Southerners have all kinds of opinions about vegetables. Some folks deplore eggplant. Others don’t love the squishy texture of okra. A few of us don’t even like tomatoes (the horror!). But there’s one vegetable that has far fewer friends than it should.
What Is The Least Popular Vegetable In The South?
Fennel. If you’re not familiar with fennel, it’s about the size of a bunch of celery, with a white, bulby bottom and tall stalks that flair out with frilly fronds on top. It doesn’t look too weird, but it’s developed a bad reputation for one major reason.
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Why Fennel Has A Bad Reputation
Folks say it tastes like licorice. It’s true—many people, including writers, chefs, and folks of all stripes say that fennel has a licorice flavor. Since licorice itself is one of the most disliked treats at any candy store, it’s no wonder that many people balk at a big stalky veggie that “tastes like licorice.” Sounds gross, right?
The Truth About Fennel
OK, so the rumors are not entirely false—raw fennel does have a slight licorice flavor. But few recipes ask you to eat raw fennel with no seasonings.
Salads with fresh shaved fennel always have bright, tangy dressings that tone down the licorice flavor, allowing it to bring a layer of flavor and a nice crunch to salads and slaws without making them taste like the sad bin of dried-out licorice at the candy store.
How To Cook With Fennel
Although you can eat fennel raw in salads and slaws, for folks who are on the fence about fennel, it’s best to try it simmered, sauteed, or roasted first.
Heat really tones down the sharper notes of fennel, transforming the flavor into a rich savory partner for onions and garlic. In fact, using the three together is a big wow flavor combo. The fennel actually makes recipes taste more complex.
Fennel Actually Tastes Like Sausage
Actually, it’s vice versa: sausage tastes like fennel, because fennel seed is used in many sausage recipes. It’s a cool trick, actually—because your brain associates sausage with that subtle fennel flavor, you can use fennel and fennel seed to add a “sausage-y” flavor to dishes without adding as much meat, which is great during times like these when grocery prices are higher than usual.
Why You Should Give Fennel A Try
To help open your mind to fennel’s fabulous possibilities, it’s best to start with recipes that really make it work. Here are a few of my favorites:
Meatball Pasta Bake
If I didn’t tell you this recipe had fennel in it, you’d never know. Fresh fennel and fennel seeds get sautéed together with garlic, onion, and a lot of other tasty ingredients to create this delicious 5-star recipe.
Brian Woodcock; Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Butternut Squash And Fennel Gratin
Great for Thanksgiving or Sunday dinner, this gratin is layered with wafer-thin slices of fennel, onion, and butternut squash that nearly melt together in the cheesy, creamy sauce.
Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Pork Tenderloin Schnitzel With Cranberry-Fennel Slaw
This was honestly one of my favorite recipes from 2023. The crispy pork tenderloin is SO GOOD, but it’s even better with the quick-and-easy fennel slaw. The fennel is slices super-thin, then combined with tart dried cranberries and a tangy apple cider vinaigrette that softens the raw fennel flavor.
Still not convinced? Go make yourself a sausage patty and then think about it a little bit. You might just be missing out on something delicious!
