14 Vegan Fennel Recipes To Try! (2024)

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Are you wondering what to make with a bulb of fennel? This collection of vegan fennel recipes will inspire you with delicious ways to use this unique vegetable.

14 Vegan Fennel Recipes To Try! (1)

Table of Contents
  • Main dishes with fennel
  • Simple Fennel Pasta
  • Butternut squash wild rice salad with cranberries and fennel
  • Roasted Fennel and Potato Soup
  • Spinach and Fennel Fettuccine with Roasted Tomatoes
  • Vegan Italian Wedding Soup
  • Caramelised Fennel Risotto with Herby Garlic Cashews
  • Vegan Caramelized Onion and Fennel Pizza
  • Summer Dal with Fennel, Coconut + Dill
  • Fennel side dishes
  • Potato Fennel Gratin
  • Blood Orange and Fennel Salad
  • Beet and Fennel Salad with Citrus Dressing
  • Grilled Fennel with Tahini Dressing
  • Roasted Fennel With Tomatoes
  • Super Cleansing Slaw with Rosemary Dressing
  • More ideas for fennel
  • Fennel FAQs

Fennel is an underrated vegetable. It has an incredibly unique anise taste and if you haven't tried it before we heartily encourage you to try it!

We've seen countless people asking "What can I make with fennel?" after they've received bulbs in their vegetable box. This post is here to give you answers!

From salads to slaws, easy pasta and rice dishes and roasted vegetable sides, there are some delicious ways to eat and enjoy fennel!

Come and discover some new recipes to try in this collection of refreshing vegan fennel recipes...

Main dishes with fennel

Fennel, also known as Florence fennel or bulb fennel, is a popular ingredient in Mediterranean cuisine.

You'll find fennel goes great with Italian inspired dishes like pasta, pizza and risotto. But it's also a great ingredient to add to cosy meals like soup and stew.

14 Vegan Fennel Recipes To Try! (2)

Simple Fennel Pasta

If you are looking for a really easy fennel recipe, this is it! This simple pasta dish celebrates fennel and combines it with the tang of lemon to make a refreshing and nourishing meal.

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14 Vegan Fennel Recipes To Try! (3)

Butternut squash wild rice salad with cranberries and fennel

by carolinescooking.com

This colourful salad combines a base of wild rice with roasted butternut squash, fresh fennel and cranberries to make a flavourful and nutritious meal.

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14 Vegan Fennel Recipes To Try! (4)

Roasted Fennel and Potato Soup

by simple-veganista.com

Fennel goes great with potatoes and makes a wonderfully creamy soup. Try this fennel soup with just 7 simple ingredients.

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14 Vegan Fennel Recipes To Try! (5)

Spinach and Fennel Fettuccine with Roasted Tomatoes

by veggiechick.com

Fennel also pairs beautifully with tomatoes. This spinach and fennel pasta uses roasted tomatoes to bring out their natural sweetness.

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14 Vegan Fennel Recipes To Try! (6)

Vegan Italian Wedding Soup

by connoisseurusveg.com

Fennel is called finocchio in Italy, where it is a popular ingredient in traditional cooking. This recipe uses cannellini bean meatballs, spinach, fennel, and orzo to make cozy vegan Italian wedding soup.

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14 Vegan Fennel Recipes To Try! (7)

Caramelised Fennel Risotto with Herby Garlic Cashews

Our vegan fennel risotto is one of our go to meals! We use a touch of brown sugar to quickly bring out the sweetness of fennel. The garlic cashew topping is perfection!

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14 Vegan Fennel Recipes To Try! (8)

Vegan Caramelized Onion and Fennel Pizza

by veryveganval.com

This delicious vegan pizza is topped with fennel, caramelized onions, herbed mushrooms and vegan cashew cheese. YUM!

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14 Vegan Fennel Recipes To Try! (9)

Summer Dal with Fennel, Coconut + Dill

by gutsyperformancenutrition.com

This lentil dal with fennel is designed for the summer - with refreshing ingredients to cool you down on a hot day.

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Fennel side dishes

Both raw and roasted or grilled fennel makes a refreshing addition to salads and side dishes. When serving fennel raw in salads or slaws, it's particularly nice finely sliced or cut with a mandoline.

Salads and sides can be a great way to experiment with using different combinations of seasonal veggies and fruits! Be sure to use our guide to What Goes Well With Fennel to inspire you.

14 Vegan Fennel Recipes To Try! (10)

Potato Fennel Gratin

by shelovesbiscotti.com

For a delicious fennel side dish, try this potato fennel gratin. It's garnished with breadcrumbs for a delicious crispy topping.

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14 Vegan Fennel Recipes To Try! (11)

Blood Orange and Fennel Salad

by twocityvegans.com

Blood orange and fennel is a classic combination! This recipe combines them with olives, radish and walnut to make a delicious seasonal salad.

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14 Vegan Fennel Recipes To Try! (12)

Beet and Fennel Salad with Citrus Dressing

by itsavegworldafterall.com

Another recipe that uses the combination of citrus and fennel to its advantage is this roasted beet and fennel salad. Fresh herbs and pistachios take it to the next level!

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14 Vegan Fennel Recipes To Try! (13)

Grilled Fennel with Tahini Dressing

by ketovegetarianrecipes.com

This quick fennel side dish is simple to make. Enjoy the delicate flavour of grilled fennel with a yummy tahini dressing.

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14 Vegan Fennel Recipes To Try! (14)

Roasted Fennel With Tomatoes

by swirlsofflavor.com

Another easy side dish is this roasted fennel pomodoro. Tender and juicy tomatoes mingle with the sweet licorice tang of roasted fennel.

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14 Vegan Fennel Recipes To Try! (15)

Super Cleansing Slaw with Rosemary Dressing

by minimalistbaker.com

This fresh and invigorating recipe uses cabbage, fennel, apple and celery to make a delicious slaw. Easy to customise with other seasonal veg!

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More ideas for fennel

Still looking for more vegan fennel recipes or ideas? Here are some more ways we love to cook with fennel, and main dishes that go great with fennel sides:

  • For wild fennel, or if you have lots of leftover fronds, try our Wild Fennel Pasta with Vegan Chorizo.
  • To go with an orange and fennel salad, try our Vegan Tofu Souvlaki Skewers for a delcious Meditterranean inspired meal.
  • For a main to go with fennel based slaw, make our deliciously crispy Breaded Tofu.
  • For more tips and inspiration read our Fennel Flavour Pairing Guide.

Fennel FAQs

When is fennel in season?

Fennel can be bought year round, but peak season in the UK is from late June to September. In the US, peak fennel time is in the colder months from winter through early spring, but this varies across the country.

What does fennel taste like?

Fennel is a Mediterranean vegetable with a refreshing aniseed flavour. It can be eaten raw or cooked. The strong licorice flavour becomes milder when it’s cooked. It can be an acquired taste, but we love it!

How do I choose a fennel bulb?

Choose fresh-looking (not dried out), heavy and firm bulbs. The fronds should be green and not yellowing. Younger and smaller bulbs are often more tender and less stringy.

Which parts of the fennel bulb are edible?

All of the fennel bulb is edible.

In some older bulbs the stalks or the outer layer can be a bit too tough and stringy to be pleasant, so you may like to remove this depending on the bulb you have.

The bulb also has a conical core which can get tough. If you want to remove this, cut the bulb into quarters and then slice out the core.

The green, feathery tops can be used raw as a refreshing garnish.

We hope you enjoyed this collection of fennel recipes! Be sure to check out guides to what else is in season now.

Tell us your favourite vegan fennel recipes and share your ideas in the comments below.

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14 Vegan Fennel Recipes To Try! (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with my fennel? ›

Dice fennel bulbs and saute with onions and garlic the next time you're making a soup or braise, or quarter the whole bulb and simply roast with a tray of whatever root veggies need some attention. Serve roasted fennel on its own, or while warm from the oven, toss with a simple vinaigrette to adorn a salad.

What is the best way to eat fennel? ›

Serve the wedges as a side dish with a squeeze of lemon or add them to a salad. You could also remove the tough core pieces and toss the roasted fennel with pasta or add it to a hearty vegetarian lasagna.

Why do chefs use fennel so much? ›

Though often overlooked by home cooks, this versatile ingredient is beloved by chefs for its pleasantly sweet, fresh flavor and mild aromatic character.

What flavors go well with fennel? ›

Herbs: Fennel pairs well with fresh herbs such as dill, parsley, and thyme. Cheese: Fennel pairs well with cheeses such as parmesan, feta, and goat cheese. Nuts: Fennel pairs well with nuts such as almonds, hazelnuts, and pine nuts. Meat: Fennel pairs well with meats such as pork, sausage, and chicken.

What does fennel do for a woman's body? ›

Fennel seeds are believed to have properties that may help alleviate menstrual discomfort and regulate menstrual cycles. Some women find relief from bloating and pain when incorporating fennel seeds into their diet during their periods.

Why do you soak fennel in water? ›

If you're especially sensitive to licorice flavor, you may even find raw fennel to be too pungent for your tastes. To tone down the flavor, Chowhound suggests slicing or chopping fennel and soaking it in water for half an hour.

What part of fennel can you not eat? ›

Technically speaking, all parts of the plant are edible, but most people will find the stalks too tough and fibrous to eat. The leaves can be chopped and used to flavor salads, dressings, marinades and sauces. They tend to have a slightly more citrusy flavor than the base. The base (or bulb) is delicious raw or cooked.

What veggies go well with fennel? ›

Apples, beetroot, Brussels sprouts, celeriac, corn, cucumber, garlic, grape, grapefruit, green bean, guava, kohlrabi, lemon, mushroom, olive, orange, peach, pear, pomegranate, potatoes, tomatoes, watercress, watermelon.

Is it safe to eat raw fennel? ›

The fennel bulb is enjoyed raw, where its anise flavor is most pronounced, and cooked for a sweeter, mellower version of itself. But don't pitch the rest! The entire fennel plant is not only edible but delicious.

What are the disadvantages of fennel? ›

There isn't enough reliable information to know whether fennel is safe when used long-term. Although rare, side effects might include stomach upset and seizures. When applied to the skin: Fennel is possibly safe. Fennel can make skin extra sensitive to the sun and make it easier to get a sunburn.

Is it OK to eat fennel everyday? ›

Both the flavorful, crunchy bulb and aromatic seeds of the fennel plant are highly nutritious and may offer an abundance of impressive health benefits. Adding them to your diet may improve heart health, reduce inflammation, suppress appetite, and even provide anticancer effects.

What happens if you have too much fennel? ›

Side effects of Fennel include: difficulty breathing. tightness of chest/throat. chest pain.

What drink pairs with fennel? ›

Raw fennel is crisp and juicy. Often, you want to pair with a food's texture as much as its flavor. Crisp raw vegetables call for crisp, even effervescent wines. Dry cider is perfect for any raw fennel dish, with its hint of crisp tart apple that echoes the fennel's faintly sweet crunch.

What meat does fennel pair with? ›

It's also great with chicken, pork or cheese. Not forgetting fennel seeds for those all-important pops of flavour. We've pulled together our favourite fennel recipes; from fresh and crunchy, to mellow and sweet and some tasty uses of fennel seeds! Enjoy.

What spices compliment fennel? ›

Spices that pair with fennel

Anise, star anise, dill seed, nutmeg, cardamom, black pepper, cumin, coriander seeds cassia, cinnamon, turmeric, cloves and fenugreek.

Can I eat raw fennel? ›

The fennel bulb is enjoyed raw, where its anise flavor is most pronounced, and cooked for a sweeter, mellower version of itself. But don't pitch the rest! The entire fennel plant is not only edible but delicious.

Can I freeze fennel? ›

Fennel stalks and fronds freeze well. Simply rinse them in a cool stream of water, and then place them in freezer-safe bag or container. Due to its high water content, freezing the bulb will change its texture.

What is fennel most commonly used for? ›

So put in soups and stews, pastas and salads, on pizzas and in vegetables sandwiches with roasted peppers and onions and melty Italian cheeses. One of our favorite ways to eat fennel is grilled. However: fennel will dry out and get tough if you attempt to cook it 100% of the way on the grill.

What part of fennel is edible? ›

Technically speaking, all parts of the plant are edible, but most people will find the stalks too tough and fibrous to eat. The leaves can be chopped and used to flavor salads, dressings, marinades and sauces. They tend to have a slightly more citrusy flavor than the base. The base (or bulb) is delicious raw or cooked.

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