Best Pickled Fennel Recipes

ARUGULA SALAD WITH QUICK-PICKLED GRAPES, FENNEL, PEAR AND BRIE

Steps:

• To assemble the salad: add the arugula to a large serving bowl. Top with the brie, fennel, pear and grapes. Top with the dressing and toss to combine.
• Add the vinegar and 1 cup of water to a small saucepan and heat over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then turn off the heat and add the grapes. Let the grapes sit in the warm liquid for 20 minutes and then drain. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Add the vinegar, olive oil, mustard and a pinch each of salt and pepper to a jar, secure the lid and shake vigorously to emulsify. Set aside until ready to dress the salad.

PORK AND FENNEL SAUSAGE SANDWICH WITH PICKLED HOT PEPPERS, BROCCOLI RABE AND PROVOLONE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Chill a large metal bowl and all the grinder parts until very cold.
• For the sausage: Assemble the grinder with the chilled parts using the large-holed grinding plate. Combine the pork, garlic, fennel pollen, salt, crushed red pepper flakes, fennel seeds and Parmesan in the chilled metal bowl. Pass the meat through the grinder back into the chilled metal bowl. Switch to the medium-size plate and pass the ground meat through again. Add 1/4 cup ice water and quickly knead the meat mixture together with your hands.
• Fit the horn (stuffing attachment) onto the grinder. Grease the horn with oil and gently slide the hog casing onto the attachment, leaving about 2 inches at the end. Add meat to the hopper and turn the grinder on. Let the air run through the casing until the meat starts to come out. Once you see the meat, turn the machine off and knot the casing end. Turn the machine back on and keep feeding the meat mixture into the machine. Using your other hand, guide the casing off the horn as it fills. Continue until you run out of casing, leaving a short tail on the end.
• Form the filled casing into links by gently pinching and then twisting it. The sausage links should be equal in size, 3 to 4 inches each. Tie each twist with twine and puncture the links all over with a teasing needle or sausage pricker. You should have 8 to 10 links total.
• For the toppings and assembly: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Blanch the broccoli rabe until bright green, about 30 seconds then use a slotted spoon or spider to transfer to a bowl. Leave the water on the heat for the sausages. When cool enough to handle, Squeeze out the excess moisture in the broccoli rabe and roughly chop. Set aside.
• Reduce the blanching water to low heat so it is hot, but not bubbling. Carefully drop the sausages into the hot water and poach for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until they reach an internal temperature of 150 to 156 degrees F. Remove from the poaching liquid and place on a baking sheet.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium saute pan and add the onions with a pinch of salt. Sweat the onions until translucent, 5 to 7 minutes, then add the cherry peppers and broccoli rabe. Toss everything together and add a splash of the pickled pepper brine. Season to taste with salt. Remove to a bowl and wipe out the saute pan.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in the same pan over medium heat and brown sausages on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Lower the heat if they start to burst.
• Open the hoagie rolls and use your fingers to scoop out some of the bread from the top part of the roll. Brush the cut sides of each roll with olive oil and place open faced on a baking sheet. Toast in the oven until warmed through until lightly golden, about 5 minutes.
• Lay provolone slices on the toasted rolls and melt in the oven, 3 to 4 minutes. Cut the sausage links apart, remove the strings and slice on a bias. Lay the slices over the melted provolone and top with the broccoli rabe-pepper mix and more provolone. Transfer back to the oven to heat through and continue melting cheese, 3 to 5 minutes.

SWEET AND SOUR PICKLED FENNEL

Steps:

• Inspect 2 jars for cracks and rings for rust, discarding any defective ones. Immerse in simmering water until fennel is ready. Wash new, unused lids and rings in warm, soapy water.
• Place sliced fennel in a colander and rinse well.
• Combine water, vinegar, and salt in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the fennel, sugar, olive oil, and chives; stir to combine. Bring back to a boil and cook for 3 minutes.
• Remove fennel from the cooking liquid with a slotted spoon and pack into sterilized jars. Fill the jars with the hot cooking liquid, leaving 1/2-inch head space. Wipe the tops of the jars with a clean cloth. Place lids on the jars and tighten.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars 2 inches apart into the boiling water using a holder. Pour in more boiling water to cover jars by at least 1 inch. Bring to a rolling boil, cover, and process for 15 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot with a jar lifter and let rest on a kitchen towel, several inches apart, for 12 to 24 hours. Press the center of each lid with a finger to ensure the lid does not move up or down. Remove the rings for storage and store in a cool, dark area for 1 week before consuming.

HEIRLOOM TOMATO SALAD WITH PICKLED FENNEL

Steps:

• For pickled fennel:
• Toast star anise, aniseed, coriander seeds, fennel seeds, and cumin seeds in a small skillet over medium-low heat, stirring often, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Bundle toasted spices, lemongrass, and orange zest in a piece of cheesecloth and tie with kitchen twine to make a sachet. Place sachet and fennel in a 1-quart jar or bowl.
• Bring vinegar, sugar, salt, and 1/2 cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar and salt. Pour vinegar mixture over sachet and fennel and let cool; discard sachet. Cover fennel and chill at least 12 hours.
• DO AHEAD: Pickled fennel can be made 2 weeks ahead. Keep chilled.
• For assembly:
• Combine large and cherry tomatoes, vinegar, and 6 tablespoons oil in a medium bowl; season with salt and pepper. Let sit at room temperature 30 minutes.
• Before serving, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a medium skillet over high heat. Cook Cubanelle peppers, tossing often, until charred in spots, about 4 minutes.
• Serve tomato salad topped with peppers, pickled fennel, and fennel fronds.

PICKLED CAULIFLOWER SALAD WITH CHANTERELLES AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Pickled cauliflower:
• Combine all the ingredients in covered container and refrigerate for at least 24 hours.
• Salad:
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a small baking pan add the mushrooms, oil, salt, and crushed red pepper, to taste, and toss to coat. Roast until the mushrooms are soft and golden around the edges, about 12 to 15 minutes
• Toss together the mushrooms, fennel, onion, arugula, fennel fronds, and pickled cauliflower in a large bowl. Toss with some big fat finishing oil and a little of the pickling liquid. Taste and add salt, if needed. The salad should be very flavorful without being soggy. Arrange on individual serving plates and serve.
• What a salad- it's springtime on a plate!
• The pickled cauliflower adds a lot to this salad but it is a MUST DO ahead. Also, a big batch of these can be made and reserved in the refrigerator

PICKLED FENNEL

Steps:

• Cut fennel bulbs in two vertically. Slice out and discard solid core and slice each piece very thinly, horizontally. Place fennel in colander in sink or large bowl, and sprinkle with salt; toss to mix. Let rest for 1 hour.
• Using a zester that removes in strips, remove half the zest from orange and lemon. Juice orange and lemon, set juices aside, and sterilize a 1-quart canning jar and its lid in boiling water for several minutes.
• Combine salted fennel and orange and lemon strips, and toss well to mix. Pack mixture into jar and set aside.
• In a small saucepan, combine orange juice, lemon juice, vinegar, sugar and crushed peppercorns. Bring just to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Pour mixture into jar of fennel, using a skewer to remove air bubbles and allow all liquid to fit in. Seal jar with lid and allow to cool. Marinate at room temperature for two days; may be stored at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

SHAVED FENNEL & RADISH SALAD WITH PICKLED PEACHES

Steps:

• First, make the pickled peaches. Put the peach slices in a bowl and set aside. Tip the remaining ingredients into a saucepan with 50ml water and bring to the boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and leave to cool for 10 mins. Pour the mixture over the peaches and leave to pickle for at least 30 mins, or up to a few hours.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the almonds and fennel seeds on a baking tray, drizzle with the rapeseed oil, and sprinkle over the smoked paprika and a little salt. Toss to coat. Bake for 8 mins, or until toasted and slightly crisp.
• Pull away any tough outer leaves from the fennel bulbs (you can keep these to use for stock). Trim the bases, and remove the stems and fronds (again, reserving these for stock, if you like). Slice the bulbs in half along their cores, then lay them, cut-side down, on a chopping board. Very finely slice each half into half-moons, then tip into a bowl and drizzle with the lemon juice. Meanwhile, drain the pickled peach slices.
• Drain the radishes and combine with the fennel and a large pinch of salt. Leave to sit for a few minutes, then stir in the peaches, most of the cheese and half the herbs. Drizzle with the olive oil and scatter over the toasted almonds and fennel seeds. Garnish with the rest of the herbs, and a bit more cheese.

PICKLED FENNEL

Steps:

• Wash three pint jars with lids in hot soapy water, and rinse well. (You can use canning jars and lids, but you don't have to.)
• Wash fennel, and cut away any bruises or bad spots; trim ends and slice into very thin rings. Cut three 1-inch-long strips of peel from orange. Remove any pith from peel.
• Bring 1 1/2 cups water, vinegar, salt, and sugar to a boil in a large pot.
• Meanwhile, fill each jar halfway with fennel. Place 1 orange rind and 2 pieces star anise on top of fennel. Fill jar with remaining fennel, using the back of a clean spoon to pack it down. Leave 3/4 inch of space beneath the rim.
• Pour hot liquid over fennel, covering it by 1/4 inch and leaving 1/2 inch of beneath the rim of each jar. Place lids on jars, and let stand until cool. Store jars in refrigerator; serve within 3 to 5 days.

PORK SAUSAGE WITH PICKLED GRILLED FENNEL, RICOTTA, AND ARUGULA

Steps:

• In a bowl, toss the fennel in 1 teaspoon of the oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the fennel on a grill or in a grill pan over high heat and cook until slightly charred, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and transfer to a bowl. Add the white wine vinegar, toss, and set aside in room temperature to marinate for 1 hour or more.
• Shape the sausage into four patties. Add 3 teaspoons of the oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook for 5 minutes on each side. In a bowl, toss the arugula in the remaining 1 teaspoon oil and the balsamic vinegar, and season with salt and pepper.
• Cut the ciabatta rolls in half. Place the fennel on the bottom halves, followed by the sausage patties. Top with the ricotta and arugula. Close the sandwiches and serve.

PICKLED CARROTS AND FENNEL WITH DILL AND CORIANDER

Steps:

• In a small saucepan over high heat, bring 2 cups water to a boil. Remove from the heat and add the salt, peppercorns, coriander, and garlic. Let cool and then add the mixture to 2 quarts cold water.
• Layer the carrots, fennel, dill, and chiles in a crock or a large glass jar. Pour the brine over the vegetables, covering them completely. Put a small plate on top so that it keeps everything submerged. Store in a cool (65° to 70°F is ideal), dark room for about a week, checking every day or so and skimming off any mold or foam that rises to the top. The pickles are done when they are pleasantly sour and tangy but still firm. Refrigerate for up to 3 weeks.

GRILLED BRISKET WITH PICKLED FENNEL

Steps:

• To make the pickled fennel, sterilize a large mason jar. Remove the lid and put it and the jar in a large saucepan of water over high heat. Bring to the boil and let it sit for 10 to15 minutes. Put the jar and the lid on a clean tea towel to dry.
• Put the vinegar, 1 cup water, sugar, cloves, and fennel seeds in a large saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to low and stir to dissolve the sugar. Add the fennel to the saucepan with the pickling liquid and bring it back to a simmer. Cook for 7 to 8 minutes, or until the fennel is tender.
• Transfer the fennel and liquid to the sterilized jar. Tap the jar as you pour in the liquid to release any air bubbles. Seal the jar well with its lid.
• Fill a medium saucepan with water over high heat. Put the jar in the boiling water, turn the heat off and allow it to sit there for 20 minutes, to create a vacuum seal. Set aside the jar on a cloth to cool down completely.
• Meanwhile, make the spice mixture for the brisket. Use a mortar and pestle or food processor to grind or process the garlic powder, coriander, paprika, brown sugar, black pepper and sea salt to a coarse powder.
• Rub some of the spice mixture into the brisket on all sides, put in a ziplock bag or covered baking dish and add the remaining spice mixture. Put in the fridge and marinate for at least 5 hours or overnight.
• Preheat the barbecue to high. Take the brisket out of the ziplock bag. The dry spice mixture will have drawn moisture from the meat, so give it a light wipe before placing it on the barbecue. Cook for 30 minutes, turning every 5 minutes, to create a beautifully dark colour and crust.
• Reduce the heat to low and cook for 2 1/2 hours, turning every 30 minutes and brushing with the remaining spice mixture every 10 to 20 minutes. Remove the brisket from the heat, wrap in foil and allow to rest for 20 minutes before slicing.
• I like to serve this brisket on a massive platter with the pickled fennel, a few brioche slider buns, slaw, lemon wedges and aïoli.