Fish Grilled In Fennel Food

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 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 FENNEL

Steps:

• Slice fennel bulb 1/8-inch, use feathery leaves for garnish. Combine for a marinade: Balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup olive oil, juice of orange and lemon, salt and pepper. Place sliced fennel in marinade for 1 hour. Fry in pan with the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil. Place 4 grilled fennel pieces on plate. Spoon 3 large tablespoons of the D'Abrigini on top of grilled fennel. Garnish with feathery leaves of fennel.

GRILLED FENNEL ON THE BBQ (ANISE IN FRENCH)

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, mustard, and garlic, salt and pepper to taste.
• Cut off fennel stalks, quarter fennel bulb lengthwise (she said some remove the core, she doesn't bother). Brush each fennel quarter with marinade.
• Prepare grill and preheat to medium. Grill fennel, turning several times with tongs, until slightly charred and crisp-tender. Can also be done on a ridged grill panel.

GRILLED FISH WITH FENNEL - PALAMIDA ME MARATHO

Steps:

• Combine the marinade ingredients in a bowl with the fish fillets. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet and saute the fennel for 5 minutes until softened. Add the white wine, lemon juice, and zest, salt and pepper and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until the fennel is tender and the sauce has thickened.
• Cook the fish fillets on an oiled cast-iron grill over medium heat, for about 5 to 7 minutes each side, depending on the thickness of the fillets, or until cooked. Baste with the remaining marinade ingredients while cooking.
• To serve, transfer the fennel to a platter, place the fish fillets on top, spoon any remaining sauce from the pan over the fish fillets and serve immediately.

FISH GRILLED IN FENNEL

Steps:

• Place garlic cloves in small saucepan, cover with water, and simmer 15 minutes, until they are tender. Drain. Mash by hand or purée in small food processor. Mince 1 shallot, mix with the garlic, add half the thyme and, by hand or machine, beat in 3 tablespoons olive oil and the juice of 1/2 lemon to make a paste.
• Cut 4 deep slashes in both sides of each fish. Rub the fish inside and out with some oil and juice of 1/2 lemon. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Fill slashes with garlic paste, and spread any remaining inside fish. Slice remaining shallot, and put slices in cavities. Slice one lemon, and put slices in cavities.
• Cut off fennel bulbs, and remove a few frond sprigs for garnish. For each fish, place about three fennel branches, fronds attached, side by side lengthwise on work surface. Place one fish on bed of fennel, and top with about three more branches with fronds. With butcher's cord, tie fennel around fish in 3 places. Drizzle with remaining olive oil.
• Heat grill, preferably charcoal. Heat oven to 425 degrees. Butter a shallow 4-cup baking dish.
• Slice off bottom half inch of fennel bulbs. Slice each bulb vertically, in 1/2-inch-thick slices. Place in saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil. Cook 3 minutes, drain and place in bowl of ice water. Drain and pat dry.
• Arrange fennel slices, partly overlapping, in baking dish. Scatter with remaining thyme. Drizzle with cream, and strew with cheese.
• Grill fish 10 to 15 minutes on each side, until tip of knife inserted in thickest part slips out easily and feels very warm when touched to your chin. While fish grills, place dish with fennel in oven, and bake about 15 minutes, until browned on top.
• To serve, snip off the strings around the fish, and remove the fennel. Remove the lemon and shallot slices from inside fish. Fillet fish, and arrange on platter; garnish with remaining lemon, cut in wedges, and reserved fennel sprigs. Serve baked fennel alongside.