Fennel

Also Known As : Florence fennel, Sweet fennel, Sweet anise, Finocchio.

Technical Name : Foeniculum vulgare

Descriptions
details

Vegetarian

Taste Profile

Fennel has a mild anise-like flavor and on cooking it becomes sweeter in taste.

Usage Tips

The leaves of fennel can be used as a fresh herb. The bulb can be eaten as a vegetable. It can be grilled, braised, sautéed or sliced thinly and added to salads. The stalks can be cooked or eaten raw as well. Fennel pairs great with fish.
It is best to consume fennel immediately after purchase since as it tends to gradually lose its flavor.Separate the stalks and bulb and store them separately in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. Cooked fennel will last for around three days in the fridge.

Common names and forms

Fennel Whole
Fenouil
Organic Fennel Whole

Description

Fennel is a plant that consists of bulb which is white or pale green in colour with stalks closely arranged. The stalks are topped with feathery green leaves alongwith flowers which contain fennel seeds. It belongs to the Umbellifereae family and is closely related to parsley, carrots, dill and coriander.The bulb, stalk, leaves and seeds are considered edible . It was first cultivated in the Mediterranean, and gradually spread throughout the world. Fennel is mostly available from autumn till early spring.

Health benefits

Fennel is a good source of vitamin B-6, which plays an important role in energy metabolism in the body by breaking down carbohydrates and proteins into glucose and amino acids respectively and making it available to the body to be used for energy.⁽¹⁾
It is abundant in minerals like potassium, calcium, and magnesium all of which decrease blood pressure naturally.⁽¹⁾
The combination of nutrients like Vitamin B-6 and folate in fennel helps prevent the build-up of a compound called homocysteine in the blood by converting it into a different compound, methionine. Excessive homocysteine build up, can damage blood vessels and cause heart problems.⁽¹⁾
It is abudant in bone building minerals like calcium, manganese, iron, zinc and vitamin k.⁽¹⁾
The presence of selenium in fennel helps in building immune response to infection, thus making the body prevent infection.⁽¹⁾

Selection Guide

Choose fennel with bulbs that are white or pale green in color with a firm texture without any splits or bruises.The stalks should be straight and closely bundled around the bulb. If it has flowering buds it indicates that the vegetable is over-matured. Fresh fennel should have a fragrant smell of licorice or anise. Store fennel in the refrigerator for around 4 days. It is best to consume right after purchase, as it loses flavor over time.

Note

Fennel may cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to carrot,celery and mugwort. It might slow blood clotting, thus increasing the risk of bleeding or bruising in people with bleeding disorders.⁽²⁾

Resource & Links

(1) https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/284096.php#benefits

(2) https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-311/fennel

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