Caramelized Fennel Recipes

CARAMELIZED PANCETTA AND FENNEL SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, toss together fennel, pancetta, garlic, brown sugar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place the ingredients on the baking sheet in a single layer. Cook until the pancetta is crisp and the fennel is caramelized, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes.
• In a large bowl, place the salad greens, crumbled pancetta, and caramelized fennel. Toss the salad with the Red Wine Vinaigrette and serve immediately.
• Mix the vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper in a blender. With the machine running gradually blend in the oil. Season the vinaigrette, to taste, with more salt and pepper, if desired.
• Yield: scant 1/2 cup
• Prep Time: 5 minutes

CARAMELIZED FENNEL AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Cook fennel and onions in olive oil and butter: Heat olive oil and butter in a large, uncovered, wide pan on medium high heat. Add the sliced fennel and onions and stir to coat. Stir occasionally. After about 10 minutes, sprinkle the onions and fennel with salt. Lower the temperature to medium. You want to strike a balance between allowing the pan to get hot enough so that some caramelization (when the natural sugars in the onion and fennel start to brown) and keeping the pot from getting so hot that the onions and fennel dry out. If it becomes an issue, you can add a couple tablespoons of water to the pan to help the onions and fennel to keep from drying out too much.
• Scrape up browned bits: Stir occasionally, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Note that the browned bits are the tastiest parts. Cook for another 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how much of a hurry you're in, and how caramelized you want your mixture to be. The longer you cook, the more caramelized and browned. Taste test along the way to see if the cooking has been sufficient for your taste. By the way, the onions and fennel will have plenty of flavor without having to be completely cooked down and browned all over.
• Toss with Parmesan, parsley, lemon: When ready to serve, remove from heat and toss in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese, the chopped parsley, lemon zest and lemon juice. Taste and add more lemon juice if necessary. Serve alone as a side to chicken or seafood, or on crackers or thinly sliced toasted baguette for a crostini. You can also use it as a filling for a rustic tart . Links: How to Slice an Onion

BRAISED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH CARAMELIZED FENNEL

Steps:

• Trim fennel bulbs, and set aside fronds. In a blender or food processor, pulse about 1/2 cup fronds, garlic, lemon zest and 1/4 teaspoon salt until finely chopped. Add 1/3 cup oil and purée.
• Halve fennel bulbs lengthwise. Slice thinly with a mandoline or very sharp knife.
• Season chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over high heat. Brown chicken until skin is crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate, leaving drippings in pan.
• Stir fennel seeds into skillet and cook for 30 seconds. Add sliced fennel and onion, seasoning with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Reduce heat to medium and cook, tossing occasionally, until vegetables are caramelized, 15 to 20 minutes. Add Pernod and scrape up any browned bits in the bottom of the skillet; cook until liquid has evaporated, about 1 minute.
• Lay chicken on top of the fennel-onion mixture. Pour 3 tablespoons water into the pan. Cover skillet and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook until chicken is just cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Uncover and cook off any excess liquid if necessary. Stir in lemon juice.
• Serve chicken and vegetables topped with generous dollops of the fennel frond purée.

CARAMELIZED FENNEL TARTS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute fennel in oil until softened. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, uncovered, until deep golden brown, stirring occasionally, 40 minutes. Stir in the thyme, vinegar, salt and pepper. Preheat oven to 400°., Unfold each puff pastry sheet onto an ungreased baking sheet. Using a knife, score 1 in. from the edges of each pastry. Spread fennel mixture to within 1/2 in. of edges. , Bake until golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Cut each tart into 12 pieces. If desired, top with reserved fennel fronds. Freeze option: Freeze cooled pastries in a freezer container, separating layers with waxed paper. To use, reheat pastries on an ungreased baking sheet in a preheated 400° oven until crisp and heated through.

CARAMELIZED ONION AND FENNEL RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a heavy pot or Dutch oven, heat oil and 2 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat. When butter is melted, add sliced onion and fennel and stir until coated. Cover the pan and cook slowly until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in salt and sugar. Raise heat to medium-high and cook, stirring frequently until onions are dark brown, about 25-30 minutes.
• Simmer broth in a separate pot on the stove.
• To the onions and fennel, add garlic, Arborio rice and herbs. Cook, stirring frequently until the rice is translucent around the edges, about 3 minutes. Add wine and cook, stirring frequently, until fully absorbed, 4 to 5 minutes. When the wine is fully absorbed, add 2 cups hot broth and simmer, stirring every 3 to 4 minutes until liquid is absorbed, about 12 minutes. Stir in another 1/2 cup of hot broth and cook, stirring constantly until absorbed. Repeat with additional broth 2 or 3 more times, until rice is al dente. Remove risotto from heat and stir in remaining 1 tablespoon butter and Parmesan. Serve.

CARAMELIZED FENNEL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Put the fennel in boiling salted water for about 7 minutes, or until fork tender.
• Drain and arrange in one layer on a baking pan. Drizzle some extra-virgin olive oil on the fennel and salt and pepper, to taste.
• Sprinkle the cheese and bread crumbs on the fennel. Roast in the oven until golden brown, approximately 20 to 30 minutes.

CARAMELIZED FENNEL AND ONIONS

Steps:

• In a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid, heat extra-virgin olive oil over medium-high. Add fennel and onion, and season with coarse salt and ground pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and cook 5 to 7 minutes. Uncover, add 1 tablespoon water, and cook, stirring constantly, until golden brown and soft, 2 minutes.

FENNEL WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• In a skillet cook onion in olive oil over low heat, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes.
• Cook and cover for 10 minutes more, stirring occasionally or until onions are very tender and edges are golden.
• Add balsamic vinegar and cook and stir until the onions are coated.
• Meanwhile, trim fennel; chop enough of the green tops to make 2 tablespoons.
• Cut each fennel bulb lengthwise into 6 wedges.
• In a medium saucepan cook fennel, covered, in chicken broth for 10-12 minutes or until tender. Drain.
• Arrange fennel wedges on a serving plate. Top with onions and sprinkle with nuts and reserved fennel fronds.

MARINATED PORK WITH CARAMELIZED FENNEL

Steps:

• In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the first nine ingredients; add pork. Seal bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight., Place fennel in a large bowl; drizzle with 4-1/2 teaspoons oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; toss to coat. Transfer to an ungreased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake at 450° for 30-35 minutes or until tender, stirring once., Meanwhile, drain and discard marinade. In a large ovenproof skillet, brown pork in remaining oil on all sides. Place skillet in oven; bake pork for 18-22 minutes or until a thermometer reads 145°. , Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing. Serve with roasted fennel. Garnish with fennel fronds if desired.

SCALLOPED POTATOES WITH CARAMELIZED FENNEL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 13x9x2" or other 3-quart baking dish with 1 tablespoon butter; set aside.
• Heat remaining 1 tablespoon butter and oil in a large deep skillet over medium heat. Add fennel; season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until fennel is evenly coated with fat and begins to sizzle, about 2 minutes. Add wine and 1 bay leaf. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until fennel is tender, about 20 minutes.
• Uncover, increase heat to medium-high, and cook, stirring often, until liquid has evaporated and fennel is golden brown and caramelized, about 10 minutes. Add 1-2 tablespoons water to deglaze pan, scraping up any browned bits from bottom of pan for added flavor. Discard bay leaf. Set fennel aside.
• Bring remaining bay leaf, potatoes, cream, milk, and garlic to a simmer in a large wide pot (watch carefully; do not let mixture boil over). Season with salt and pepper and cover with lid slightly ajar; simmer gently until potatoes are just tender and liquid has thickened, about 10 minutes. Discard bay leaf and garlic.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer 1/3 of potatoes to prepared dish, spreading in an even layer. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with 1/3 cup Comté. Cover with half of fennel. Repeat process, finishing with remaining 1/3 cup Comté. Pour cream mixture over. Cover gratin tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake gratin until top is bubbling and golden, about 30 minutes longer. DO AHEAD: Gratin can be made 1 day ahead. Let cool; cover and chill. Rewarm, covered, in a 350°F oven for 20 minutes, then uncover and cook until bubbling around edges and warmed through in the center, about 20 minutes longer.

CARAMELIZED FENNEL AND BRIE DIP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook the fennel for 6 minutes or until soft and caramelized. Combine the caramelized fennel with the thyme, Brie, and Parmesan in an ovenproof serving dish.
• Just before serving, put the dish under a hot broiler until the dip is bubbling and golden brown.
• Sprinkle chile flakes over the dip and serve it with radicchio leaves and lavash crackers or toasted bread.