Sautéed Fennel Recipes

CARAMELIZED FENNEL AND ONIONS - A SLOW, EASY MEDITERRANEAN SIDE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet uncovered over medium-high heat. Add the sliced fennel and onions and stir to coat. Stir occasionally, after 10 minutes sprinkle the vegetables with about a teaspoon salt. Lower the temperature to medium. You want the pan hot enough to get the caramelization going but not so much that the fennel and onions dry out. If that does happen, add a tablespoon or two of water.
• Stir occasionally, scraping up any bits that are on the bottom. The brown bits are the ones with the most flavor. Cook for another 30 minutes or up to an hour, depending on how impatient you are. The longer it cooks the more caramelized the onions and fennel become. Taste test along the way. The dish will have a lot of flavor and doesn't have to be cooked down all the way.
• When ready to serve, remove the pan from the heat, add in the grated Parmesan cheese, the chopped parsley, lemon zest, and lemon juice, and black pepper.
• Sprinkle with slivered basil leaves, if desired. Or serve with the fennel fronds.
• Pan roasted fennel is excellent served with Italian sausages, pork chops, roast chicken, seafood, or on crostini. I can't think of anything that I wouldn't serve with it.

SAUTéED FENNEL

Steps:

• Cut off the leafy tops and fibrous stalks and trim off the root ends from fennel bulbs. If you want, save some of the feathery leaves to chop and use later to garnish the dish before serving. Peel away any bruised outer layers. Cut the bulbs in half and then slice fairly thin. Heat a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Pour in enough oil to coat the bottom generously and add the cut fennel. Let the fennel brown for a few minutes undisturbed. Start tossing or stirring occasionally and continue to cook until the fennel is tender. Season with salt, fresh-ground black pepper, and the chopped fennel leaves. Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice or a pinch of dried chile flakes.

SAUTEED FENNEL

Steps:

• Heat a medium saute pan over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add the oil, garlic, fennel, and start tossing, to coat fennel in oil. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. As the fennel starts to caramelize, add a splash of water to steam for 1 minute. Remove from the heat.

SAUTEED FENNEL AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium sized skillet over medium heat; add fennel and cook, stirring occasionally until translucent, about 10 minutes.
• Add leeks, season with salt and pepper, cook 5 minutes more,.
• Stir in lemon zest and butter, adjust seasonings, serve.

SAUTéED FENNEL WITH ALMONDS, RAISINS, AND SAFFRON

Steps:

• Slice fennel lengthwise 1/4 inch thick. Coarsely crush almonds by firmly rolling over them with a rolling pin.
• Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then sauté fennel with garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper until crisp-tender, about 6 minutes. Stir in almonds, raisins, coriander, zest, juice, and saffron and sauté until raisins start to plump, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in cilantro just before serving at room temperature.

SAUTEED FENNEL AND CARROTS

Steps:

• Trim stalks and cut fennel bulb lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick strips, discarding core. Cut carrots into 1/4-inch-thick sticks.
• Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté fennel and carrots with salt to taste, stirring occasionally, until they begin to brown. Add wine, water, and sugar and simmer, covered, 5 minutes. Boil, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until liquid is evaporated and vegetables are tender. Season with salt and pepper.

SAUTEED FENNEL

Steps:

• Heat a medium saute pan over medium-high heat until just smoking.
• Add the oil, garlic, fennel, and start tossing, to coat fennel in oil.
• Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• As the fennel starts to caramelize, add a splash of water to steam for 1 minute.
• Remove from the heat.

SAUTEED FENNEL, CAPERS AND ARUGULA

Steps:

• Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add fennel, leek, bell pepper, capers and olives. Sauté until fennel is crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Add arugula and sauté 1 minute. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.