Caramelized Fennel Recipes

CARAMELIZED FENNEL TARTS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute fennel in oil until softened. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, uncovered, until deep golden brown, stirring occasionally, 40 minutes. Stir in the thyme, vinegar, salt and pepper. Preheat oven to 400°., Unfold each puff pastry sheet onto an ungreased baking sheet. Using a knife, score 1 in. from the edges of each pastry. Spread fennel mixture to within 1/2 in. of edges. , Bake until golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Cut each tart into 12 pieces. If desired, top with reserved fennel fronds. Freeze option: Freeze cooled pastries in a freezer container, separating layers with waxed paper. To use, reheat pastries on an ungreased baking sheet in a preheated 400° oven until crisp and heated through.

CARAMELIZED FENNEL AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Cook fennel and onions in olive oil and butter: Heat olive oil and butter in a large, uncovered, wide pan on medium high heat. Add the sliced fennel and onions and stir to coat. Stir occasionally. After about 10 minutes, sprinkle the onions and fennel with salt. Lower the temperature to medium. You want to strike a balance between allowing the pan to get hot enough so that some caramelization (when the natural sugars in the onion and fennel start to brown) and keeping the pot from getting so hot that the onions and fennel dry out. If it becomes an issue, you can add a couple tablespoons of water to the pan to help the onions and fennel to keep from drying out too much.
• Scrape up browned bits: Stir occasionally, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Note that the browned bits are the tastiest parts. Cook for another 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how much of a hurry you're in, and how caramelized you want your mixture to be. The longer you cook, the more caramelized and browned. Taste test along the way to see if the cooking has been sufficient for your taste. By the way, the onions and fennel will have plenty of flavor without having to be completely cooked down and browned all over.
• Toss with Parmesan, parsley, lemon: When ready to serve, remove from heat and toss in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese, the chopped parsley, lemon zest and lemon juice. Taste and add more lemon juice if necessary. Serve alone as a side to chicken or seafood, or on crackers or thinly sliced toasted baguette for a crostini. You can also use it as a filling for a rustic tart . Links: How to Slice an Onion

CARAMELIZED FENNEL AND ONIONS

Steps:

• In a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid, heat extra-virgin olive oil over medium-high. Add fennel and onion, and season with coarse salt and ground pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and cook 5 to 7 minutes. Uncover, add 1 tablespoon water, and cook, stirring constantly, until golden brown and soft, 2 minutes.

CARAMELIZED FENNEL, CELERY, AND SARDINE PASTA

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large straight-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Add fennel, celery, and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until tender and deep golden, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Meanwhile, bring a pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water; drain.
• Add pasta and pasta water to skillet with vegetables. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring to coat pasta, until warmed through, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in fennel fronds, celery leaves, and lemon zest. Break up sardines into large pieces and gently fold into pasta. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with oil.

CARAMELIZED FENNEL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Put the fennel in boiling salted water for about 7 minutes, or until fork tender.
• Drain and arrange in one layer on a baking pan. Drizzle some extra-virgin olive oil on the fennel and salt and pepper, to taste.
• Sprinkle the cheese and bread crumbs on the fennel. Roast in the oven until golden brown, approximately 20 to 30 minutes.

CARAMELIZED FENNEL AND WHITE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat a large sauce pot over medium high heat. Add 3 to 4 tablespoons of olive oil. Once oil is hot, add fennel bulb, fresh thyme, and butter. Allow to cook until the fennel begins to turn golden amber brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Add white wine and garlic. Add vegetable stock and white beans. Reduce heat and allow soup to come to a gentle simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Serve by ladling 5 to 6 ounces of soup into a bowl. Garnish with a few fresh thyme leaves and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil. See Cook's Note.

LABNEH DIP WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND FENNEL

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium. Add onions, fennel, thyme, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring often, until brown, about 45 minutes. (If necessary, add a splash of water to keep onions from sticking.) Add sherry and Worcestershire; cook until evaporated, about 5 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Stir together labneh, garlic, and 1 teaspoon salt. Spread into a bowl or plate; top with onion mixture. Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon oil, sprinkle with more thyme, and serve with crackers and crudités.

FENNEL WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• In a skillet cook onion in olive oil over low heat, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes.
• Cook and cover for 10 minutes more, stirring occasionally or until onions are very tender and edges are golden.
• Add balsamic vinegar and cook and stir until the onions are coated.
• Meanwhile, trim fennel; chop enough of the green tops to make 2 tablespoons.
• Cut each fennel bulb lengthwise into 6 wedges.
• In a medium saucepan cook fennel, covered, in chicken broth for 10-12 minutes or until tender. Drain.
• Arrange fennel wedges on a serving plate. Top with onions and sprinkle with nuts and reserved fennel fronds.

SCALLOPED POTATOES WITH CARAMELIZED FENNEL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 13x9x2" or other 3-quart baking dish with 1 tablespoon butter; set aside.
• Heat remaining 1 tablespoon butter and oil in a large deep skillet over medium heat. Add fennel; season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until fennel is evenly coated with fat and begins to sizzle, about 2 minutes. Add wine and 1 bay leaf. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until fennel is tender, about 20 minutes.
• Uncover, increase heat to medium-high, and cook, stirring often, until liquid has evaporated and fennel is golden brown and caramelized, about 10 minutes. Add 1-2 tablespoons water to deglaze pan, scraping up any browned bits from bottom of pan for added flavor. Discard bay leaf. Set fennel aside.
• Bring remaining bay leaf, potatoes, cream, milk, and garlic to a simmer in a large wide pot (watch carefully; do not let mixture boil over). Season with salt and pepper and cover with lid slightly ajar; simmer gently until potatoes are just tender and liquid has thickened, about 10 minutes. Discard bay leaf and garlic.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer 1/3 of potatoes to prepared dish, spreading in an even layer. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with 1/3 cup Comté. Cover with half of fennel. Repeat process, finishing with remaining 1/3 cup Comté. Pour cream mixture over. Cover gratin tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake gratin until top is bubbling and golden, about 30 minutes longer. DO AHEAD: Gratin can be made 1 day ahead. Let cool; cover and chill. Rewarm, covered, in a 350°F oven for 20 minutes, then uncover and cook until bubbling around edges and warmed through in the center, about 20 minutes longer.

CARAMELIZED FENNEL AND BRIE DIP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook the fennel for 6 minutes or until soft and caramelized. Combine the caramelized fennel with the thyme, Brie, and Parmesan in an ovenproof serving dish.
• Just before serving, put the dish under a hot broiler until the dip is bubbling and golden brown.
• Sprinkle chile flakes over the dip and serve it with radicchio leaves and lavash crackers or toasted bread.