Easy Homemade Roasted Fresh Fennel Starter

Appetizers don’t always need to be rich and heavy. Here’s a fresh fennel appetizer that can be cooked up in just a few minutes.

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Fennel tastes delicious, be it fresh or raw. We often eat fennel seeds as an after-dinner mouth freshener. But fresh fennel tastes yummy too! We fry it lightly and serve it with my instant soya mayo sauce. The perfect vegetarian last-minute starter combination!

What ingredients do you need to Make a Fennel Appetizer?

All you need for this fennel appetizer recipe in a matter of minutes is fennel, garlic, olive oil, and crushed pepper. You can use the fennel stalks too!

For my thrown-together soya mayonnaise sauce, all you need is some soya sauce and any regular mayonnaise.

How to cook Fennel as an Appetizer or Starter?

Cut the fennel (including the fennel bulb) into thin slices and also chop the garlic into tiny pieces. Heat some olive oil in a pan and add the chopped garlic. Roast the garlic until you get a nice burnt look and the smell of garlic enters your nostrils. And remember, the garlic isn’t really burnt, it’s just fried or roasted till toasty brown. Just like in burnt garlic rice.

Then add in the sliced fresh fennel and top with crush some pepper over it. Allow this to cook in a frying pan for a few minutes and then turn over and saute for a few more.

And voila, your fennel appetizer is ready. Doesn’t it look delicious?

Serve it plain, or with a sauce of your choice. My easy peasy instant soy mayonnaise is good too. Just mix soy sauce with regular mayonnaise and that’s it!

Cooking Tips & Tricks

• When cutting the fennel, remember you can use the stalks too!
• Although fennel can be eaten raw, cooked fennel has a milder and sweeter taste.
• You can replace the ground pepper with paprika.
• Simply mix soya sauce with regular mayo for my soy mayonnaise dip.
• Or mix chilli powder, soy sauce, and mayo for a spicy mayo dip.
• Also tastes good with a dash of lemon juice.

Fennel Cooking Questions

What Type Of Vegetable Is Fennel?

Fennel is a flowering plant that belongs to the carrot family. Every part of the fennel is edible, from the flowers and leaves to the roots. It can easily become one of your favorite plants.

Can You Eat Raw Fennel? What Does It Taste Like?

Yes, the fennel bulb can be eaten raw. Its flavor is anise-like but a bit strong, so if you want a sweeter and tender version then it’s best to cook it.

Should Fennel Be Refrigerated?

Yes, you should store fresh fennel in a sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator until used. This prevents it from getting brown spots or wilting for a few days at least.

How Many Types Of Fennel Are Available?

There are 2 types of fennel. The one that’s like a herb and cultivated for its seeds is called herb fennel or Foeniculum vulgare. The other one is a bulb vegetable that’s cultivated to be eaten and is called Florence fennel or Finocchio – Foeniculum vulgare var. dulce.

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• Ratatouille vegan recipe
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