The goodness of fennel

Cinzia Cuneo 4 janvier, 2011 bien manger, fruits, santé, recettes, légumes

Fennel is a plant that originated in the Mediterranean. It has been used as a vegetable and spice since ancient times. The Greeks and Romans were not only very fond of it, they also recognized its medicinal value, especially as an antidote to snake bites and scorpion stings.

Up until the 1970s, fennel was only cultivated in the Mediterranean basin. Nowadays however, it’s grown even in North America – although Italy remains the country that produces and consumes it the most.

Its mellow and slightly sweet taste is similar to that of anise or licorice (that’s why people sometimes call it anise by mistake). Rich in fibers, vitamins and minerals, it contains very few calories.

It is best consumed raw in salads, and as a side dish with fish or meat. When buying fennel, select small white or light green bulbs, which are firm and don’t have any yellowish marks on them.

Notes:

• It is widely available during winter.
• It can be stored in the refrigerator for about a week.

Try our recipe for Fennel and Orange Salad

Originally published in the Journal de Montréal on February 7, 2009.

Auteur

Cinzia Cuneo

Cinzia Cuneo, fondatrice de SOSCuisine.com, n'a jamais voulu négliger la qualité de son alimentation. Elle partage avec vous son expertise particulière pour faire de la bonne cuisine en un minimum de temps et sans complications!