Stewed Fennel Food

SAUSAGE AND LENTILS WITH FENNEL

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the lentils with 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and cover part-way to simmer for about 10 minutes (the lentils should be cooked just part-way through (there should be some liquid in the pan still).
• In a large skillet, heat 1 to 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Add the sausage and cook over medium-high heat, tossing regularly and breaking the sausage up with a wooden spoon, until fully cooked and browned.
• Push the sausage to one side of the skillet and add the fennel, garlic, onion, carrots, and fennel seed. Add broth and red wine vinegar.
• Add the par-boiled lentils to the sausage and fennel skillet. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and let simmer, partially covered, for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Taste and adjust seasoning. To serve, drizzle a bit of extra virgin olive oil on top. Serve immediately with your favorite crusty bread

BEEF FENNEL STEW

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• Trim the fat from the beef, and cut the beef into strips. Put the beef, onions, fennel, and roasted garlic into a large braising pan. Season the mixture with salt, and pepper. Pour the beer over the ingredients in the pan, submerging them. Cover the pan tightly with two layers of aluminum foil. Cook the stew in the oven for 8 hours. Transfer the stew to bowls, and garnish with fennel fronds.
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Cut the heads of garlic in half and sprinkle with extra-virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper, to taste. Wrap the heads in aluminum foil, and bake for 40 to 45 minutes.

STEWED FENNEL

Steps:

• Clean and trim fennel bulbs, cutting off fronds. Wash and finely chop fronds, and set aside. Cut bulbs into eighths, and place in a medium saucepan. Add olive oil and 1 1/2 cups water.
• Cover pan, and bring to a boil over high heat; then, immediately reduce heat to medium. Stir fennel, cover, and stew for 5 minutes. Add chopped fennel fronds, ground fennel seed, red pepper flakes, and salt to taste.
• Stir mixture, and raise heat to medium-high. Cook, covered, until liquid has nearly evaporated and fennel is thoroughly cooked and soft, about 10 more minutes. (If necessary, simmer uncovered for a few minutes to reduce liquid.) Remove pan from heat, and add lemon juice. Toss to mix well. Serve hot.

SEAFOOD STEW WITH FENNEL AND THYME

Steps:

• Combine mussels, 1 1/4 cups onions, wine, and 8 parsley sprigs in large pot; bring to boil. Cover and cook until mussels open, shaking pot often, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer mussels to large bowl to cool (discard any mussels that do not open). Strain cooking liquid into large measuring cup; discard vegetables in strainer. Add enough water to cooking liquid to measure 2 cups total. Remove mussels from shells if desired.
• Melt butter in same large pot over medium heat. Add remaining 1 1/4 cups onions, leeks, and fennel and sauté until leeks are soft, stirring frequently, about 7 minutes. Add reserved mussel cooking liquid, 4 parsley sprigs, clam juice, thyme sprigs, and bay leaves. Simmer uncovered until vegetables are tender and liquid has reduced by 1/3, about 25 minutes. Add halibut and scallops to broth and simmer until just opaque in center, about 4 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer halibut and scallops to bowl. Discard parsley sprigs, thyme sprigs, and bay leaves.
• Whisk crème fraîche and egg yolks in medium bowl to blend. Whisk in 1/2 cup hot cooking liquid from pot. Gradually stir yolk mixture into stew. Cook over medium heat until liquid thickens slightly, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes (do not allow mixture to boil). Return halibut, scallops, and mussels to pan. Cook until halibut is heated through, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup chopped parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Serve in warmed shallow bowls.
• *Crème fraîche is sold at some supermarkets. If unavailable, heat 1 cup whipping cream to lukewarm (85°F). Remove from heat and mix in 2 tablespoons buttermilk. Cover and let stand in warm, draft-free area until slightly thickened, 24 to 48 hours, depending on temperature of room. Refrigerate until ready to use.