How to Slice Fennel
To the uninitiated, fennel might seem a mysterious vegetable. You might well wonder what you would do with it, and how it might taste and feel in your mouth. Like other vegetables, fennel's flavor changes depending on how you prepare it. One good way to familiarize yourself with fennel is to slice some up and try it that way. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Fennel
- Sharp chef's (or other trusty kitchen) knife
- Cutting board
- Mandoline (optional)
Instructions
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1
Select a bulb of fennel. You'll be able to cut only one bulb at a time, so it's best to concentrate on them that way.
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2
Trim your bulb of fennel. Slice off the stems and the dirty, hard base at the bottom of your bulb. Don't slice too far into the bulb itself, or the fennel will be more difficult for you to slice. Like an onion, fennel's base is what holds the layers of the vegetable together.
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3
Cut the bulb in half lengthwise. If it's an especially large bulb of fennel, you may wish to cut it into quarters as well. Use your judgement and consider what you intend to do with your sliced fennel before deciding.
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4
Slice the fennel thinly and evenly with your knife. Alternately, you can use a mandoline to achieve uniform slices. If you use a mandoline, make sure to use your mandoline's hand guard to avoid serious injury.
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Tips & Warnings
Fennel has a texture similar to celery, and it cuts similarly crisply and easily when fresh. If your fennel feels moist (other than normal moisture from washing) or soft, you should choose a fresher bulb of fennel. Like many other vegetables, fennel starts to go soft and mushy when it starts to decay. Only use fennel that's at its best, especially if you're going to serve it raw, such as in salads or as part of a crudite platter.
If the strings on the outside layers of fennel bother you, you can peel them like you would celery. A paring knife or vegetable peeler can make short work of this task. It's easier than with celery, too, because fennel isn't ridged like celery.
Sliced fennel can be used in many different ways. You can serve it raw in a salad, or fan it out and bake it as part of a gratin. Sliced thickly, you can serve it with a platter of raw veggies at a party or family gathering. Sliced thinly, you can caramelize it in a pan and use it as a bed for poultry or other meats. You're only limited by your tastes and your imagination. Sliced fennel is very versatile.
