Barbecued Fennel With Black Olive Dressing Recipes

FENNEL & BLACK OLIVE GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 220C/gas 7/fan 200C. Boil up a big saucepan of water.
• Meanwhile trim the roots off each fennel bulb, remove the first leaf, then keep trimming off more root and removing more leaves, right down to the core. Cut off and discard (or keep for a stock) all the green stalky bits and coarse outer leaves. Slicing along the grain of the leaves, cut them into tulip-petal sized pieces.
• Throw the fennel into the boiling water, cover the pan and bring back to the boil. Remove the lid and boil for 5 minutes to blanch the fennel, then drain thoroughly.
• Lightly butter a large (about 25cm diameter) gratin or other ovenproof dish. Spread half the fennel over the bottom of the dish and strew evenly with half the olives. Cover with the remaining fennel and olives and season well. Pour over the cream, then sprinkle a thick layer of cheese on top.
• Bake the gratin on the middle shelf of the oven for about 20 minutes or until the cream is bubbling, the top lightly gilded, and the fennel tender. Leave to cool for 5 minutes before serving.

GRILLED FENNEL

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Slice a very thin layer from the bottom of each fennel bulb using a vegetable peeler or paring knife, leaving the core in place to help hold bulb intact. Remove fennel stalks, reserving fronds. Slice bulbs vertically into 1/4-inch slices. Brush slices with 1 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle with ground black pepper and salt on each side.
• Grill fennel slices until charred, about 5 minutes per side; transfer to serving platter.
• Whisk remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, basil, parsley, lemon juice, lemon zest, freshly ground black pepper, thyme, and reserved fennel fronds together in a bowl. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and drizzle lemon mixture over fennel.

FENNEL AND BLACK OLIVES

Steps:

• Wash fennel bulb and trim off leaves and stems. Slice off bottom of bulb; then, thinly slice the remainder of it and separate into rings. Arrange on two salad plates.
• Pit olives, and sprinkle over fennel. Dribble olive oil on top.

BARBECUED FENNEL WITH BLACK OLIVE DRESSING

Steps:

• Heat a BBQ or griddle pan. Toss the fennel in 1 tbsp of the oil, coating well. Cook for 5 mins on each side until golden brown and charred.
• To make the dressing, put the olives, garlic, lemon juice and remaining oil in a bowl. Add the chopped herbs and combine. Lay the fennel on a platter and pour over the dressing. Eat warm or at room temperature.