Best Grilled Fennel Recipes

GRILLED SALMON WITH CITRUS-FENNEL SALAD AND GRILLED ESCAROLE

Steps:

• Preheat a gas grill to medium-high or prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill.
• Brush both sides of the salmon with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill the salmon, skin-side down, for 3 to 4 minutes with the gill lid closed. Open the grill, flip the salmon and cook and additional 3 to 4 minutes for medium doneness.
• Meanwhile, brush the escarole with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. On a slightly cooler area of the grill (medium heat) place the escarole cut-side down, and grill until it begins to char and the leaves have wilted, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat, season with a squeeze of lemon juice; reserve.
• In a bowl, toss the fennel, fennel fronds, onions and orange segments together until combined. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice over the salad; season with salt and pepper and toss to combine.
• To serve, divide the grilled escarole among 4 plates. Lean a salmon filet on the escarole on each plate and top with the citrus-fennel salad.

GRILLED HALIBUT WITH FENNEL AND ORANGE

Steps:

• Heat a grill to medium-high heat or have a ridged grill pan ready. Cut 1 of the oranges in half and squeeze 2 tablespoons juice. In a medium bowl, combine olive oil and juice. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the mixture over fish. Sprinkle paprika over fish; let stand 10 minutes.
• Peel remaining orange and separate into sections. Add the orange sections and fennel to the bowl; toss with olive oil mixture.
• Grill fish (or cook in a heated ridged grill pan over medium heat) 4 minutes per side or until fish is opaque in center. Transfer to serving plates and top with fennel and orange mixture and sea salt. Garnish with tarragon if desired.

MEDITERRANEAN GRILLED WHOLE SNAPPER WITH FENNEL AND A PERNOD BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the grill to high.
• Rinse the snapper in clean water. Pat dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. Remove any large fins with sharp kitchen shears. Season the inside of the fish with salt and pepper.
• Remove the leafy green tops from the fennel heads. Using the greens from 1 of the fennel heads, stuff the inside of the fish. Reserve the fennel bulbs and the remaining greens. Add the thyme and oregano and press closed. Make 3 diagonal slices on each side of the fillet. Cut down to the bone. Insert 1 lemon slice into each slit. Brush the whole fish with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Clean the surface of the grill with a grill brush. Brush the surface of the hot grill with olive oil. Place the stuffed red snapper on the preheated grill at a 45 degree angle and cook for about 10 minutes or until the fish easily lifts off the grill. With 2 spatulas, carefully turn 90 degrees and continue to cook another 5 minutes. Turn fish and cook the other side to desired doneness, at least another 10 minutes. Do not overcook.
• Meanwhile, cut the reserved fennel bulbs into 1/4-inch slices. Drizzle with olive oil and place on the grill. Grill until tender and golden brown, about 4 minutes per side. Remove to a platter and keep warm.
• For the sauce: Place a small saucepan on the grill or on a burner over medium heat. Add the water and bring to a simmer. Add the lemon juice and Pernod and reduce by 1/3. With the remaining reserved fennel leaves, remove the tender inner leaves and chop finely. You should have about 1/4 cup chopped fennel. Set aside. Remove the water/lemon mixture from the heat and whisk in the butter, a few pieces at a time. When the butter is incorporated, add the chopped fennel leaves and whisk well. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
• When the fish is cooked and the flesh is opaque and lifts easily from the bone, carefully remove using 2 sturdy metal spatulas and place on a platter.
• Serve the fish with some of the Pernod butter sauce and grilled fennel.

SPICY GRILLED PORK WITH FENNEL, CUMIN AND RED ONION

Steps:

• Season pork lightly with kosher salt and put it in a bowl or resealable bag.
• Juice the lime into a blender or food processor and add cilantro, fish sauce, garlic, jalapeño and honey. Blend until the jalapeño and garlic are puréed, then add fennel, cumin, coriander seeds and pulse four or five times to bruise the spices and mix them in.
• Pour mixture over the pork, tossing to coat the pieces. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes while you heat the grill, or up to 24 hours.
• When ready to cook, heat the grill or broiler with a rack positioned 4 inches from the heat source.
• Thread the pork onto skewers, leaving a little space between cubes. Grill over the highest heat possible, or broil on high, for 2 to 5 minutes, then flip the skewers and continue cooking until the meat is browned all over and charred in spots. It should be just cooked through: A little pink is OK, but there shouldn't be any red spots.
• Serve the pork with cilantro sprigs and onion slices on top, and lime wedges on the side for squeezing.

ARTICHOKE, FENNEL, ASPARAGUS, GREEN BEAN AND FRESH SUMMER TRUFFLE SALAD, TOPPED WITH GRILLED HALIBUT FILLET IN A TRUFFLE VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Trim outer leaves of artichokes all the way to the heart. Cook artichoke hearts in simmering water with lemon juice for approximately 7 to 8 minutes. Cool down in an ice water bath, and then cut into small sections.
• Peel and cook asparagus for 1 minute in simmering water. Cool down in an ice water bath to keep green. Cut each spear into 3 pieces, on the bias.
• Trim and snip green beans. Cook in boiling water for 2 minutes. Cool down in an iced water bath to keep green.
• Clean and trim fennel. Cut out center part, and then cook in boiling water for about 40 minutes, or until tender. Cool down in an iced water bath. Cut into even wedges.
• Slice fresh summer truffle very finely with a sharp knife, and set aside. In a small salad bowl, mix the shallots, olive and truffle oils, sherry vinegar, and salt and pepper, to taste. Set dressing aside.
• Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Season halibut with salt and pepper, and grill on both sides until cooked through (fish should be opaque in the center).
• On 4 large dinner plates, arrange baby lettuce, artichokes, asparagus, green beans, and fennel. Place halibut in the center on top, dribble with vinaigrette, and garnish with fresh summer truffle slices.

GRILLED OYSTERS WITH FENNEL BUTTER

Steps:

• Prepare and light a grill or preheat the oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
• In a small bowl, blend together the butter, ground fennel seeds, shallots, fennel bulb, fennel greens, pepper and salt.
• Arrange the oysters on the grill or oven rack, cover and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until they start hissing and begin to open.
• Using an oyster knife, pry each oyster open at the hinge, loosen the oyster and discard the flat shell. Top each oyster with 1/2 teaspoon of the fennel butter. Return to grill and cook until butter is melted and hot.

GRILLED FISH WITH ORANGE-FENNEL SALSA

Steps:

• Whisk 2 tablespoons oil, vinegar, cilantro, 2 teaspoons soy sauce, ginger and sugar in medium bowl. Cut peel and white pith from oranges; discard. Holding oranges over bowl to catch juices, cut between membranes to release segments into bowl. Add fennel and onion; toss gently. Season with salt and pepper. (Salsa can be made 3 hours ahead. Cover; chill.)
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Mix 3 tablespoons oil, 1 tablespoon soy sauce and garlic in glass pie dish. Turn fish in oil mixture to coat. Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper. Grill until just opaque in center, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to plates. Spoon salsa over.

SUNNY'S EASY GRILLED LONDON BROIL WITH TOMATO AND FENNEL SALAD

Steps:

• For the steak: In a small bowl, mix together the chili powder, salt and pepper. Sprinkle it all over the London broil and rub. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and rest for 2 hours.
• For the salad: In a large bowl, add the tomatoes, parsley, fennel bulb and fronds and garlic. In a small bowl, whisk together the agave nectar, red wine vinegar, olive oil, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Pour this mixture over the vegetables and toss. Rest at room temperature, tossing halfway through, for about 2 hours.
• Preheat a grill to high heat and leave one side of the grill off for indirect heat. Unwrap the steak and drizzle it with olive oil. Place the steak over the direct heat of the grill and cook for 5 to 6 minutes. Flip the steak, moving it to the indirect heat side, close the grill and cook until the internal temperature registers 130 degrees F for medium rare. Remove from the grill, cover gently with aluminum foil and rest for 10 minutes.
• Slice the meat against the grain, top with the tomato salad and serve.

GRILLED HALIBUT WITH FENNEL, RED ONIONS AND OREGANO

Steps:

• Heat a grill pan or outdoor grill over high heat.
• Drizzle extra-virgin olive oil over the fish and season with salt and pepper. Grill 4 minutes on each side until fish is firm but not tough and cooked through. Grill bread alongside or char under broiler then dress with extra-virgin olive oil, salt and pepper as well.
• Preheat a skillet over medium-high heat.
• While fish cooks, peel the orange as you would a melon: cut off ends, stand it upright and cut off skin and pith in thin strips from top to bottom. Cut orange across into thin slices.
• To preheated skillet add extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan, the fennel and onions, season with salt and pepper and cook 3 to 5 minutes until seared and beginning to soften. Add vinegar to the pan and give it a shake. Remove from heat and toss in the oranges, the parsley and oregano. Adjust seasoning and serve salad on dinner plates topped with fish, and seasoned bread alongside.

GRILLED PANCETTA-WRAPPED TROUT WITH VERJUS, CRUSHED GRAPES, AND FENNEL GRATIN

Steps:

• Heat a medium sauté pan over medium heat for 1 minute. Add the butter, and when it foams, stir in the red onion. Add the thyme, a healthy pinch of salt, and a pinch of black pepper. Sauté about 10 minutes, until the onion is translucent and soft. Add the sorrel to the pan, and stir to combine. Turn the heat up to medium-high, add the cream, and cook, stirring continuously, about 3 minutes, as the cream reduces and coats the onions. Taste for seasoning, and transfer to a plate to cool completely.
• Lay the trout, skin side down, on a cutting board, open like a book. Season lightly with salt and pepper, and spread the sorrel onions on one side of each fish. Fold the fish back together, and wrap each trout with a piece of pancetta, spiraling the meat around the fish like the stripe on a candy cane. Refrigerate the fish until 15 minutes before cooking.
• Light the grill 30 to 40 minutes before cooking.
• Meanwhile, using a mortar and pestle, pound the grapes until they're partially crushed. Transfer to a bowl, and stir in 2 tablespoons olive oil, the parsley, a healthy pinch of salt, and a pinch of black pepper.
• When the coals are broken down, red, and glowing, brush the trout with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the trout 3 to 4 minutes on each side, rotating the fish a quarter-turn after a couple of minutes, to get the skin crispy.
• Scatter the watercress on a large platter, and place the trout on top. Spoon the warm verjus sauce over the fish, and top with the crushed grapes. Serve the fennel gratin at the table.
• Place the grapes, shallot, and verjus in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add 1/8 teaspoon salt, and simmer until the liquid is reduced by three-quarters. Let the mixture cool until lukewarm.
• Transfer to a blender, and, with the motor running, add the cold butter a little at a time, blending until the butter is just incorporated. Taste for seasoning, and add a little lemon juice, a pinch of pepper, and more salt if you like. Return the sauce to the pan, cover, and keep in a warm place. Reheat just before serving.
• Preheat the oven to 425°F.
• Toast the fennel seeds in a small saucepan over medium-high heat 2 to 3 minutes, until they release their aroma and are a light gold color. Using a mortar and pestle, pound the seeds coarsely.
• Trim the root end of the fennel, cut the stalks off where they meet the bulb, and peel off any outer layers that are brown or bruised. Cut the bulb in half lengthwise, leaving the core intact. Place the halves, cut side down, on a cutting board, and slice the fennel thinly lengthwise. You should have about 6 cups of sliced fennel.
• Toss the fennel in a large bowl with the onion, thyme, bay leaves, fennel fronds, fennel seeds, and 1/3 cup olive oil. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a pinch of pepper.
• Slice the potatoes on a mandoline into 1/16-inch-thick slices. Toss the potatoes in a medium bowl with the cream and 1 teaspoon salt.
• Add the potatoes and parsley to the fennel, scraping all the cream into the bowl. Toss well to combine, and taste for seasoning.
• Arrange one layer of potato slices in the pan, overlapping them slightly, on the bottom of a gratin dish. (For this recipe, I like to use a copper or black iron dish, so the potatoes get extra crisp.)
• Toss the remaining fennel-potato mixture again, and arrange it over the layer of potatoes. Pour all the remaining creamy juices over the top. Bake about 45 minutes, until the potato is cooked and the fennel is golden and slightly crispy on top.
• You can stuff and wrap the fish the morning before you plan to grill it. Both the fennel gratin and the verjus sauce can also be prepared ahead of time and reheated before serving.

GRILLED STRIPED BASS WITH LEMON AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Whisk first 3 ingredients in medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Make three 1/2-inch-deep diagonal slits in skin on each side of fish. Brush fish generously inside and out with garlic oil. Sprinkle fish inside and out with coarse salt. Stuff slits with half of fennel fronds. Place remaining fennel fronds inside fish. Place fish in grilling basket. Top fish with lemon slices, overlapping slightly. Close grilling basket (fish and lemon slices should be secured by basket). Grill fish until cooked through, about 10 minutes per side. Remove fish with lemon slices from basket and carefully transfer to platter. Serve.

GRILLED FENNEL AND ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium-high.
• For the vinaigrette: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the garlic paste, lemon juice and zest, vinegar, salt, pepper and chili flakes. Gradually whisk in the olive oil. Cover and set aside.
• For the salad: Add the asparagus and fennel to the vinaigrette and toss to coat well. Brush the grill with some canola oil. Place the vegetables on the grill and cook until just caramelized and charred on all sides, about 4 minutes. Set aside to cool briefly.
• Heat a small saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and the pine nuts; toast until just golden brown, about 2 minutes. Set aside to cool in the pan.
• Slice the asparagus on the bias into 1-inch pieces. Core the fennel halves, then slice them 1/8- inch-thick. Add the asparagus and fennel back to the vinaigrette. Add the currants, olives, toasted pine nuts, arugula, salt and pepper. Toss well. Let sit for 5 minutes to allow the salad to absorb the vinaigrette. Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with the shaved Pecorino.

CRISP GRILLED SALMON WITH FENNEL-OLIVE RELISH

Steps:

• Heat grill to medium; brush grates with vegetable oil. Drizzle both sides of salmon with olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Place salmon on grill, skin-side down, and cover. Grill, without moving fish, until just opaque in center and skin is crisp, 7 to 9 minutes. Using 2 spatulas, transfer fish to a platter. Drizzle lemon rounds with olive oil; grill until lightly charred, about 2 minutes a side. Transfer to platter; sprinkle with fennel fronds. Serve, with relish.

GRILLED "TRICOLORE" SALAD WITH RADICCHIO, FENNEL AND PARSLEY

Steps:

• Light a grill and preheat for at least 10 minutes or preheat a grill pan. Brush the cut sides of the radicchio and fennel with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the radicchio with one of the cut sides down and the fennel over moderately high heat until the radicchio is charred and the fennel has dark brown grill marks, about 2 minutes. Turn the radicchio so the other cut sides are down and flip the fennel and grill for about 2 minutes longer.
• Transfer the radicchio and fennel to a cutting board and let cool slightly. Thinly slice the radicchio crosswise, discarding the core. Slice the fennel lengthwise 1/3 inch thick and discard the core.
• In a bowl, whisk the vinegar with the mustard and honey. Gradually add the 1/4 cup of olive oil in a thin stream, whisking. Add the radicchio, fennel and parsley leaves to the dressing and toss well. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer the salads to plates. Using a vegetable peeler, shave some pecorino on top, then serve.

HOT SMOKED TURKEY SAUSAGE SANDWICHES WITH GRILLED ONIONS, FENNEL AND PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cut the stalks off the fennel and slice the bulb lengthwise into 1/2-inch slices. Cut the onion crosswise into 1/2-inch thick slices. Lightly brush both sides of fennel, onion, and peppers with olive oil. Grill the fennel, onion, and peppers over medium heat for 10 to12 minutes, turning once. Remove from the grill and cut away the root from the fennel. Split peppers in half and remove seeds. Chop fennel, onion, and peppers into 1/2-inch pieces. Over low heat and applewood, hickory or oak, smoke the sausages for 30 minutes until they are no longer pink in the center. Toast the hoagie rolls. Fill rolls with apple chutney, sausage, peppers, onion and fennel. Top with more apple chutney and shaved aged provolone.
• In a medium size saucepan lightly caramelize onions in oil over medium heat. Add garlic and ginger and saute for 5 minutes. Add apples and pickling spice. Gradually add apple cider. Cook until apples are just tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

FENNEL- AND DILL-RUBBED GRILLED SALMON

Steps:

• Finely grind fennel seeds in spice mill or coffee grinder. Transfer to small bowl. Mix in next 5 ingredients.
• Spray grill rack with nonstick spray. Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Brush salmon lightly on both sides with olive oil. Rub spice mixture generously over flesh side of salmon. Place salmon, skin side up, on grill rack; cover and cook until fish is slightly firmer, about 8 minutes. Slide rimless baking sheet under salmon to turn salmon over without breaking. Place another rimless baking sheet atop salmon. Using both hands, firmly hold baking sheets together and invert salmon; slide salmon, flesh side up, off baking sheet and onto grill rack. Cover and grill until just opaque in center, about 8 minutes longer. Using rimless baking sheet, remove salmon from grill. Gently slide salmon, flesh side up, onto platter and serve.

SUMMER FRESH TOMATO SALAD WITH GRILLED CORN AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Brush corn and fennel slices with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Place vegetables on a heated grill and grill until corn is a light golden brown and fennel is crisp tender. Remove vegetables from grill and set aside to cool. Meanwhile, in a large bowl whisk together the remaining olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt, black pepper, oregano and crushed red pepper flakes. When corn and fennel are cool, cut off the corn kernels and add to bowl with vinaigrette. Then coarsely chop the fennel and add to the bowl along with the remaining ingredients, except for the Romano cheese shavings. Mix lightly to coat evenly. Spoon onto serving platter, top with Romano cheese shavings and serve room temperature. Serves 6.

FISH GRILLED ON FENNEL OR DILL

Steps:

• Preheat a charcoal or gas grill (for broiling instructions, see the variation below). The fire should be quite hot and the grill rack should be about 4 inches from the heat source.
• When the grill is ready, make a bed of the fennel or dill stalks. Sprinkle the fish lightly with salt and pepper, and lay it (skin side down, if there is a skin side) directly onto the fennel or dill. Close the grill if possible, and cook, without turning, until the fish is done; it will be just about opaque all the way through and offer no resistance to a thin-bladed knife in about 10 minutes.
• While the fish is cooking, mince or grind the fennel seeds. Cut about 1 inch off each end of the lemon, and juice those pieces; slice the remaining lemon thinly.
• When the fish is done, remove it from the grill, leaving as much of the stalks behind as possible (some of the burned fronds will adhere to the fish; they are fine to eat in tiny quantities). Sprinkle the fish with the fennel or dill seeds, then decorate it with the lemon slices. Drizzle with lemon juice and olive oil, and serve.

GRILLED BRINED SALMON AND EGGPLANT WITH FENNEL CUCUMBER RELISH

Steps:

• Bring water, brown sugar, salt, and 6 tablespoons granulated sugar to a boil in a 5-quart pot, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Transfer 6 cups brine to a 13- by 9-inch glass or ceramic baking dish, then stir in dill and cool. Transfer remaining 4 cups brine to a large bowl and add remaining 4 tablespoons granulated sugar, stirring until dissolved, then cool completely.
• Marinate salmon, skin sides up, in brine in baking dish, chilled, 1 hour. (Do not turn salmon.) Put eggplant in brine in bowl, then invert a small plate over eggplant and weight it with soup can (to keep eggplant immersed). Marinate eggplant at room temperature 30 minutes. (Do not brine salmon or eggplant longer than indicated or they will be too salty.)
• Prepare charcoal or gas grill for cooking.
• Remove salmon from brine and pat dry, discarding brine. Remove eggplant from brine, then rinse and pat dry, discarding brine. Toss eggplant with oil and pepper to taste in a bowl.
• When fire is moderate (you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack for 3 to 4 seconds), grill eggplant on lightly oiled grill rack, turning once, until golden, about 4 minutes total. Transfer to a platter with tongs and keep warm, covered.
• When fire is moderately low (you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack for 5 to 6 seconds), grill salmon, starting with skin sides up and turning once, until just cooked through and skin is crisp, about 8 minutes total.
• Serve salmon over eggplant.

GRILLED FENNEL AND ORANGE SALAD WITH NUTS AND MINT

Steps:

• Preheat grill to high.
• Brush fennel with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and season season with salt and pepper.
• Grill for 3 to 4 minutes per side until slightly charred.
• Remove from grill to serving platter and scatter orange segments over the top.
• Whisk together orange juice, orange zest, 1/4 cup olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Drizzle over salad and sprinkle with sliced almonds and mint.