42 fennel recipes

Want expert advice for growing your own crop? Learn how to grow your own fennel from our friends at Gardeners’ World.

For more seasonal stars, try our asparagus, peach and pea recipes.

When is fennel in season?

Fennel is available from late spring to early autumn – it's at its best from June to September.

Why we love fennel

Fennel, when raw, has a refreshing aniseed flavour with plenty of crunch in the flesh. When cooked though, it takes on a mellow sweetness. When prepping, don’t be too quick to discard the green fronds, which can be used as a garnish.

Health benefits of fennel

Fennel provides plenty of fibre and heart-friendly nutrients, like potassium. It's a good source of vitamin C, which helps support healthy skin. Not to mention, it's rich in antioxidants so may reduce inflammation in the body.

Best fennel recipes

Za'atar cottage cheese salad

Herby za’atar adds excitement to everyday cottage cheese in this fresh salad that's perfect for a light lunch or on the side of your favourite grilled meats.

Fennel pasta with a chilli citrus crumb

The caramelised fennel adds a mellow sweetness to this pasta recipe, while lemon zest and chilli add a little zing.

We've got plenty more delicious summer pasta recipes.

Fennel salad

This seriously simple recipe sees fresh fennel paired with a pomegranate molasses, lemon and sumac dressing. Use a mandoline or sharp knife to slice the fennel as thinly as possible.

For more fresh and crunchy sides, have a look at our chopped salad recipes.

Fennel bake

Put fennel at the heart of this easy Italian bake, the ideal indulgent side to serve with a Sunday roast.

Then check out our pasta al forno, tomato pasta bake, sausage pasta bake, baked feta pasta and more comforting pasta bake recipes.

Chicken, giant couscous and harissa broth

Giant couscous adds a springy texture to this wholesome broth, packed with plenty of protein from the chicken, plus spring greens and a kick of harissa.

To keep it veggie, opt for our cauliflower couscous salad.

Spring minestrone

Fennel joins an abundance of veggies in this hearty minestrone soup, topped with crispy pancetta and ready in under an hour.

Alternatively, serve our pea and mint soup.

Vegan risotto

Fennel, courgette, peas and parsley make for a wonderfully green risotto, flavoured with a little nutritional yeast in place of parmesan.

For another summery dish, try our tomato risotto.

Chicken schnitzel with pickled fennel

Serve your next crispy chicken schnitzel with a colourful side of quick-pickled radishes, flavoured with dill, cucumber and fennel.

If you like this, then you'll love our chicken schnitzel burgers, pork schnitzel and wiener schnitzel.

Fennel, peach and broad bean salad

Thin slices of raw fennel add a crispness to this salad, which also contains a brilliant medley of broad beans, peach, basil and courgette. It's dressed in a lemony red chilli dressing for extra zing.

Make the most of juicy peaches with our summery peach recipes.

Apple salad

Sliced fennel, apple and smoked mackerel come together in this fresh Nordic salad. Serve at lunch or as a starter accompanied by good bread.

We also have a fantastic mackerel caesar salad.

Confit fennel with Puy lentils

Fennel wedges are cooked low and slow in a bath of olive oil, making them deliciously tender. Pair with creamy goat's cheese, Puy lentils and fresh dill.

For a light dinner, try our miso roasted cauliflower, avocado and lentil salad.

Quick confit salmon with pickled fennel

This quick confit salmon with pickled fennel delivers big on flavour but takes less than an hour to prepare. Perfect for a posh midweek meal for two.

See all our healthy salmon recipes.

Seafood and fennel risotto

A sliced bulb of fennel (as well as fennel seeds) create the base for our best seafood risotto. With a little bit of know-how (and some soothing, meditative stirring), a creamy, umami-rich risotto with perfectly cooked rice is guaranteed – we'll help you get there with our top tips.

Check out more risotto recipes, such as our mushroom risotto, chicken risotto and healthy risotto.

Lamb, harissa and fennel salad

Sabrina Ghayour's punchy salad is inspired by her travels in Bangkok. She matches pan-fried lamb leg steaks with pomegranate seeds, fennel, fresh mint and a rose harissa dressing.

Got a jar of harissa to use up? Try our easy harissa meatballs.

Chicken, fennel and tomato ragout

This is an easy one-pot supper made with chicken breasts, fennel, a tin of tomatoes and a jar of roasted red peppers. The added new potatoes means this is a meal in one – no need to cook anything else.

Ditch the meat and enjoy our aubergine ragout for dinner.

Lemon chicken with charred leeks and fennel

This is a really easy midweek meal for one. It's ready in just 20 minutes and is under 300 calories, but is so packed with flavour that you won't notice.

For another weeknight winner, try serving lemon chicken with orzo.

Gravlax with fennel remoulade

Check out this fresh and vibrant cured salmon recipe with crunchy fennel remoulade for an easy dinner party centrepiece.

Or try our celeriac and apple remoulade.

Roast pumpkin and fennel with mushrooms

This warming recipe pairs fennel with pumpkin or squash and is ideal to serve on a wintery day, either as a vegetarian main or as a side dish.

We also have a comforting pumpkin risotto recipe.

Shetland mussels, fennel and white wine

Check out this easy mussels recipe with fennel and white wine, which comes from chef Jess Dennison of Edinburgh restaurant, 27 Elliot's.

We think you'll love our tarragon and vermouth mussels, ‘njuda mussels, miso mussels and the rest of our mussels recipes.

Whole roast John Dory with potato and fennel dauphinoise

A creamy fennel and potato dauphinoise makes the perfect bed for cooking John Dory on. This easy white fish dish is great for a satisfying Saturday night dinner.

For another showstopper, try our whole chilli and lemongrass sea bass.

Lamb neck and fennel salad

This succulent lamb recipe with a vibrant and crunchy fennel salad comes from East London restaurant, Sapling. Chef Jon Beeharry finishes this dish with wild garlic buds and flowers. If they’re in season and you can get some, do so – they add a super-garlicky edge to the dish.

Showcase lamb in our top lamb recipes, including lamb gyros, stuffed lamb breast and lamb hotpot.

Detox fennel juice

Fennel has long been used for liver and detoxification support. Its aniseed flavour is balanced by the tang of the green apple and kiwi in this smoothie recipe.

Mix up your morning with our beetroot, apple and ginger juice.

Mangetout, pea and fennel salad with smoked trout

This recipe for mangetout buddies fennel up with pea and smoked trout to pack in lots of big, fresh flavours and is ready in just 20 minutes.

Have a wholesome dinner on the table in no time with our healthy dinner ideas.

Fennel-stuffed sea bream

This is a very simple but stunning dish. Cooked and served whole, the fish look really impressive. Buy the freshest fish you can and ask the fishmonger for smallish bream – you want one-per-person size.

Alternatively, enjoy fried fillets of sea bream with peas.

Grilled lamb with roast fennel and spicy grape relish

Olia Hercules takes the rich, colourful pickings of an autumn harvest and adds an Eastern European twist to this impressive dinner for two.

Be inspired by Olia Hercules' Eastern European recipes, including Ukrainian cauliflower fritters.

Grilled squid and pickled fennel

Try this stylish squid dish from Spanish restaurant Parrillan Borough Yards in London. It's served with a squid ink sauce featuring chilli, ginger, shallots and brandy – so is sure to make an impression at dinner.

Browse our recipes for Spanish rice-stuffed squid, Spanish mackerel and Spanish-style hake, plus discover more Spanish-style recipes.

Radicchio, fennel and blood orange salad

Celebrate jewel-like blood oranges, fragrant fennel and bitter radicchio in this vibrant salad, sure to add some joy to your February dinner table.

We've also got more seasonal blood orange recipes.

Chicken schnitzel burgers

Transform chicken breasts into a crisp and golden schnitzel burgers, made satisfyingly crisp with a homemade buttermilk coating, and a green apple and fennel bulb slaw.

We've also got plenty more chicken burger recipes to try, including chicken parmigiana and buttermilk chicken burger.

Grilled oysters with fennel and lemon butter

This recipe for grilled oysters with fennel and lemon butter is a really impressive starter and a great way to introduce people to oysters. Your fishmonger can shuck the oysters if you prefer.

For another elegant starter, serve bloody mary oysters.

Cucumber and fennel salad

A super-quick green salad doesn't mean relying on a bag of leaves. This one, with finely sliced fennel and cucumber, is fresh and clean with a kick of chilli.

We think you'll love our punchy cucumber kimchi.

Salt cod croquettes with shaved fennel salad

Check out this recipe from Bandol, Chelsea. If you can’t get hold of salt cod, make your own using cod trimmings or thin slices of cod. Cover with rock salt for half an hour, wash thoroughly and dry with kitchen paper before using.

Our ham hock and pea croquettes make another delicious starter.

Spaghetti with fennel, tomatoes and ricotta

Spaghetti with fennel, tomatoes and ricotta makes a great, quick and easy midweek meal. Fennel is a simple addition, but adds an extra depth to the sauce.

For a hearty dinner, serve our best ever spaghetti bolognese.

Orange, pecan and cannellini salad with sautéed fennel and golden raisins

Persian cooking guru Sabrina Ghayour combines sweet orange, juicy raisins and caramelised fennel with crunchy pecans and a quick dressing to make this easy side dish.

Serve alongside some of her other easy recipes, such as lamb kofta puffs with tahini and tomato sauce or spiced cod fritters with harissa honey dip.

Simple crab cakes with fennel remoulade

Fennel has a lovely aniseed flavour that is a great match for fish and seafood. Remoulade is a classic French sauce made with a piquantly flavoured mayo. It’s often used to dress celeriac but this is a seasonal variation.

You'll love our chilli and ginger crab cakes.

Pork loin with fennel, chilli and garlic roast potatoes

For a roast that packs a punchy flavour, you can't go wrong with this easy-to-cook family favourite.

Save our recipe for the best ever roast potatoes so you can make them again and again.

Paprika crisps and fennel crudités

Whip up these quick and easy paprika crisps and fennel crudités with a mojo verde dip. Perfect for entertaining, they take only 10 minutes to prep with no oven required.

Got friends coming round? Check out our effortless summer dinner party ideas.

Sourdough with fennel and salami

The best antipasti is the one that can be made in minutes. This recipe is nothing more than toasted sourdough bread topped with fennel and salami but it's a winning combination. Make for a party, for dinner-party nibbles or as a light lunch.

If you've got a bit more time, try our grilled vegetable antipasti.

Harissa lamb with fennel, tomato and herb parcels

A great dish to feed a crowd, this lamb is best marinated overnight then grilled on the barbecue. The flavours of fennel, tomatoes and lemon go well with the rich meat.

We've got all the barbecue recipes you need to enjoy summer.

Pork jowl, burnt orange and fennel salad

Impress your friends and family at your next dinner party with this soft and tender pork with crunchy fennel salad. This showstopping dinner recipe comes from chef Johnnie Crowe of new London restaurant, Nest.

A good butcher should be able to provide you with pork jowl, if not you can use perfectly cooked pork belly.

Broad bean and fennel salad

This broad bean and fennel salad is full of fresh, crisp flavours with zesty lemon and a kick of chilli. It makes a great starter or side salad. Broad beans are at their best during the summer months.

Looking for new ways with broad beans? Try our broad bean, chilli and mint pasta.

Courgette pizza with capers, fennel and lemon

Try this moreish pizza with a garlic base smothered in thinly sliced fennel and courgette, with salty capers and a burst of lemon.

For a meat feast, give our pepperoni pizza a go.

Chargrilled asparagus and fennel salad

This delicious summer salad with fresh fennel, grilled asparagus, Parma ham and a crunch of almonds can be prepped in advance, then once the griddle is hot it won't take long at all. Great for entertaining.