Monday, February 09, 2009

F is for fennel

I haven't abandoned my vegetable alphabet, it is just that life has been getting in the way of organised thought. If I can get back to my PC later in the week (i.e. if The Man turns up on Wednesday and is able to repair it), I will get around to collating the recipes to date.
Fennel is one of those vegetables that people either love or hate and I love it. I grow it in pots in my yard and use it in salads, or add it to roasted vegetables. Here is a favourite recipe from my Cranks recipe book:

Fennel and tomato salad
Ingredients
6 small fennel bulbs
3 cloves garlic, sliced paper thin
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1lb ripe plum tomatoes
4oz black olives
2oz fresh Parmesan, cut into slivers
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method
Trim fronds and ends from fennel stalks. Slice thinly along the vertical grain.
Either leave as it is or cut slices into thin strips.
Mix garlic slices, oil, vinegar and salt and pepper and pour over the fennel. Allow to marinate for 20 minutes or so.
Then add the tomatoes, cut into wedges and, finally, the black olives and Parmesan.

Can't you just taste summer in the recipe?

7 comments:

  1. I love fennel too. But you're right, it's like the marmite of veg. I like to roast it slowly with a joint of pork. Yummy. I first tried it in a salad, just like the one you gave a recipe for, on honeymoon in Sorrento!

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  2. I'm on the hate side, I'm afraid. :<)

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  3. Hi Maureen, I'm determined to try carrot bread this week - do you think these have to be "standard cups" or is it a 'one size fits all' kind of recipe? I'm so much happier with ounces!
    AliB

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  4. Dulce Domum and Nan - I knew it would be love or hate!

    Ali - the cup system works on volume, so I think a breakfast cup or average-sized coffee mug would be fine. I tried to put the equivalent measures on my sidebar but Blogger is playing up at the moment. I'll try again later.

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  5. I too find cups very confusing and use this conversion table: http://www.asknumbers.com/OuncesToCupsConversion.aspx
    On Sunday I am going to make the carrot cake for the parish after-service cup of tea.

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  6. I'm glad that the carrot cake is proving so popular. (Not so the fennel!) I would reduce the amount of sugar because carrots are sweet anyway, but that is my personal taste.

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  7. Thanks for the advice - stand by for the results!
    AliB

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I love to read your comments and promise that I will reply as soon as I can leave my garden, sewing room or kitchen!