Roasted Fennel
User Reviews
5
Roasted Fennel
Description
This Roasted Fennel recipe begins by trimming fennel bulbs and slicing them into thick wedges to ensure even roasting. Tossed with olive oil, salt, and freshly ground black pepper, the fennel is spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet and cooked in a 400°F oven. Roasting for 40 to 45 minutes in total, flipping halfway through, allows the edges to become golden and crisp while the centers soften delicately.
Once roasted, if the fennel feels firm, covering loosely with foil lets residual steam soften it further. A fresh lemon squeeze brightens the flavor, complementing the vegetable’s gentle sweetness and slight licorice notes. Optional toppings such as freshly grated Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, homemade seasoned breadcrumbs, or chopped fennel fronds can be added for extra savory and textural interest.
The finished fennel works well as a side dish accompanying roasted meats or fish, or as a warm salad element. Its simple preparation focuses on the vegetable’s natural flavor enhanced by roasting, oil, and seasoning.
Ingredients
- 2 fennel bulb medium or large
- 1 to 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- salt sea salt; freshly ground black pepper
- black pepper sea salt; freshly ground black pepper
- lemon for squeezing, wedge
Topping options
- Parmesan Cheese freshly grated
- lemon zest
- breadcrumb homemade, seasoned
- fennel frond chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Trim any fronds from the fennel bulbs and set aside for garnish. Halve the fennel lengthwise and cut each half into 1-inch wedges.
- Place the fennel wedges on the baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss to coat. If the fennel feels dry, add up to 1 more tablespoon oil to lightly coat it.
- Spread evenly on the baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes. Flip, then roast for 20 to 25 more minutes, or until tender and golden brown around the edges. If the fennel is well browned but the edges are still firm, remove from the oven and cover loosely with foil for 5 to 10 minutes to let it steam and soften a bit more.
- Transfer to a serving platter and squeeze with lemon juice. Garnish with desired toppings, season to taste, and serve.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
You'll Also Love
