

A few years ago I roasted it and added it to a pear topped Mac and Cheese. What a hit! And again, fennel and fruit, who knew?! I did that one for my cooking show. Another fennel episode came from experimenting with not just the fennel bulb, but fennel pollen. I came up with Crispy Veggies with Fennel Pollen Dipping Sauce.

Fennel Pollen

If you haven’t tried fennel pollen, it’s worth giving it a chance. It adds a certain “je ne sais quoi” to a dish. I’ve added it to Fennel Pollen Burgers (which, incidentally, would be great topped with some roasted fennel!), Salmon with a Garlic and Pistachio Cream Sauce, and Fennel Pollen Potatoes (the leftovers of which are perfect in Mahi Mahi, Fennel, and Potato Chowder).

And last but not least, fennel pollen with eggs… for breakfast in a Savory Baked French Toast or a Bacon and Feta Frittata. Because why not really?

Or maybe you want to get creative and make up your own dish to suit your tastes. According to The Vegetarian Flavor Bible, some things that fennel pairs well with are: peaches, dill, summer and winter squash, risottos, almonds, beans, goat cheese, parmesan cheese, ricotta, chickpeas, garlic, citrus, mushrooms, salads, arugula, onions, tomatoes, walnuts, apples, and vinegar… just to get you started. Feel free to leave a comment and share what you come up with!

Happy Eating!

Monday

8

June 2015

0

COMMENTS

Fennel Pizza

Written by Rachel, Posted in Baking, Cheese, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Grilling, Herbs, Kid-Friendly, Lunch, Main Dishes, Pizza, Quick and Easy, Vegetables, Vegetarian

It can be tough to transition from one season to the next. I never quite know what I’m in the mood for… Do I still want a hearty winter veggie soup, or am I ready for snap peas and asparagus? I have a few go to dishes that make the transition a bit easier and blur the lines, if you will. Things like pasta, soup, stir fry, shepherd’s pie, chicken pot pie, and enchiladas all work well no matter what the season.

So does pizzaaaa!

Ridiculously well.

One of the great things about pizza is how adaptable it is. For example, you could exchange the regular crust for gluten-free, make a cauliflower crust, use corn tortillas, or even grill some eggplants and top them with sauce and veggies. You can omit the cheese, change the veggies, and add more herbs. You can grill it, bake it, or cook it in a skillet.

Hello versatility!

Today I went with the spring variation. It was perfect for what we got in the Abundant Harvest Organics box this week: fennel, carrots, and basil.

I adapted this crust and cooking method recipe. It’s become a staple in our home. The crust freezes well and is a synch to make.

The recipe calls for stove top cooking, then finishing in the oven. But, it’s too hot for the oven today, so I just covered it and left it on the stove for a couple of minutes.

This allowed the veggies to soften just a bit, but they still had some crunch. If you don’t like crunchy veggies on your pizza, no problem. Just do a quick sauté before you top the pizza. You can even use the same skillet. Just wipe out any bits that are stuck to the bottom of the skillet before adding more oil and your crust.

Here are my variations by season:

Spring

Everything feels fresh and new, bursting with color and flavor. Depending on how early it is in spring, I may want to use thinly shaved asparagus instead of summer squash, bright green peas instead of fennel. But, because we’re actually right smack in the middle of one of these transition periods, I’m using what’s in season, and thankful for every bite.

Toppings: Summer squash, carrot, fennel.

Herbs: Basil and parsley (after cooking) and fennel fronds (before cooking).

Sauce: Olive oil and garlic.

Cheese: Cheddar and parmesan, or ricotta and parmesan.

Method: Skillet, grill, or oven.

Summer

During the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer, I love to have a simple pizza. I would probably choose 2-3 of the toppings, so the pizza isn’t overwhelmed. I want light and easy. Serve it with a quick salad of lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and chopped almonds, with a balsamic-olive oil vinaigrette for a perfect summer treat.

Toppings: Summer squash, tomatoes, corn, bell peppers, or eggplant.

Herbs: Basil (after cooking) and thyme (before or after cooking… any time… get it?!).

Sauce: Tomato.

Cheese: Mozzarella, cheddar, or feta.

Method: Skillet or grill.

Fall

It’s finally cooled down (ahem, maybe, depending on where you live – around here fall is the hottest time of year). The first root veggies are starting to appear. Things like beets, cozy sweaters, and hot chocolate are exciting again. For this pizza, I would go for everything listed.

Toppings: Arugula (or kale or mâche), suuuuuper thinly sliced beets, halved cherry tomatoes, and a smidge of horseradish.

Herbs: Cilantro and chives (after cooking).

Sauce: Tomato.

Cheese: Blue, mozzarella, parmesan, or feta.

Method: Oven, skillet, or grill.

Winter

It’s cold! I want something hearty and filling.

Toppings: Really thinly sliced sweet potatoes and cauliflower, swiss chard (or spinach, mustard greens, collards, or kale)

Herbs: Rosemary (before cooking).

Sauce: Olive oil and garlic.

Cheese: Blue, parmesan, or feta.

Method: Oven or skillet.

Happy Eating!

Fennel Pizza

Yield: 2

Fennel Pizza

Ingredients

2 personal sized pizza crusts
olive oil
salt
pepper
cayenne (optional)
garlic, minced
summer squash, very thinly sliced
carrot, very thinly sliced
fennel, very thinly sliced
fennel fronds, torn
1 C cheese, grated (cheddar and parmesan mixture)
fresh herbs (basil, parsley, and thyme), chopped or whole

Instructions

Top crust with olive oil through cheese.
Cook using your favorite method. If grilling or cooking in a skillet, cook one side for 2-3 minutes first, flip, then add toppings. Cook for 2-3 minutes more, and either cover with a lid or cover the grill and turn the heat to low or off and cook for about 1-2 minutes more.
Remove from pan and top with fresh herbs.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/fennel-pizza/

Thursday

21

May 2015

0

COMMENTS

Roasted Stone Fruit with Bulgur and Fennel

Written by Rachel, Posted in Dairy-Free, Dinner, Fruit, Grains, Main Dishes, Nuts, Quick and Easy, Quinoa, Rice, Roasting, Sides, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Complain as I will about summer – the heat, the heat, the heat, I love the fruits and veggies that it brings. I’m silly for squash (more about that next week), crazy for cherries, and wacko for watermelon. Not to mention sweet corn… be still my heart. And oh the stone fruit… Standing over the sink, eating the most perfectly ripe peach, juice dripping down my arms. That’s just heavenly.

Try as I might, stone fruit doesn’t last long in our home. It’s just too easy to grab one, give it a quick scrub, and have a delicious snack. So in order to have any left for this savory take, I had to make it as soon as the box got home.

This week it was nectarines in our Abundant Harvest Organics box, but apricots, apriums, or peaches would work great too. I sliced them about 1/4″ thick, tossed them with some olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roasted them for a few minutes.

While the nectarines hung out in the oven, I sautéed some onions and fennel. A few minutes later I added the bulgur wheat and let it get a bit toasty before I added some veggie stock. If you wanted to keep this dish gluten-free, quinoa, brown rice, or barley would be great instead of the bulgur wheat.

Once the fruit was roasted, flipped once, and roasted for a bit longer, it joined the party in the bulgur pan.

Added to it was some saffron, cayenne, and ginger.

Top it with a little lemon juice, some chopped nuts, and you’ve got dinner.

It’s great on its own, but would be fabulous served with some crispy fried tofu, or a roasted chicken, along with a salad of arugula, red onions, sliced stone fruit, and chopped nuts.

Happy Eating!

Roasted Stone Fruit with Bulgur and Fennel

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: 2-3 as a main dish, 3-4 as a side dish

Roasted Stone Fruit with Bulgur and Fennel

Ingredients

2 C firm stone fruit (apricots, nectarines, apriums, or peaches), sliced 1/4" thick
to taste salt
to taste pepper
1 t olive oil
1 T olive oil
1 C onion, chopped
1/3 C fennel, chopped
to taste salt
to taste pepper
1 C bulgur wheat (or quinoa, brown rice, or barley)
2 C vegetable stock (or water)
pinch saffron (optional)
pinch ginger
to taste salt
to taste pepper
pinch cayenne
1 T plus 2 t lemon juice
1/2 C nuts (almonds or pistachios), roughly chopped

Instructions

Pre-heat the oven to 400F.
Toss stone fruit with salt, pepper, and 1 t olive oil. Place on a baking sheet and roast for about 7 minutes, flip, then about 7-8 minutes more (or until fruit is lightly browned).
While fruit cooks, heat a medium sized sauce pan over medium or medium-low heat. Add 1 T olive oil. When oil is hot, add onion, fennel, salt, and pepper. Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add bulgur and cook for 1 minute more. Add stock, turn the heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for about 7-8 minutes (or until bulgur is cooked).
Add stone fruit through lemon juice to bulgur mixture. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Cool for about 10 minutes, then serve topped with nuts.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/roasted-stone-fruit-with-bulgur-and-fennel/

Monday

18

May 2015

5

COMMENTS

Veggie and Garbanzo Bean Shakshuka

Written by Rachel, Posted in Beans, Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner, Eggs, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Lunch, Main Dishes, One Dish Dinners, Quick and Easy, Vegetables, Vegetarian

If there’s not a carton of eggs in my refrigerator, I feel a little lost when it comes to meal planning. I use eggs for all of the regular things, like adding them to pancakes, using them in an egg wash for a Chicken Pot Pie or Fish Wellingtons, or whisking them into a silky mayonnaise. But, I also count on them as a staple for our meals.

Fried eggs are one of my favorite foods. I love it when the yolk is still runny (I’m an “over-medium” order) and it spills over the food it’s covering, creating a creamy sauce. They’ve created a way for me to love some foods that I didn’t think I even liked (turnips!). Eggs for the win!

One of the meals I’ve discovered over the past year or so is called Shakshuka. I love it because it feels like an old world dish, similar to peasant food. It’s simple and straightforward, but also super versatile.

You can make it with just tomatoes, onions, garlic, and olive oil. But, if you want to add more to it, you can add tons of veggies. This time I wanted to pack it with a little extra oomph. I added greens, fennel, and asparagus to the usual. And then, garbonzo beans. It’s a dish that’s loaded with nutrients, protein, and great flavor.

I could eat it everyday.

The veggies and beans don’t need to cook for too long – a little under 20 minutes will do. They just kinda stew there in the olive oil, getting all soft, flavors combining… man I’m hungry!

And then the eggs are added. Normally, when I fry eggs, I do it in a screaming hot cast iron. But, since there are other components in the pan, for this dish, I turn the heat down, add the eggs, and cover (so the whites will set).

Eggs, veggies, beans, cast iron… be quiet my grumbling stomach!

And if you thought things couldn’t get any better, it gets topped with fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon. That’s what I’m talkin’ about!

Happy Eating!

Veggie and Garbonzo Bean Shakshuka

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 24 minutes

Total Time: 34 minutes

Yield: 2-4

Veggie and Garbonzo Bean Shakshuka

Ingredients

1 T olive oil
1 medium onion or leek, chopped
1 C assorted veggies (like fennel, asparagus, zucchini, eggplant, and mushrooms), chopped
to taste salt
to taste pepper
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1-2 C tomatoes (fresh or canned), diced
1 C garbonzo beans
2 C greens (chard, kale, collards, spinach etc...), roughly chopped
1-2 eggs/serving
to taste salt
fresh herbs (dill, parsley, chives, basil), chopped, for serving
lemon slices, for serving

Instructions

Heat skillet then add oil. When oil is hot, add onion through pepper. Cook for about 3 minutes over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.
Add garlic through greens and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
Turn the heat down to low and make a small well for each egg. Add eggs, one per well. Season with salt. Cook covered until eggs are done (about 3-6 minutes, depending on how runny you like the yolk).
Serve topped with fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/veggie-and-garbonzo-bean-shakshuka/

Thursday

16

April 2015

3

COMMENTS

Bacon and Feta Frittatas

Written by Rachel, Posted in Baking, Breakfast, Brunch, Cheese, Condiments, Dinner, Eggs, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, Pork, Potatoes, Vegetables

Many of my favorite foods are those loaded with veggies and a little something else. I do this with pasta, soups, and stir fry. In this case, it was with bacon, eggs, and a little bit of feta cheese.

This is a use what’s in season type of meal. I had asparagus, turnip, kohlrabi, carrot, and collard greens on hand. But, you could use bell peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, potatoes, radishes, and any other greens that sound good to you.

I cooked the bacon and when it was done and resting on a plate, I added some olive oil to the bacon grease in the skillet. If you want to wipe out the skillet after the bacon is done, that’s cool too. Add some butter or extra olive oil instead of the bacon grease. Don’t want to use bacon at all? That’s fine. I like the crunch that it adds to the frittata, but it’s not absolutely essential.

While the veggies cook, whisk together some of your favorite eggs with a bit of milk. I needed just three eggs, since there were so many veggies. You can adjust the recipe according to your needs, keeping in mind that the cooking time may change depending on the number of eggs used.

The eggs and veggies are combined and some feta is added. Like pretty much everything else in this recipe, you can change up the cheese if you want. Gouda would be a yummy choice, if you’re not using feta.

Once the frittatas are done (I like to use a food thermometer to take the guesswork out of it), they get to stand around and rest for about 10 minutes. In that time, you can whisk up a lemony dressing that will be drizzled over the top.

And then finally, it’s time for a bite. With that crunchy bacon, delicious veggies, and flecks of feta, it’s as delicious as I’d hoped it would be.

Frittatas are perfect any time of the day, any day of the week. They’re especially good when shared with a loved one. But, if you’re having a meal by yourself, the second frittata can be refrigerated (or frozen and thawed in the fridge over night) and reheated another day.

Happy Eating!

Bacon and Feta Frittatas

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 43 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 3 minutes

Yield: 2

Bacon and Feta Frittatas

Ingredients

4-5 slices bacon
bacon grease (or 1 T butter)
1 T olive oil
3/4 C kohlrabi (or potatoes, fennel bulb, or mushrooms), chopped
3/4 C turnip (or radish), chopped
1 1/2 C onion, chopped
3/4 C carrot, chopped
to taste salt
to taste pepper
1/2 t dried thyme (or 1/2 T fresh)
1/2 t dried basil (or 1/2 T fresh)
1 C asparagus (or peas), stems snapped off and discarded, chopped
2 cloves garlic, diced
1 C greens, chopped
1 T fresh parsley, chopped
1 T fresh dill, chopped
3 eggs
1/4 C milk
to taste salt
to taste pepper
1/2 C feta, crumbled
Dressing: 1/2 t honey
1 t dijon mustard
1/4 C lemon juice
1 t fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 t fresh dill, chopped
to taste salt
to taste pepper
2 T olive oil

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375F. Place two greased 5" (diameter) by 2" (tall) ramekins or oven safe dishes on a baking sheet and into the oven while it preheats.
Cook bacon to desired crispness. Remove from skillet and place on a paper towel lined plate. Crumble when cool enough to handle.
Heat bacon skillet. Add olive oil (and butter if you've wiped it out and discarded the bacon grease). When it's hot, add the kohlrabi through basil (if you're using dried herbs). Cook covered over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add asparagus through dill (adding basil and thyme if you're using fresh) and cook for 3 minutes more. Remove from heat and taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
Whisk eggs with milk, salt, and pepper. Stir in veggies and feta. Pour into the hot, greased ramekins (still on the baking sheet). Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the eggs are set and have come to 160F. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
While frittatas rest, whisk together dressing ingredients, streaming in the olive oil last, while you whisk. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
Serve frittatas topped with bacon and dressing.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/bacon-and-feta-frittatas/

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Fennel Archive

22

0

How To Use Fennel – From Bulb to Fronds

The Fennel Fronds

The Fennel Stalk

The Fennel Bulb

Fennel Pollen

Happy Eating!

8

0

Fennel Pizza

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

Happy Eating!

21

0

Roasted Stone Fruit with Bulgur and Fennel

Happy Eating!

18

5

Veggie and Garbanzo Bean Shakshuka

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16

3

Bacon and Feta Frittatas

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