Spicy Fennel Bread Recipes

SPICY FENNEL BREAD

Steps:

• Combine water, yeast, and sugar in a measuring cup. Mix well.
• Combine flour, fennel seeds, salt, red pepper flakes, onion, and garlic in a large bowl. Mix well until combined and any flour clumps are broken up. Slowly pour in the yeast-water mixture and stir into the flour.
• Knead the bread by hand until dough is well combined and you have an even consistency. Transfer to an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rest on the countertop, 10 to 14 hours.
• Remove dough onto the counter and knead once more. Let rise, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• While bread rises, preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Sprinkle the bottom of an oven-safe Dutch oven with flour, cover with the lid, and place in the oven while it preheats.
• Remove the Dutch oven and carefully place the dough in the pot; cover with the lid.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and continue to bake until golden, about 30 minutes more. Remove from the oven and place on a rack to cool.

SPICY FENNEL SHRIMP

Steps:

• Place shrimp in a bowl and season with fennel, red pepper flakes, lots of salt and pepper, the zest of 2 lemons. Add garlic and oil and use your hands to coat shrimp evenly. Heat a skillet to medium-high and cook shrimp until pink and firm, douse pan with the juice of 2 lemons and serve immediately.

HERBED SPICY SAUSAGE AND FENNEL BAKED PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until the garlic is golden, about 2 minutes. Add both cans of the tomatoes and 1 cup of water. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat slightly, add the basil sprigs and simmer rapidly, uncovered, until thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. Discard basil and stir in the chopped basil and parsley. Season with salt and pepper.
• While the sauce simmers, heat the remaining tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking up any clumps with a wooden spoon, until brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer the sausage to a large bowl with a slotted spoon. Add the fennel to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally and reducing the heat slightly if necessary, until golden and tender, about 5 minutes. Add the fennel to the bowl with the sausage.
• Cook the rigatoni in the water until very al dente, about 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain the pasta and add it to the bowl.
• Add the tomato sauce, half of the fontina and half of the Parmesan to the bowl and stir well to combine. Transfer the pasta to a 3- to 4-quart baking dish and top with the remaining fontina and Parmesan. Bake, uncovered, until browned, about 15 minutes. Let the pasta stand about 10 minutes before serving.