Rosemary Braised Fennel Food

ROMAN-STYLE BRAISED FENNEL

Steps:

• In a 12-inch high-sided skillet, melt butter over medium. Add shallots, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly golden, about 5 minutes. Add oil and garlic, and stir until fragrant, 1 minute. Add fennel, wine, lemon juice, oregano, parsley and 1½ cups of water, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over high, stirring to evenly coat the fennel in the liquid. Arrange the fennel in an even layer.
• Cover, reduce heat to medium and braise until fennel is tender, about 30 minutes, stirring and flipping halfway through.
• Transfer fennel to a serving platter, and spoon over the shallots and sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley, and serve warm or at room temperature.

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.

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.