Braised Fennel With Rosemary Food

BRAISED FENNEL

Steps:

• Cut the green stalks from the top of the white fennel bulbs and cut the brown, round stump from the base. Cut fronds from stalks. Chop the fronds and set aside 2 tablespoons for serving. Cut bulbs in half 4 times, making 8 wedges out of each.
• Melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Add fennel wedges, flat-side down, and brown for 3 minutes. Flip and cook for about 2 minutes more. Add garlic and thyme and cook for 30 seconds. Add wine and deglaze the pot, scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Let wine reduce by half. Pour in chicken broth and orange juice.
• Reduce heat to medium. Cover and simmer until fennel is very tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Plate fennel. Sprinkle with salt and garnish with orange zest and fennel fronds.

BRAISED FENNEL WITH ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Bring 2 to 3 cups of water to a boil in a small pot and blanch the garlic cloves for 3 to 4 minutes; drain. Heat 1 tb. of the oil in a small skillet over medium heat and brown the garlic until golden all over. Cut the leaf stalks and the hard butt ends from the fennel bulbs, leaving just the bulbous stem, a piece 2½ to 2½ inches long. Halve the small bulbs lengthwise; quarter the larger bulbs. In a large skillet, heat the remaining oil and the water over medium heat. Add the fennel in a single layer and the rosemary. (If you have more fennel than your skillet can accommodate in a single layer, save half the oil and rosemary to cook with half the fennel in a second batch.) Cover and cook the fennel, turning once or twice, until water cooks away and the fennel is tender and browning, about 15 minutes. If the fennel begins to brown before it feels tender, add a little more water; if it becomes tender before browning, raise the heat or take off the lid to speed browning. When the fennel is tender and browned, add the garlic and olives to warm through. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with lemon slices.

BRAISED FENNEL

Steps:

• Trim stalks flush with fennel bulb and cut each bulb lengthwise into quarters, or halves, if using small bulbs.
• In a heavy saucepan large enough to hold the fennel flat in one layer, melt 1 tablespoon butter over moderate heat.
• Add fennel garlic, thyme, and toss to coat with butter.
• Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Add wine and chicken stock.
• Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cover.
• Braise for 15 to 20 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.
• Stir in remaining tablespoon butter.
• Reseason with salt and pepper, to taste.

ROSEMARY BRAISED FENNEL

Steps:

• Trim the stalks from the fennel. Discard or reserve for a vegetable stock. Quarter each bulb and carve out the core at the base, leaving just a thin portion of the core so the quarters won't fall apart as they cook.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in two batches, add the fennel in a single layer without crowding. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes on each side until golden, shaking the pan from time to time. Set the first batch aside on a plate, add a little more olive oil to the pan, and brown the other batch. Return all fennel pieces to the pan.
• Sprinkle with salt and rosemary. Add the wine, stock, and lime juice. Bring to a simmer and cover. Turn the heat to medium-low and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, until tender. Remove the lid, turn the heat up to medium-high, and cook for 5 minutes, until the juices are syrupy. Serve warm, at room temperature, or cold.