Fennel grows as a cabbage-like bulb at the ground with many vertical stalks ending in feathery leaves. The entire plant is edible except for the roots, including flowers and seeds. Fennel smells and tastes weakly like anise or licorice. This plant can be eaten raw or cooked.
Fennel is a versatile and nutritious whole food.
Fennel is native to the Mediterranean area but grows well in many parts of the world. Florence fennel, the type usually seen in stores an vegetable gardens, has been bred for a large bulb at the base. Wild fennel generally grows much taller and without the pronounced bulb.
Fennel is a very nutritious plant with strong anti-inflammatory properties. The plant is a good source of: vitamin C, molybdenum, manganese, magnesium, calcium, potassium, phosphorous, copper, iron and vitamin B3. A serving of fennel will also provide plenty of fiber and phyto-nutrients(some unique to this family of plants).
Fennel seed is both flavorful and nutritious just like the plant.
Fennel seeds have more concentrated flavor than the plant. They are also a great source of many minerals, particularly manganese. The seeds are a more concentrated source of phytosterols than the plant, too.
There are many ways to take advantage of fennel’s nutrition. The bulb and stalks can be sliced very thin and added to green salads or chopped for potato, egg and pasta salads. The leaves can be used as an herb like dill in salad dressings, soups and sauces or as a garnish. The bulb can be roasted whole, cut into chunks and steamed or sliced and sauteed. The seeds can be eaten raw as a breath freshener, dry toasted for garnish, steeped as a tea or as an aromatic sausage ingredient. I think that fennel and parsnip together is a really good vegetable flavor and texture combination.
Variety is good when it comes to a healthy whole food diet, the more variety the better. Let fennel be one more piece of your nutrition puzzle for better health and less inflammation. It adds a wonderful aroma to the kitchen when cooking and an interesting flavor to any dish.