I know I am so late in posting the past three weeks, but I’ve had way too much going on. But hey, at least I am all moved into my new apartment in Boston! 

Anyway, today we’re gonna talk about fennel. Fennel is so versatile! Seeds are used in things like sausage or pastries, the bulb can be used to make salads or can be roasted, and the fronds and great as a garnish or an herb! It has a slight anise flavor, which is like licorice, but thankfully it’s not overpowering like licorice is.  The fronds are stronger in taste than the bulb, which may be good to keep in mind if you are sensitive to the taste. When buying fennel, get a small to medium-size bulb that feels heavy for its size. Avoid larger bulbs, ones with moist spots, or those that appear shriveled.

So super honesty time, I have never had fennel except for seeds in sausage. And I like fennel seeds, but I am not a fan of licorice so I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this. But I am happy to report that it was really good! The licorice flavor is really only there when it’s raw, but after roasting, it tastes just like its seeds. So if you like fennel seeds, you will like this recipe!

I walked into my kitchen after cleaning a little and I swear it smelled like pizza (my go-to pizza is pepperoni and sausage, which usually has fennel seed in it) and I was so excited to try it! I can’t really explain it, but it tasted just like Christmas, which is very fitting for the time of year. So if you are still making a Christmas menu and you are in need of a veggie, I highly suggest this recipe!

Parmesan Roasted Fennel

Serves: 3, Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time: 40 min

Ingredients:

• 2 fennel bulbs
• salt
• pepper
• 2 tsp oil
• 1/3 cup of grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375
2. Wash fennel. Cut off bottom root, fronds and stems; and peel off first layer
3. Slice fennel ~1/3 inch thick
4. Arrange fennel on a baking sheet, making sure pieces don’t overlap 
5. Drizzle oil, salt, pepper, and cheese
6. Bake for 40 min, until fennel is tender and cheese is crispy
7. Enjoy!