Vegetable
Herb Fennel
A tier
Herb fennel is tall, non-bulbing Foeniculum grown for feathery fronds and aromatic seeds—not a swollen base. Fronds taste brighter and more herbal than bulb tops; seeds are the classic sausage and rye-bread spice. Snip fronds over fish, eggs, and yogurt; collect brown seed umbels for drying. Do not expect a celery-like bulb at the base.
Track this ingredient
Unit
Characteristics
Preparations
Dried SeedFish GarnishFresh FrondSausage Spice
Traits
FeatheryFrond And SeedHerbalNon-BulbingSeed RichSpice SeedTall Habit
History
GR
Ancient cooks used tall fennel primarily as herb and seed plant.
IT
Italian gardens kept herb fennel separate from emerging bulb finocchio.
Herb fennel supplied commercial seed spice and fresh frond markets.
Chefs revived herb fennel fronds as a fine-dining fish garnish.