Fennel Pita Toasts Recipes

TOASTED PITA CHIPS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cut each pita bread in quarters and each quarter in half to make 8 triangles. Place them in a single layer on a sheet pan and sprinkle lightly with olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake for about 10 minutes, until crisp, turning once.

TOMATO-FENNEL SOUP WITH BRIE TOASTS

Steps:

• Melt 6 tablespoons butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add fennel, onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Toss to combine. Reduce heat to medium-low. Partly cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are very tender, about 20 minutes. Stir in garlic and chile powder; cook 1 minute. Stir in Pernod and cook until almost completely evaporated, about 3 minutes.
• Pour in tomatoes, 1 1/2 cups water and the stock. Bring to a simmer and cook gently, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and the black pepper. Purée soup in batches using a blender or immersion blender until smooth.
• Transfer soup back to pot over medium heat; simmer until slightly thickened, 5 to 10 minutes more. Scrape down sides and bottom of pot occasionally. Remove from heat and cover to keep warm.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread bread slices on a large baking sheet. Bake until light golden, about 10 minutes.
• Toast fennel seeds in a small skillet over medium heat until fragrant and lightly colored, 2 to 3 minutes. Melt in remaining 1 tablespoon butter.
• Adjust oven temperature to broil and position rack 6 inches from heat. Brush toasts with fennel-seed butter and top with Brie. Return to oven and broil until bubbly and golden, 1 to 3 minutes (check every minute or so to see that they are not burning). Ladle soup into bowls and top with a cheese crouton. Garnish with fennel fronds.

PITA TOASTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375° F.
• Halve pitas horizontally to form 8 rounds and lightly brush rough sides with oil. Season pitas with salt and cut each round into 6 wedges.
• Arrange wedges in one layer on 2 baking sheets and bake in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, 10 to 15 minutes, or until golden and crisp. Cool toasts. Toasts may be made 1 day ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.

FENNEL-CRUSTED PORK TENDERLOIN WITH CRISP PITA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Coat pork with garlic and fennel seed, then season with salt and pepper. Cook until browned on all sides, 4 minutes total. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet (reserve skillet) and roast, turning occasionally, until cooked through, 15 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board, tent with foil, and let rest 10 minutes.
• On a baking sheet, brush tops of pitas with oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake until edges are golden, 8 minutes. Cut into wedges.
• Divide arugula, parsley, and carrots among 4 plates. Slice pork into rounds and add to salad. Remove any dark garlic bits from skillet, add vinegar and any accumulated juices from board, and swirl to combine. Drizzle sauce on pork and serve with pitas.

FENNEL PITA TOASTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350° F.
• On a cutting board with side of a knife lightly crush fennel seeds. Brush top of pita with oil and sprinkle with crushed fennel and coarse salt. On a baking sheet bake pita in middle of oven until golden and crisp, about 3 minutes.
• Cut pita into 4 wedges.