Wild Fennel Cakes Recipes

FUNNEL CAKES

Steps:

• Add the oil to a deep pot and heat it over medium-high heat until it registers 375 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer. Set up a work surface with 4 or 5 plastic piping bags, scissors, tongs, parchment paper, and a wire rack with parchment paper underneath.
• In a big bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and granulated sugar. Add the eggs and milk and whisk well. Get all the lumps out!
• Fill all the piping bags with batter. Cut the tip off one bag and drizzle the batter straight into the hot oil in a swirly, crazy pattern. Toss the piping bag. When one side is golden brown, about 75 seconds, carefully flip the funnel cake with tongs and fry the other side, another 75 seconds. Fry the rest of the batter.
• Drain the funnel cakes on the wire rack. While they're still warm and shiny, dust them with powdered sugar using a wire-mesh strainer. Serve immediately!

FENNEL UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch cake pan with 1 teaspoon olive oil.
• For the fennel: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, dissolve the sugar in 3/4 cup water, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. Add the fennel, salt and lemon juice, and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the liquid is reduced by three-quarters, about 15 minutes. Spread the candied fennel evenly over the bottom of the prepared cake pan. Set aside to cool slightly.
• For the cake: Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, olive oil, lemon zest and fennel pollen. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and whisk until just combined. Pour the batter evenly over the candied fennel. Place in the preheated oven and bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean, 30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then invert the cake onto a plate to cool completely.
• For the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the raspberry jam, lemon juice and 2 tablespoons warm water.
• Sprinkle the cake with a few picked fennel fronds. Slice into wedges and serve with a spoonful of the sauce.

FUNNEL CAKES

Steps:

• In a deep-fryer, or heavy skillet, heat oil to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, beat milk and eggs together. Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Stir into the egg mixture until smooth.
• While covering the funnel hole with one hand, pour in 1 cup of batter. Start from the center in a swirling motion to make a 6 or 7 inch round. Fry on both sides until golden brown. Remove and drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and serve warm.

FUNNEL CAKES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat eggs. Add milk, water and vanilla until well blended. In another bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder and salt; beat into egg mixture until smooth. In a deep cast-iron or electric skillet, heat oil to 375°., Cover the bottom of a funnel spout with your finger; ladle 1/2 cup batter into the funnel. Holding the funnel several inches above the oil, release your finger and move the funnel in a spiral motion until all the batter is released, scraping with a rubber spatula if needed., Fry until golden brown, 2 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels. Dust with confectioners' sugar; serve warm.

WORLD'S BEST FUNNEL CAKES

Steps:

• Pour enough oil into a skillet to completely coat the bottom and heat over medium-high heat.
• Blend flour, sugar, water, milk, egg, baking powder, vanilla extract, and salt together in a blender until smooth. Add more flour if batter is too watery. Put your finger over the hole of a funnel and fill funnel with batter.
• Hover filled funnel over the skillet, release finger, and swirl batter into the hot oil; cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side.

FUNNEL CAKES

Steps:

• Pour enough oil into a large saucepan to come halfway up the sides, it should be about 7cm deep. Heat until the oil reaches 170C-180C on a thermometer, or if you don't have one drop in a chunk of bread - the oil is hot enough when it browns in about 30 secs.
• Whilst the oil heats up, whisk together the flour, icing sugar, baking powder, milk, eggs and a good pinch of salt. Transfer the batter to a disposable piping bag and secure the end with a peg (you'll need another peg for the other end, once you've cut it open.)
• When the oil is hot, snip off the end of the piping bag to make an opening about 1cm wide - the batter will drizzle out so pinch it closed until you're ready. Hold the piping bag over the oil, release your finger and drizzle the batter in in a swirly circle shape. Pinch the opening to close it, then make another cake, you should fit about 3 in the pan it one time, depending on the width of your pan. Secure the piping bag with another peg whilst the cakes cook, they'll need about 1 min on each side, or until they're golden brown and crisp. Drain on kitchen paper and dust generously with icing sugar, best eaten straight away.

WILD FENNEL CAKES

Steps:

• Gather young fronds, avoiding the very thick, tougher stems. Lay all in one direction in a basket. If you can gather some of the tender, light green hearts, lay these separately. Once home, rinse gently in a large bowl of water a few times. Drain and pat gently to dry. Starting from the ends of the fronds, mince finely as if chopping chives. Mince the garlic. Add a bit of broth to the bread crumbs. Only enough to moisten. With a fork, mash the bread somewhat, season with a little pepper and blend in the beaten egg & garlic. Add the cheese and the minced fennel, stirring well with a fork to blend. Take a rounded tablespoon and form to a cake. If it doesn't hold, add a little more beaten egg. The mass should not be too dry nor very wet. Fry in a little olive oil until lightly browned on both sides. Drain and serve. Try this dish with a little room temperature plain yogurt. Serving Suggestions: try these with poached, scrambled eggs or a plain omelet or with fish or meat dish.