Braised Fennel And Parsnips Recipes

ORANGE-BRAISED CARROTS & PARSNIPS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
• Trim and scrub or peel the carrots and parsnips. If the parsnips are thick, slice them in half or quarters lengthwise so they are about the same width as the carrots.
• Place the carrots and parsnips in a pot or Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset, that's large enough for the vegetables to lie flat. Add the shallots, orange zest, 3/4 cup of the orange juice, the olive oil, thyme, red pepper flakes, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
• Place the pot on the stove and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover tightly with a lid or heavy-duty foil. Transfer to the oven and cook for 1 1/2 hours, until the carrots and parsnips are very tender. Discard the thyme bundle. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of orange juice and the parsley and season to taste. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.

BRAISED FENNEL

Steps:

• Cut the green stalks from the top of the white fennel bulbs and cut the brown, round stump from the base. Cut fronds from stalks. Chop the fronds and set aside 2 tablespoons for serving. Cut bulbs in half 4 times, making 8 wedges out of each.
• Melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Add fennel wedges, flat-side down, and brown for 3 minutes. Flip and cook for about 2 minutes more. Add garlic and thyme and cook for 30 seconds. Add wine and deglaze the pot, scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Let wine reduce by half. Pour in chicken broth and orange juice.
• Reduce heat to medium. Cover and simmer until fennel is very tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Plate fennel. Sprinkle with salt and garnish with orange zest and fennel fronds.

BRAISED FENNEL WITH LEMON

Steps:

• Trim the tops and bottoms from the fennel bulbs, reserving about 1/4 cup of the fronds. Halve the bulbs; cut out and discard the tough cores. Cut into 1-inch thick wedges.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid over medium-high heat until very hot but not smoking. Add the fennel and cook, stirring once, until the fennel is browned, about 7 minutes.
• Add 1/2 cup water to the skillet, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper. Lower the heat to medium, cover the skillet, and cook until the fennel is very tender, adding more liquid if needed, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, zest half the lemon and juice the whole lemon; chop the reserved fennel fronds.
• Remove the skillet from the heat and uncover. Stir in the lemon juice and zest. Scatter the chopped fronds over the top.

BRAISED FENNEL WITH MUSTARD GREENS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat olive oil over low heat. Add the fennel, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the fennel is light brown around the edges and soft, 15 to 20 minutes. Pour in the wine. Turn up the heat and cook until the wine is evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the mustard greens and cook, stirring until wilted. Serve immediately.

BRAISED PARSNIPS WITH MAPLE SYRUP AND PECANS

Steps:

• 1. Heat butter a small saucepan over medium-high heat. When the butter melts and starts to get brown, add the pecans, cumin and coriander. Stir the pecans and "toast" them with the spices for a minute. Remove the pecans from the pan and set aside. Add the maple syrup and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes; remove from heat and set aside.
• 2. Place the parsnips in a large skillet and cover with water. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook the parsnips 15 to 20 minutes or until the parsnips are tender when pierced with the tip of a knife. Note: I often find recipes don't give me enough liquid to work with. Parsnips can vary in size so feel free to add a splash of water to finish the cooking process, if needed. Drain off any remaining liquid. Sprinkle the parsnips with salt and toss with reserved maple syrup mixture and seasoned pecans. Serve immediately.

BRAISED FENNEL

Steps:

• Trim stalks flush with fennel bulb and cut each bulb lengthwise into quarters, or halves, if using small bulbs.
• In a heavy saucepan large enough to hold the fennel flat in one layer, melt 1 tablespoon butter over moderate heat.
• Add fennel garlic, thyme, and toss to coat with butter.
• Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Add wine and chicken stock.
• Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cover.
• Braise for 15 to 20 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.
• Stir in remaining tablespoon butter.
• Reseason with salt and pepper, to taste.