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    Home » Recipes

    Published: Feb 4, 2022 · Updated: Aug 1, 2024 · This post may contain affiliate links · We donate 10% of our profits to support good causes.

    14 Vegan Fennel Recipes To Try!

    A Collage of Vegan Fennel Recipes - Pasta, Risotto and Fresh Fennel Bulbs.

    Are you wondering what to make with a bulb of fennel? This collection of vegan fennel recipes will inspire you with delicious ways to use this unique vegetable.

    A Collage of Vegan Fennel Recipes - Pasta, Risotto and Fresh Fennel Bulbs.

    Table of Contents
    • Main dishes with fennel
    • Fennel side dishes
    • More ideas for fennel
    • Fennel FAQs

    Fennel is an underrated vegetable. It has an incredibly unique anise taste and if you haven't tried it before we heartily encourage you to try it!

    We've seen countless people asking "What can I make with fennel?" after they've received bulbs in their vegetable box. This post is here to give you answers!

    From salads to slaws, easy pasta and rice dishes and roasted vegetable sides, there are some delicious ways to eat and enjoy fennel!

    Come and discover some new recipes to try in this collection of refreshing vegan fennel recipes...

    Main dishes with fennel

    Fennel, also known as Florence fennel or bulb fennel, is a popular ingredient in Mediterranean cuisine.

    You'll find fennel goes great with Italian inspired dishes like pasta, pizza and risotto. But it's also a great ingredient to add to cosy meals like soup and stew.

    A top down shot of a large frying pan full of fennel pasta and two portions served in coconut bowls. Also in the picture, a whole fennel bulb, half lemon, and two forks.

    Simple Fennel Pasta

    If you are looking for a really easy fennel recipe, this is it! This simple pasta dish celebrates fennel and combines it with the tang of lemon to make a refreshing and nourishing meal.
    Make the recipe
    A blue dish with butternut squash, rice and fennel salad.

    Butternut squash wild rice salad with cranberries and fennel

    by carolinescooking.com

    This colourful salad combines a base of wild rice with roasted butternut squash, fresh fennel and cranberries to make a flavourful and nutritious meal.
    Make the recipe
    A bowl of soup garnished with fennel.

    Roasted Fennel and Potato Soup

    by simple-veganista.com

    Fennel goes great with potatoes and makes a wonderfully creamy soup. Try this fennel soup with just 7 simple ingredients.
    Make the recipe
    A fork digs in to a plate of spinach and fennel pasta.

    Spinach and Fennel Fettuccine with Roasted Tomatoes

    by veggiechick.com

    Fennel also pairs beautifully with tomatoes. This spinach and fennel pasta uses roasted tomatoes to bring out their natural sweetness.
    Make the recipe
    A bowl of Italiain wedding soup full of broth and veggies.

    Vegan Italian Wedding Soup

    by connoisseurusveg.com

    Fennel is called finocchio in Italy, where it is a popular ingredient in traditional cooking. This recipe uses cannellini bean meatballs, spinach, fennel, and orzo to make cozy vegan Italian wedding soup.
    Make the recipe
    A green plate with a golden coloured risotto topped with cashews. Fennel and lemon in the background.

    Caramelised Fennel Risotto with Herby Garlic Cashews

    Our vegan fennel risotto is one of our go to meals! We use a touch of brown sugar to quickly bring out the sweetness of fennel. The garlic cashew topping is perfection!
    Make the recipe
    A pizza topped with fennel, onion and mushrooms.

    Vegan Caramelized Onion and Fennel Pizza

    by veryveganval.com

    This delicious vegan pizza is topped with fennel, caramelized onions, herbed mushrooms and vegan cashew cheese. YUM!
    Make the recipe
    A dish of lentil and fennel dal.

    Summer Dal with Fennel, Coconut + Dill

    by gutsyperformancenutrition.com

    This lentil dal with fennel is designed for the summer - with refreshing ingredients to cool you down on a hot day.
    Make the recipe

    Fennel side dishes

    Both raw and roasted or grilled fennel makes a refreshing addition to salads and side dishes. When serving fennel raw in salads or slaws, it's particularly nice finely sliced or cut with a mandoline.

    Salads and sides can be a great way to experiment with using different combinations of seasonal veggies and fruits! Be sure to use our guide to What Goes Well With Fennel to inspire you.

    Roasted fennel and potatoes covered in breadcrumbs in an oven dish.

    Potato Fennel Gratin

    by shelovesbiscotti.com

    For a delicious fennel side dish, try this potato fennel gratin. It's garnished with breadcrumbs for a delicious crispy topping.
    Make the recipe
    Two dishes of fennel and orange salad.

    Blood Orange and Fennel Salad

    by twocityvegans.com

    Blood orange and fennel is a classic combination! This recipe combines them with olives, radish and walnut to make a delicious seasonal salad.
    Make the recipe
    An oval serving dish with roasted beetroot and fennel salad.

    Beet and Fennel Salad with Citrus Dressing

    by itsavegworldafterall.com

    Another recipe that uses the combination of citrus and fennel to its advantage is this roasted beet and fennel salad. Fresh herbs and pistachios take it to the next level!
    Make the recipe

    Dipping a slice of grillled fennel in a tahini dressing.

    Grilled Fennel with Tahini Dressing

    by ketovegetarianrecipes.com

    This quick fennel side dish is simple to make. Enjoy the delicate flavour of grilled fennel with a yummy tahini dressing.
    Make the recipe

    Roasted Fennel With Tomatoes

    by swirlsofflavor.com

    Another easy side dish is this roasted fennel pomodoro. Tender and juicy tomatoes mingle with the sweet licorice tang of roasted fennel.
    Make the recipe
    Mixed raw sliced veggies with dressing on a plate next to a serving bowl.

    Super Cleansing Slaw with Rosemary Dressing

    by minimalistbaker.com

    This fresh and invigorating recipe uses cabbage, fennel, apple and celery to make a delicious slaw. Easy to customise with other seasonal veg!
    Make the recipe

    More ideas for fennel

    Still looking for more vegan fennel recipes or ideas? Here are some more ways we love to cook with fennel, and main dishes that go great with fennel sides:

    • For wild fennel, or if you have lots of leftover fronds, try our Wild Fennel Pasta with Vegan Chorizo.
    • To go with an orange and fennel salad, try our Vegan Tofu Souvlaki Skewers for a delcious Meditterranean inspired meal.
    • For a main to go with fennel based slaw, make our deliciously crispy Breaded Tofu.
    • For more tips and inspiration read our Fennel Flavour Pairing Guide.

    Fennel FAQs

    When is fennel in season?

    Fennel can be bought year round, but peak season in the UK is from late June to September. In the US, peak fennel time is in the colder months from winter through early spring, but this varies across the country.

    What does fennel taste like?

    Fennel is a Mediterranean vegetable with a refreshing aniseed flavour. It can be eaten raw or cooked. The strong licorice flavour becomes milder when it’s cooked. It can be an acquired taste, but we love it! 

    How do I choose a fennel bulb?

    Choose fresh-looking (not dried out), heavy and firm bulbs. The fronds should be green and not yellowing. Younger and smaller bulbs are often more tender and less stringy. 

    Which parts of the fennel bulb are edible?

    All of the fennel bulb is edible.

    In some older bulbs the stalks or the outer layer can be a bit too tough and stringy to be pleasant, so you may like to remove this depending on the bulb you have.

    The bulb also has a conical core which can get tough. If you want to remove this, cut the bulb into quarters and then slice out the core.

    The green, feathery tops can be used raw as a refreshing garnish.

    We hope you enjoyed this collection of fennel recipes! Be sure to check out guides to what else is in season now.

    Tell us your favourite vegan fennel recipes and share your ideas in the comments below.

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