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! (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? ›

You can enjoy it raw, shaved finely into salads, or it's beautiful steamed, baked, braised or roasted until wonderfully soft. Keep the aromatic leafy tops for herbal teas, next-level garnishes or salad toppers, and don't forget to chuck the celery-like stems into stocks or soups.

How long does fennel last in the fridge? ›

Refrigerate fennel wrapped in a kitchen towel or paper towels or in a bag for up to 10 days. (If the stalks and fronds are attached, remove them and store separately.) To avoid molding, don't wash fennel until you are ready to use it.

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 does fennel do for a woman's body? ›

For women with painful menstrual cramps, fennel may provide relief. Studies show that the nitrites in fennel improve blood flow, which can help the uterus more efficiently expel the uterine lining and shorten the length of menstruation.

What is the healthiest way to eat fennel? ›

The bottom line

Adding them to your diet may improve heart health, reduce inflammation, suppress appetite, and even provide anticancer effects. To reap the benefits of fennel and its seeds, try incorporating raw fennel bulb into your salads or using the seeds to flavor soups, broths, baked goods, and fish dishes.

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.

Why do you soak fennel in water? ›

It helps in regulating the flow of the blood, thus reducing the pain caused by cramps. Soak fennel seeds in water overnight and have them first thing in the morning.

How to prepare fennel for a meal? ›

Slice off the shoots and root and peel off the tougher outer layer (if the bulb is particularly young and tender you can leave this layer on). To cook it whole, cut out the tough central core from the bottom, leaving a cone-shaped cavity, or slice if you prefer.

When should you not eat fennel? ›

Hormone-sensitive condition such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: Fennel might act like estrogen. If you have any condition that might be made worse by estrogen, do not use fennel.

How can you tell if fennel has gone bad? ›

While your refrigerated fennel should be completely safe to eat for up to 10 days, you should still keep an eye out for any sign that the plant has gone bad. Brown discoloration, mushy spots, and a bad smell are all indicators that the fennel is past its prime and should be thrown out.

Can I freeze fresh 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.

Can too much fennel be harmful? ›

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

Is it OK to eat fennel everyday? ›

Fennel seeds are rich in fibre and may aid in weight loss and keep hunger pangs at bay. They work as diuretics and improve metabolism. Consuming fennel seeds daily with a balanced diet and workout helps you to shed extra pounds quickly.

What happens if you take too much fennel? ›

In large quantities, fennel seeds can act as a laxative and may cause abdominal pain. Additionally, consuming large amounts of fennel seeds can lead to anemia and other blood disorders. Therefore, it is best to moderate your intake of fennel seeds.

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.

Is raw fennel good for you? ›

Raw fennel is an excellent source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential to collagen synthesis, the skin's support system. It works as an antioxidant to help prevent damage caused by the sun, pollution, and smoke.

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