Braised Fall Vegetables with Coriander

• VEGETARIAN

Ingredients

1. 2 tablespoons olive oil
2. 1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced
3. 2 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
4. 1 tablespoon crushed coriander seeds
5. 2 bay leaves
6. 2 cups dry white wine
7. 2 cups vegetable stock, chicken stock or canned low-sodium broth
8. 1 teaspoon sugar
9. Pinch of cayenne pepper
10. 1 fennel bulb, trimmed and cut lengthwise into eighths
11. 16 baby carrots
12. Salt
13. 1 zucchini, cut into 2-by-1/2-inch strips
14. 1 red bell pepper, cut into 2-by-1/2-inch strips
15. 1 tablespoon hazelnut oil
16. Watercress sprigs, for garnish

1. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion and cook over moderate heat until softened but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Wrap the coriander seeds and bay leaves in cheesecloth and tie with string. Stir the herb bundle into the saucepan along with the wine, stock, sugar and cayenne and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
2. Add the fennel, carrots and a little salt to the saucepan and simmer over moderate heat until almost tender, about 10 minutes. Add the zucchini and bell pepper and simmer until all the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the vegetables to a bowl. Boil the cooking liquid until flavorful and slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Discard herb bundle.
3. Remove the pan from the heat and let the cooking liquid cool to lukewarm, then stir in the hazelnut oil. Season with salt; add more cayenne or hazelnut oil if needed. Pour the cooking liquid over the vegetables, scatter the watercress sprigs sparingly over the top and serve warm or at room temperature.