25 Truly Fabulous Fennel Recipes From crisp salads to seafood dishes, these fennel recipes are sure to please. Close Credit: Bryan Gardner Often likened in taste to licorice, fennel is in fact far more subtle with a texture similar to celery. Additionally, unlike licorice, the flavor is savory, not sweet. When left raw, fennel is cool and crunchy, while the cooked version is mellow and soft. The latter is wonderful alongside fish or chicken or tossed with pasta. If you're new to cooking with fennel, the aromatic vegetable might seem intimidating at first. As a staple in Indian and Middle Eastern recipes, fennel works well with such dishes, so consider these cuisines when planning your menu. Ready to give it a try? Turn to these flavorful fennel recipes for inspiration today. How to Buy Fennel At the grocery store, fennel is easily identifiable: It has a fat white bulb (like an onion) and a feathery top of green stalks and fluffy fronds (though some grocers cut these parts off). Choose firm, greenish-white fennel bulbs with no soft or brown spots. If the fronds are still attached to the bulb, they should be bright green with no signs of wilting. How to Store Fennel Wrapped in a paper bag and refrigerated, fennel can last three to five days. But, as bulbs tend to dry out over time, it's best to use them as soon as possible. How to Cut Fennel the Right Way? 01 of 25 Braised Fish With Fennel and Tomato Credit: Marcus Nilsson Elevate your next seafood spread with a fennel-infused braising liquid. Any firm-fleshed fish works for this recipe, including grouper, sea bass, halibut, or snapper. View Recipe 02 of 25 Chicken, Fennel, and Artichoke Fricassee Credit: Johnny Miller Ready in less than 30 minutes, this one-skillet dish makes good use of a whole chicken. Fricassee is a French stew made with browned meat, resulting in a flavorful meal; this fennel iteration is no exception. View Recipe 03 of 25 Orange-Fennel-Olive Relish Credit: Nico Schinco Brighten up your next seafood, poultry, or grain dish with this vibrant orange-fennel-olive relish. For the best flavor, pick oranges that are heavy for their size and free of soft spots. View Recipe 04 of 25 Labneh Dip With Caramelized Onions and Fennel Don't let onions have all the caramelized fun! Fennel lends depth of flavor, as does the addition of fresh thyme, dry sherry, and Worcestershire sauce. Serve over garlic-spiked labneh for a truly unforgettable dip. View Recipe 05 of 25 Braised Lamb Shanks With Tomato and Fennel The sweetness of cooked fennel is the perfect partner for lamb shanks, which boast a distinct gamey flavor. Serve with polenta, quinoa, rice, or your favorite grain. View Recipe 06 of 25 Shaved Fennel, Zucchini, and Celery Salad Credit: Marcus Nilsson Very thinly sliced celery, fennel, and zucchini are tossed with butter beans and a simple white-wine vinaigrette, then chilled for an hour to allow the flavors to develop in this fuss-free salad. Stir in toasted almonds just before serving. View Recipe 07 of 25 Caramelized Fennel, Celery, and Sardine Pasta Credit: Brie Goldman Fennel and celery are cooked until tender and golden, then tossed with whole-wheat pasta, lemon zest, and canned sardines in this light dinner. It's ready in just 25 minutes! View Recipe 08 of 25 Oil-Poached Halibut With Fennel, Tomatoes, and Mashed Potatoes Credit: Ryan Liebe Poaching fish in oil guarantees a succulent and delicious meal. In this recipe, extra-virgin olive oil is used to cook halibut, fennel, cherry tomatoes, and olives, then incorporated into mashed potatoes for a buttery dish. View Recipe 09 of 25 Farro Salad With Fennel, Golden Raisins, and Radicchio Credit: Marcus Nilsson Crisp fennel complements the chewy, nutty farro in this salad. Radicchio, fresh mint, and lemon juice make the dish bright and refreshing. View Recipe 10 of 25 Rigatoni With Sausage and Fennel This pasta dish strikes the perfect balance between hearty and healthy thanks to the combo of Italian sausage and a bevy of vegetables—fennel, carrots, and arugula. Lemon and Parmesan tie all the flavors together. View Recipe 11 of 25 Broiled Striped Bass With Tomatoes and Fennel Credit: David Malosh Meaty striped bass joins fennel, cherry tomatoes, and Kalamata olives under the broiler in this 30-minute sheet-pan supper. View Recipe 12 of 25 Shaved Radish, Fennel, and Parmesan Salad The mild licorice scent of fresh fennel is a lovely match for spicy radishes and nutty Parmesan. The salad is tossed with a lemony mustard vinaigrette and garnished with fennel fronds. View Recipe 13 of 25 Roasted Turkey Rubbed With Coriander, Black Pepper, and Fennel Credit: Louise Hagger Roasting a whole turkey is made easy with this hearty main. Separate the legs, breast, and wings, add a homemade spice rub, then roast with sliced onion and fennel. View Recipe 14 of 25 Fennel and Orange Salad Credit: Con Poulos Juicy orange slices and crunchy fennel come together in this winter side salad. When tossed with white-wine vinegar and olive oil, the combination will transform into a sweet-and-savory delight. View Recipe 15 of 25 Chipotle-Shrimp Tacos With Fennel and Beans Credit: Con Poulos Give your next Taco Tuesday a tasty twist with these chipotle shrimp tacos. Grill shrimp until opaque and charred, then serve with a lime-tinged fennel slaw and pinto beans. View Recipe 16 of 25 Seafood in Fennel Broth Credit: William Abranowicz Savor the best of the sea with this clam, shrimp, and white fish stew. The entire dish is cooked in the oven, letting you save space on the stovetop. View Recipe 17 of 25 Sea Scallops Over Shallot-Herb Pasta Credit: Elizabeth Cecil Grilled scallops and fennel are served atop a bed of pasta, complete with a herby sauce. Feel free to mix and match any fresh herbs you have on hand, from refreshing mint to savory basil. View Recipe 18 of 25 Salmon With Fennel, Bell Peppers, and Olives Credit: Johnny Miller Orange wedges, fennel, bell pepper, and salmon are baked together in this one-pan recipe. Squeeze the cooked oranges over the fish for a burst of citrus goodness. View Recipe 19 of 25 Tricolor-Salad Pizza Credit: Lennart Weibull This fresh and inspired recipe uses a quick homemade dough and toppings such as radicchio, fennel, and cherry tomatoes to bring a little of the garden to pizza night. View Recipe 20 of 25 Roasted Fennel and Artichoke Hearts Fresh fennel and canned artichokes make a surprisingly delicious pairing when roasted together at a high heat. Finish with olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, and fennel fronds. View Recipe 21 of 25 Spanish Cod With Chorizo and Fennel Credit: Sidney Bensimon Cooking en papillote, or cooking fish in parchment, is a French technique that ensures a juicy and moist result. In this recipe, cod is tucked into a parchment paper packet with fennel, chorizo, cherry tomatoes, orange, and garlic for a delectable meal. View Recipe 22 of 25 Orange-Fennel-Olive Relish Credit: Nico Schinco Quick and easy to make, this bright-orange relish is a perfect topping to pan-seared salmon, but it's also great on grilled chicken cutlets or tossed into a salad with cooked grains and feta. View Recipe 23 of 25 Pork Rib Roast With Apples, Fennel, and Potatoes Credit: Lennart Weibull This pork rib roast tastes just as elegant as it looks. Caramelized apples, onions, and fennel add sweetness and depth of flavor, while buttery baby potatoes round it all out. View Recipe 24 of 25 Italian Pulled Pork Credit: Linda Pugliese Take a break from barbecue sauce with this Italian-inspired iteration. Toasted fennel, herbs, and dried chile flavor this pulled pork recipe, which yields enough to serve 10 to 12 people. View Recipe 25 of 25 Summer Waldorf With Yogurt-Tarragon Dressing Credit: Bryan Gardner Crunchy fennel and lettuce take center stage in this reimagined Waldorf salad. Pair the vegetables with chicken, juicy plums, and toasted almonds, then top it all off with a homemade tarragon dressing. View Recipe Explore more: Food & Cooking Recipes