Ingredients Seasonings Spices Fennel 7 Ways to Use Fennel Fennel can be used in a myriad of ways — raw or cooked, in either sweet or savory applications. By Kristin Donnelly Kristin Donnelly Kristin Donnelly is a writer with nearly two decades of experience crafting stories and recipes for editorial publications, books, and brands. She was a food editor at Food & Wine for eight years. Kristin is the author of two cookbooks and co-host of the Everything Cookbook podcast. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 29, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: © JOHN KERNICK This Mediterranean vegetable, at its peak in spring and fall, has a strong anise flavor and crisp texture that's delicious in salads when raw. When cooked, fennel softens and the flavor becomes sweet and mild. Most cooks use only the bulb, but you can treat the feathery fronds as an herb and stuff the stalks into whole fish before roasting. 1. Drinks © Paul Costello Fennel has been shown to aid in digestion. Muddle the fronds and mix with Campari, the bitter aperitif, and boom: a cocktail that will cure all stomach ills. Get the Recipe: Campari-Fennel Apertif 2. Risotto © Frances Janisch Add sautéed fennel to a basic saffron risotto or one made with sausage. Get the Recipe: Fennel and Sausage Risotto Chefs' Favorite Ways to Cook Fennel 3. Braised © Tina Rupp Brown and then gently simmer wedges of fennel in an aromatic wine for a simple side dish to serve alongside fish or lamb. Get the Recipe: Roasted Halibut with Wine-Braised Fennel 4. Pizza © JOHN KERNICK To really bring out fennel's anise flavor, cook it in Pernod, then use it as a topping for pizza. Get the Recipe: Fennel and Sweet Onion Pizza with Green Olives Pizza Recipes to Master 5. Soup © MARCUS NILSSON Add diced fennel to any gazpacho or seafood chowder recipe. Get the Recipe: Smoky Oyster Chowder with Bacon, Rosemary, and Fennel 6. Tomato sauce © Quentin Bacon Add diced fennel to tomato sauce for pasta or for braising eggs — a dish known as shakshuka in the Middle East. Get the Recipe: Shakshuka with Fennel and Feta 7. Cake Carrots aren't the only vegetable that taste good in dessert. Fennel adds a very grown-up flavor to this nutty cake. Get the Recipe: Fennel Cake with Anise Syrup How to Make Carrot Cake Marmalade Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit