Fennel?

[Huntsman]

Why is there no fennel in the supermarket or on the market stalls?

[jas xjr]

Because most people do not know how to cook with it. Supermarkets only sell things that sell quickly

[Simpo Two]

They sell okra...


Fennel is easy to grow - just plant some

[Police State]

Simpo Two said:

They sell okra...


Fennel is easy to grow - just plant some

Yes, but how do you get the lovely big bulbs?. All we ever seem to get is the stalk and flower.

tips please

[Mobile Chicane]

Waitrose has it. Although I thought it was a 'summer' thing?

Lovely thinly sliced in a marinade of lemon juice, lemon zest and olive oil.

Or steamed until tender, dotted with butter and Parmesan and baked until the cheese is bubbling...

[grumbledoak]

Our delivery box contained a nice big bulb this week.

Find a better vendor!

[littlegreenfairy]

Had fennel this evening. Sadly the cook murdered it

Will have to have a go myself this week as it has such a lovely flavour.

[tenex]

Police State said:

Yes, but how do you get the lovely big bulbs?. All we ever seem to get is the stalk and flower.

tips please

Heat I think. I got much better results in a cold frame. Still not worth it up here.....but down South?

[Pete Franklin]

There are two (probably more) types of fennel and only one (florence fennel) produces the large bulbs that you see in green grocers. the stuff that grows wild in the coastal areas of the UK will only produce the herb tops and stalks as far as i know.

Tips for cooking the bulbs... either braise it for a long time (in wine etc), or slice very finely and have raw in salads. i personally dont think it is very nice in-between as the bulbs can be a bit woody

Edited by Pete Franklin on Monday 13th December 10:02

[littlegreenfairy]

Pete Franklin said:

There are two (probably more) types of fennel and only one (florence fennel) produces the large bulbs that you see in green grocers. the stuff that grows wild in the coastal areas of the UK will only produce the herb tops and stalks as far as i know.

Tips for cooking the bulbs... either braise it for a long time (in wine etc), or slice very finely and have raw in salads. i personally dont think it is very nice in-between as the bulbs can be a bit woody

Edited by Pete Franklin on Monday 13th December 10:02

Roasting it makes it very chewy

[Pete Franklin]

yep that will happen. You need to keep the moisture in.

[littlegreenfairy]

Pete Franklin said:

yep that will happen. You need to keep the moisture in.

I tried to mention it. But was told as it's a root it needs to be roasted. I nearly cried

[Simpo Two]

Police State said:

Simpo Two said:

They sell okra...


Fennel is easy to grow - just plant some

Yes, but how do you get the lovely big bulbs?. All we ever seem to get is the stalk and flower.

tips please

As mentioned there's more than one kind. We always had the frondy kind; it grew easily to about four feet hight, the tops were chopped into various things and the plant as a whole attracted hoverflies to an astonishing degree.

I was completely surprised many years later, therefore, to encounter the 'other' kind of fennel! Not sure if your average garden centre would sell it but have a google.

Maybe try the Homes Gardens and DIY forum?

Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 13th December 10:51

[Huntsman]

Mobile Chicane said:

Waitrose has it.

Ah, thanks, I'll pop into 'trose.

We like it roastec wth onion in olive oil and balsamic vinegar with a little brown sugar.

[Cheese Mechanic]

Coincidentally, I did a Greg Wallace recipe of fennel only over the past weekend.

Cooked in double cream , bloody delicious!! Where did I get the Fennel? The Co-op, thats where, unusually adventurous for them.

I did another Greg Wallace creation around a fortnight ago, Celeriac crisps with mayo. Another winner. Like he says though, you have to keep the oil temperature really high, or they fail to crisp.

Both recommended to try.

[Police State]

Pete Franklin said:

There are two (probably more) types of fennel and only one (florence fennel) produces the large bulbs that you see in green grocers. the stuff that grows wild in the coastal areas of the UK will only produce the herb tops and stalks as far as i know.

Tips for cooking the bulbs... either braise it for a long time (in wine etc), or slice very finely and have raw in salads. i personally dont think it is very nice in-between as the bulbs can be a bit woody

Edited by Pete Franklin on Monday 13th December 10:02

ahh, that explains it then; and there was I wondering when or how our Fennel was going to produce the big bulbs. I will pose the question of where to find that variety in Homes and Gardeen as Simpo suggested.

thanks.

[Pete Franklin]

http://www.vegetableseeds.net/SearchResults.asp?Se...

[Huntsman]

Mrs Huntsman popped into J Sainsbury last night, came home with a big fat juicey tasty fennel bulb! Yay!

[Police State]

Pete Franklin said:

http://www.vegetableseeds.net/SearchResults.asp?Se...

ta muchly...