Why You Should Roast Fennel

Summary

In this cooking tutorial from America's Test Kitchen, Keith demonstrates how to roast fennel to perfection, transforming its sharp licorice flavor into a sweet and nutty treat. By prepping fennel into wedges and using a seasoned water bath, the fennel becomes tender and evenly browned. The dish is finished with a simple yet flavorful orange honey dressing and garnished with fennel fronds for extra aroma. This method is a great way to introduce fennel to even those who are hesitant about its flavor, offering a balanced, complex, and delicious side dish.

Takeaways

• 😀 Roasting fennel can mellow its strong licorice flavor, turning it into a sweet, nutty treat.
• 😀 The best way to prepare fennel for roasting is by cutting it into wedges to maximize surface area for browning.
• 😀 Fennel fronds should be removed and set aside for use as a garnish.
• 😀 The fennel should be roasted with water and salt to help season the vegetable from the inside out.
• 😀 After the initial roasting, the fennel should be covered with foil to steam it and soften the texture.
• 😀 Roasting fennel at 450°F for 20 minutes, covered, helps it soften before browning the cut sides.
• 😀 A quick dressing made with olive oil, honey, white wine vinegar, orange juice, and zest enhances the fennel's flavor.
• 😀 Orange and fennel are a classic flavor combination, with the sweetness of the orange complementing the mild licorice notes of fennel.
• 😀 The fennel should be flipped during roasting to ensure even browning on all sides.
• 😀 The final roasted fennel should be tender and golden brown, with a nutty, caramelized flavor that is milder than raw fennel.
• 😀 The dish can be garnished with fennel fronds for added flavor and visual appeal.

Q & A

What is the key to preparing fennel for roasting?

The key to preparing fennel for roasting is cutting it into wedges, as this creates more surface area for browning and prevents the fennel from falling apart or becoming too dry during roasting.

Why is it important to keep the core intact when cutting fennel?

Keeping the core intact helps the fennel wedges stay together while roasting, ensuring they do not fall apart and can cook evenly.

What role does water play in the preparation of the fennel?

Water helps create steam during roasting, which softens the fennel. The salted water also seeps into the layers of the fennel, seasoning it from the inside out.

How does roasting fennel change its flavor?

Roasting fennel tempers its licorice-like flavor, turning it into a sweeter, nuttier taste with caramel notes, making it milder and more appealing to those who might find raw fennel too strong.

What is the purpose of covering the fennel with foil during the initial stage of roasting?

Covering the fennel with foil helps trap moisture and steam, which softens the fennel evenly and ensures it cooks properly before the browning process begins.

How do you ensure even browning of the fennel during roasting?

To ensure even browning, the fennel should be roasted with the cut sides facing down, and after removing the foil, it should be left in the oven for an additional 5-8 minutes to brown the exposed sides.

What is the flavor profile of the orange honey dressing?

The orange honey dressing combines sweetness from honey and orange juice, balanced with acidity from white wine vinegar, and enhanced by the subtle bitterness of orange zest, making it a perfect complement to the roasted fennel.

Why are fennel fronds used in the dish?

The fennel fronds are coarsely chopped and used as a garnish, adding a fresh, aromatic touch that complements the roasted fennel and enhances its flavor.

What other cooking methods were tested for preparing fennel, and why were wedges found to be the best?

Other methods, such as slicing fennel into rounds, were tested, but wedges proved to be the best because they hold together better during roasting, allowing for more even cooking and browning.

What makes fennel a polarizing vegetable, and how does this recipe address that?

Fennel's strong licorice flavor can be polarizing, but roasting it softens the flavor, making it sweeter, milder, and nuttier, which helps convert even fennel-hesitant eaters into fans.