A little fennel story
Simply Fresh brings to your doorstep organic fruits and vegetables from certified farmers in Europe.
Origins:
Fennel is native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean area.
Description:
Fennel is a popular winter bulbous vegetable. When raw, fennel has a cold, crisp and crunchy texture and a very refreshing quality.
When cooked and caramelized, fennel takes on a flavor similar to that of licorice candy or anise.
Hea lth benefits?
Fennel is high in vitamin C, fibre and potassium with its own unique combination of phytonutrients. It a strong antioxidant. It also helps to maintain healthy levels of cholesterol, reduce high blood pressure and protect eyes from premature aging and macular degeneration. Additionally, the most fascinating phytonutrient compound in fennel is anethole—the primary component of its volatile oil. In animal studies, the anethole in fennel has repeatedly been shown to reduce inflammation and to help prevent the occurrence of cancer.
T ips:
Choose fennel with fresh-looking greens on long branches. The bulbs should be bright white with no discolorations or soft spots.
How to store it?
Store fennel in a tightly sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator. Double-bagging may be required to cover all the fronds entirely.
In the kitchen:
- Cut raw fennel bulbs lengthwise into thin slivers and use them in all kinds of citrus salads or slaws. Remember to remove most or all of the fennel’s core as it has the tendency to be quite tough when eaten raw. Also, the green fronds of fennel can be added into salads as well.
- Fennel bulbs can be chopped into pieces for roasting in the oven, sautéing with olive oil or braised. Also, they are great for building background flavor in a stew or braise.
Price (average)
$13.80/500g
Product sheet and photo credit courtesy of Simply Fresh
