Fennel Salad

on Jul 25, 2023, Updated Apr 06, 2024

About Fennel

Nothing goes to waste when I cook fennel: the 🌿 leaves, also called fronds, are similar to dill, and I use them as a garnish. The outer shell of the vegetable gets a good scrub and is perfectly edible. The tough, hard, round base of the fennel gets trimmed off and can be used in soup, composted, or given to pets.

Why You’ll Love Fennel Salad

You’ll love this Fennel Salad for its simplicity and you’ll keep coming back to it for its flavor. If you haven’t tried fennel before, you can easily make a version of this 🥗 salad that will slowly acclimate your taste buds to the full-blown version. I know many people are intimidated by fennel, or just not yet fans. Steve and his Italian family introduced me to fennel. In Italy, fennel is known as finocchio and is a popular vegetable. It adds so much brightness and freshness to a meal, especially alongside oily fish 🐟 or fatty meat.

How to Prepare Fennel Salad

💦 Begin by thoroughly washing and scrubbing the fennel, ensuring it is clean. Then, dry it by patting it gently. 🌿 Trim a small portion from the tough, rounded bottom of the fennel and dispose of it in compost. 🔪 Slice the fennel thinly with a sharp knife. An effective method is to halve the bulb and place it flat-side down on a cutting board before slicing. 🍽️ Arrange the sliced fennel on a plate. 🍋 Sprinkle a bit of salt, lemon juice, and olive oil over the fennel. Then drizzle your preferred balsamic glaze over the salad. 🍒 Optionally, add sweetness to the dish by incorporating pitted cherries or orange slices. 🥬 Enjoy your Fennel Salad!