Easy Braised Fennel Recipe with Orange

How to braise fennel with stock and orange. Jump to the Braised Fennel Recipe with Orange or read on to see our tips for making it.

Easy Braised Fennel Recipe with Orange

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How to Braise Fennel

It’s simple to make — cut, brown then braise with chicken stock (or vegetable stock) and a little orange. The orange works beautifully with the anise flavor of fennel. The fennel becomes slightly sweet and very tender.

How to Braise Fennel with Orange

Most often, you’ll find fennel with stalks and fronds in tact — the fronds are those wispy green things at the top. For this recipe, we’re after the bulb, but make sure you keep the stalks and fronds for another day. Use the fronds as you would fresh herbs and the stalks can be kept in the freezer then added to a future homemade stock.

How to Cut Fennel

After removing the stalks, cut the fennel bulb in half, lengthwise. Make two angled cuts in the center of the bulb to remove the core — even with braising, the core can be a bit tough. (Save the core for stock, as well). And finally, slice each half into wedges.

How to cut fennel

To braise the fennel, we sear it on both sides in a little olive oil. In goes the zest and juice of half an orange as well as stock (or water). Cover the pot and 8 minutes later, it is done.

Adding the stock

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Recipe updated, originally posted October 2011. Since posting this in 2011, we have tweaked the recipe to be more clear. – Adam and Joanne

Easy Braised Fennel Recipe with Orange

  • PREP
  • COOK
  • TOTAL

Most often, you’ll find fennel with stalks and fronds in tact — the fronds are those wispy green things at the top. For this recipe, we’re after the bulb, but make sure you keep the stalks and fronds for another day. Use the fronds as you would fresh herbs and the stalks can be kept in the freezer then added to a future homemade stock (see our chicken stock recipe).

Makes 4 servings

You Will Need

2 medium fennel bulbs

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 orange zested and juiced

3/4 cup chicken stock, vegetable stock or water, see our chicken stock recipe

Salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

    1Cut off and discard stems/stalks from fennel bulb, reserving some of the fronds (wispy green tips).

    2Slice fennel in half, lengthwise. Remove tough core by making two angled cuts. Then cut halves into 1/2-inch thick wedges. Season both sides with salt and pepper.

    3Heat olive oil in a medium pot with lid over medium-high heat. Add fennel wedges and brown on both sides, about 2 minutes on each side.

    4Reduce heat to low, add orange zest, juice and the stock. Cook, covered, until fennel is tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Serve with a few reserved fennel fronds sprinkled on top.

Adam and Joanne's Tips

If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #inspiredtaste — We love to see your creations on Instagram and Facebook! Find us: @inspiredtaste

AUTHOR:  Adam and Joanne Gallagher
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6 comments… Leave a Review
  • Craig February 27, 2012, 3:01 pm

    I made this last night to accompany some seared scallops. Nice and simple preparation, and very tasty. I’ll be making it again for sure.

    I found the outer layer to be a little tough still. Next time I’d probably braise it an extra minute or two. Could have just been my fennel too, it was rather large.

    Reply
  • startcooking.com October 4, 2011, 8:42 am

    Hi Adam and Joanne – that fennel looks delicious! I love the idea of braising it and serving it as a side dish.
    Fennel is also great with a splash of Pernod. (The Barefoot Contessa’s recipe for lobster pot pie with fennel and Pernod is to die for!)

    BTW, KJ said they would be posting the Fish and Corn Pudding Recipe this week – can’t wait!
    Cheers,
    Kathy

    Reply
    • inspiredtaste October 5, 2011, 8:07 pm

      Fennel with Pernod is pretty amazing, Kathy! Not to mention, fennel + lobster + Pernod — there is a reason we all love Ina!
      -Joanne and Adam

      Reply
  • Joan Nova October 1, 2011, 6:18 pm

    I’m a big fennel fan…I generally eat it raw as a snack or in salad and I’m totally in agreement that fennel and orange go well together. I’ve recently started braising and adding it to various dishes, most recently with salmon and it was an interesting combination.

    Reply
    • Joanne October 3, 2011, 8:22 am

      We don’t usually have fennel raw – we should try that more often!

      Reply
  • Denise @ TLT - The Little Things October 1, 2011, 4:10 pm

    Beautiful! I love cooking with fennel, but have never prepared it this way. Time to change that!

    Reply

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