Citrus And Fennel Braised Recipes

BRAISED FENNEL WITH MEYER LEMON AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Trim the fennel and roughly chop 1 tablespoon of the fronds. Halve each bulb through the core, then cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick slices.
• Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add just enough oil to coat the pan. When hot, cook half the fennel, without moving, until browned, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook 1 minute more. Transfer to a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Repeat with the remaining fennel, adding more oil to the pan if needed.
• Return the skillet to medium-high heat. Add the fennel, broth, lemon rind and juice and bring to a boil. Simmer, covered, until tender, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a bowl. Raise the heat to high and reduce the sauce until syrupy, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Fold the sauce and reserved fronds into the fennel and top with Parmesan. Serve warm or at room temperature.

ROMAN-STYLE BRAISED FENNEL

Steps:

• In a 12-inch high-sided skillet, melt butter over medium. Add shallots, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly golden, about 5 minutes. Add oil and garlic, and stir until fragrant, 1 minute. Add fennel, wine, lemon juice, oregano, parsley and 1½ cups of water, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over high, stirring to evenly coat the fennel in the liquid. Arrange the fennel in an even layer.
• Cover, reduce heat to medium and braise until fennel is tender, about 30 minutes, stirring and flipping halfway through.
• Transfer fennel to a serving platter, and spoon over the shallots and sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley, and serve warm or at room temperature.

CITRUS AND FENNEL BRAISED

Steps:

• Two days before serving, in a large, nonreactive container, combine the fennel seed, bay leaves, orange, garlic, savory, cinnamon and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the meat and rub to coat. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Wipe the marinade ingredients from the meat and reserve along with any liquid. In a braising pan fitted with a lid, heat the remaining olive oil over medium heat. Sear the meat well on all sides. Transfer to a plate. Add the onions and sauté until they begin to caramelize, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the reserved marinade ingredients and simmer for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and their juice and cook over high heat until reduced by half, about 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Add the wines to the pan and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes. Return the meat to the pan, cover snugly with foil, then cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid. Braise, undisturbed, for 3 hours, or until a fork slides through the meat with little or no resistance. If necessary, continue to cook until tender, checking every 10 minutes.
• Transfer the meat to a platter. Pass the braising liquids and solids through a food mill and return them to the pan. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the meat to the pan and let cool. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Reheat the pan, 30 to 45 minutes, until heated through. To serve, thinly slice using a very sharp knife. Spoon some of the braising liquid over the top. If desired, serve with creamy polenta or mashed potatoes.