Best Fennel Spring Salad Recipes

SPRING APPLE AND FENNEL SALAD WITH DIJON VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• For the salad: Place the apple, sliced fennel and fennel fronds in a large bowl. Add the dill, radish and cucumber and toss all together.
• On a larger platter, layer the butter lettuce and top with the sliced veggies.
• For the apple cider vinaigrette: Add the vinegar, honey, mustard, shallot, a big pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper in a small bowl and whisk together. While whisking, slowly pour in the olive oil until fully combined. Taste and add more salt and pepper, if needed.
• Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and top with the Pecorino.

SPRING SALAD WITH FENNEL AND ORANGE

Steps:

• Whisk together the sugar, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, basil, and olive oil in a small bowl until the sugar dissolves; set aside. Toss the salad greens, sliced fennel, orange, onion, almonds, and cranberries in a large bowl. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to serve.

NEW POTATO SALAD WITH FENNEL AND SPRING PEAS

Steps:

• For the potatoes and peas: Add 6 cups water, 3 tablespoons of salt, and potatoes to a heavy-bottomed pot. Turn heat to high, partially cover, and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, blanch peas: Bring 6 cups of water with 3 tablespoons of salt to a boil. Prepare an ice bath with 1 tablespoon of salt. Add peas to the boiling water and cook until the water comes up to a boil again, 2-3 minutes. Taste to verify that the peas are fully cooked; then strain, place peas into the salted ice bath to halt cooking, and set aside. Check potatoes periodically by piercing the largest one with a fork. They are done when the fork goes all the way through with no resistance. Turn off the heat and let the potatoes sit in their water, 4-5 minutes longer. While potatoes are cooking, prep the rest of the ingredients (Step 2).
• Vinaigrette: In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, add vinegar, olive oil, sugar, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer to dissolve and incorporate all of the ingredients. Remove from heat and set aside. Meanwhile, prepare the fennel by removing the fronds (reserving them for later use) and use a mandoline to slice into thin strips. Add the sliced fennel to a bowl, along with the green onions and warm vinaigrette. Toss to coat and set aside.
• Assembly: Drain the peas and fully cooked potatoes. Cut the potatoes in half and add directly to the fennel while they are still warm; toss so the vinaigrette is absorbed into the potatoes. Roughly chop the fennel fronds (about ¼ cup), and cut the mint and basil into a rough chiffonade (about ¼ cup total); add to the salad. At the last minute, to avoid discoloration, add the peas. Toss again and serve.

FENNEL SPRING SALAD

Steps:

• Slice the red onion and chop the shallots very thinly and put aside. Peel the skin of the oranges and cut out the orange segments. Cut the fennels in two then slice them very thinly. Save any fennel small green growth for decoration.
• Mix most of the shallot and all the fennel together in a large bowl. Add in a few drops of cider vinegar and good quality extra virgin olive oil. Mix well, cover and leave to marinate for at least half hour.
• Serve the fennel salad on the serving plates, sprinkle in the rest of the shallot, place the mozzarella balls and orange segments around each plate and display the red onion rings and fennel green stalks (as well as capers if you like them). Drizzle some more olive oil, grind some pink pepper and sea salt. If you want, you can add a drizzle of reduced balsamic vinegar for effect.
• If the taste of raw fennel is slightly too strong for the balance of your meal, you can blanch the fennel for 1 minute to mellow it before slicing. If you do, plunge it briefly in cold water and dry it before slicing.