16 Vegetarian Recipes with Fennel Seeds (2024)

Resources and Roundups August 4, 2022

posted by Christine Melanson0 comments »

Fennel seeds are a superstar ingredient in meatless cooking, providing depth of flavor at such a low cost! I am here to share some seriously tasty vegetarian and vegan recipes which benefit from this wonderful seed that can easily be found in your grocery store’s spice section.

16 Vegetarian Recipes with Fennel Seeds (1)

Are you looking for ideas to use up that mysterious jar of fennel seeds in your spice collection? Have you had to buy a jar for one recipe and now you want to use it up? Or have you recently fallen in love with them and want more, more and more ideas. Let me help!

Fennel seeds are a hidden gem and one of my absolute favorite things to cook with as a vegetarian. They are easy to find, cheap to buy, and yet they add so much to a dish. They are adaptable and fit into so many different cuisines. They can help you nail the flavor of meaty dishes you’ve been craving.

Before we start talking specifics, let’s answer any questions you may have…

Fennel Seeds 101

16 Vegetarian Recipes with Fennel Seeds (2)

What are fennel seeds?

Fennel seeds are dried whole seeds, harvested from the flowers of the fennel plant. They are generally a light sage green color.

Where can I buy fennel seeds?

You can get them in the herbs and spices section of a supermarket and they are not at all uncommon. Even if they’re not something you have come across before, you are unlikely to have any issue tracking them down.

What do fennel seeds taste like?

Fennel seeds give off a sweet, slightly aniseed, slightly licorice flavor. Not a harsh licorice like the candy, it’s more delicate than that and we use it sparingly.

Don’t be deterred if you don’t generally like aniseed flavors, because it’s really subtle and it’s part of a larger package of flavors. I don’t enjoy a shot of Ouzo or Absinthe, but fennel seeds in your cooking are not going to conjure that same vibe.

Will I like fennel seeds if I don’t like fennel bulb?

I include this question just to make the point that I really don’t enjoy fennel bulb, but I love fennel seeds, so please don’t leave fennel seeds out of a recipe because you don’t like fennel bulb.

(Like I did for many years, only to discover I was really missing out, and now I am obsessed enough to write articles about them on the internet. Go figure.)

What types of cuisine do you tend to find fennel seeds in?

Fennel seeds actually pop up all over the place and aren’t strongly linked to any one region. They feature in Chinese five spice mix, and in Egyptian Dukkah. You’ll see them in some curry recipes and Mexican and Tex-Mex seasoning blends. They also feature heavily in the kind of Italian sausage that’s so dominant in Italian American cooking.

I am not an expert in what’s actually authentic around the world, but I do see fennel seeds fitting into any of these flavor profiles really well.

How fennel seeds can benefit meatless cooking

Fennel seeds are a bit of a secret weapon for vegetarian cooking and I put that down to two main reasons:

  • They are source of concentrated umami flavor, and can give off a certain “je ne sais quoi” in a dish that you can’t think how to liven up. This is especially amazing when you consider how cheap they are.
  • They’re reminiscent of certain nostalgic meat based meals, so they can be very useful when you’re trying to recreate a dish into a meatless version of itself, especially Italian and Italian-American dishes.

So without further ado, I am going to introduce you to some recipes from my site which put fennel seeds to work! Enjoy…

Fennel seeds are a superstar ingredient in meatless cooking, providing depth of flavor at such a low cost! I am here to share some seriously tasty vegetarian and vegan recipes which benefit from this wonderful seed that can easily be found in your grocery store's spice section.

16 Vegetarian Recipes with Fennel Seeds (3)

Tuscan Butter Bean Bake

This white bean bake packs Italian inspired goodness into every bite, with fennel seeds and red pesto adding so much flavor.

16 Vegetarian Recipes with Fennel Seeds (5)

Spaghetti with Breaded Halloumi Balls

Tasty breaded halloumi stands in for meatballs in this fun vegetarian dinner! The breading mix has fennel seeds and smoked paprika for a deep flavor that goes perfectly with a creamy tomato sauce.

16 Vegetarian Recipes with Fennel Seeds (6)

Halloumi Pizza

That same breaded halloumi makes a pizza topping in this tasty recipe, which is sort of like putting spicy halloumi fries on pizza and calling it a day. This is great for those who like their pizza a little on the "extra" side.

16 Vegetarian Recipes with Fennel Seeds (7)

This pasta recipe brings together lots of tasty umami ingredients to make something date-night worthy from a batch of oyster mushrooms.

16 Vegetarian Recipes with Fennel Seeds (8)

A lentil bake is kind of a tough sell, but the combination of spices here makes it so, so good. You'll be surprised at this one!

16 Vegetarian Recipes with Fennel Seeds (9)

Smoky, fennel-y halloumi and chickpeas contrast with a creamy herby dressing in this substantial salad recipe.

16 Vegetarian Recipes with Fennel Seeds (10)

A tasty concoction of Mediterranean flavors come together to make a batch of truly epic vegan smashed potatoes.

16 Vegetarian Recipes with Fennel Seeds (11)

Smoky Roasted Lentils

Roasting lentils with fennel seeds and smoked paprika gives them an incredibly tasty edge, making a great salad topper or sandwich / wrap filler when you may be missing something "meaty".

16 Vegetarian Recipes with Fennel Seeds (12)

Vegetarian Zuppa Toscana with Lentils

A copycat Olive Garden recipe, this uses fennel seeds to recreate the smoky Italian sausage flavor so common in Italian-American cooking.

16 Vegetarian Recipes with Fennel Seeds (13)

This soup uses fennel seeds in the same way, evoking a smoky sausage flavor within the creamy broth. One of my favorite ever soups.

16 Vegetarian Recipes with Fennel Seeds (14)

Vegan Rigatoni with "Spicy Sausage" Lentils

And again, we're using fennel seeds to flavor lentils into something resembling crumbly Italian sausage. Nope, I'm really not bored of this yet!

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Vegetarian Stuffed Pepper Casserole

Strips of bell pepper are cooked alongside the deliciously spiced tomato lentil sauce to bring you the flavors and textures you love from a vegetarian stuffed pepper - but in a faster and easier casserole form!

16 Vegetarian Recipes with Fennel Seeds (16)

In this recipe, the fennel seeds comes in via the Dukkah coating on the feta. It's a simple sheet pan meal that gets a big upgrade thanks to this amazing spice mix.

16 Vegetarian Recipes with Fennel Seeds (17)

Halloumi Breakfast Hash

Old school diner meets trendy brunch spot in this delicious vegetarian breakfast plate where fried halloumi tops a potato and pepper hash. The fennel seeds and smoky spices ensure this tastes amazing and varied with every bite.

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Taco Spiced Green Lentil Soup

This is not your average lentil soup! With an amazing combination of spices and flavors and toppings, this is another super economical meal that tastes even better than you might be expecting.

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posted by Christine Melansonon August 4, 2022

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16 Vegetarian Recipes with Fennel Seeds (2024)

FAQs

What can I cook with fennel seeds? ›

Whether you use fennel seeds for pickling vegetables, seasoning sausage or making a crust for fish or beef, you'll soon realize that these aromatic seeds can elevate the most basic recipes. Fennel seeds also offer vitamins, minerals and fiber, so you can feel good about working them into your weekly meal plan.

What vegetable goes well with fennel? ›

Apples, beetroot, Brussels sprouts, celeriac, corn, cucumber, garlic, grape, grapefruit, green bean, guava, kohlrabi, lemon, mushroom, olive, orange, peach, pear, pomegranate, potatoes, tomatoes, watercress, watermelon. Dill, elderflower, thyme, chickpea, cumin, chervil. Chicken, fish, mussels, sausage.

How many fennel seeds to use? ›

For this reason, you only need to use a teaspoon to 1 tablespoon (about 2 to 6 grams) of dried, whole fennel seeds in most recipes. If you're making tea with fennel seeds, you'll only need about 1 teaspoon. To use: Crush or grind whole fennels seeds just before you add them to your cooking or tea.

What is the best way to eat fennel? ›

Serve the wedges as a side dish with a squeeze of lemon or add them to a salad. You could also remove the tough core pieces and toss the roasted fennel with pasta or add it to a hearty vegetarian lasagna.

Who should not use fennel seeds? ›

Hormone-sensitive condition such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: Fennel might act like estrogen. If you have any condition that might be made worse by estrogen, do not use fennel.

What is the best way to consume fennel seeds? ›

You can have roasted fennel seed powder with warm water on an empty stomach to get better results. By helping your stay full for longer (due to high fibre), fennel seeds are also considered appetite suppressants. This may also improve your weight loss goals and make it easier to avoid overeating.

What meat does fennel pair with? ›

It's also great with chicken, pork or cheese. Not forgetting fennel seeds for those all-important pops of flavour. We've pulled together our favourite fennel recipes; from fresh and crunchy, to mellow and sweet and some tasty uses of fennel seeds! Enjoy.

What pairs with fennel seed? ›

Fennel seeds can be used whole or toasted and ground down into a powder. They pair especially well with tomato-based sauces, roasted vegetables, fresh fish dishes, beef and chicken but the most pleasing pairing is definitely with pork.

What fruit pairs with fennel? ›

Citrus: Fennel pairs well with citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, and limes. Herbs: Fennel pairs well with fresh herbs such as dill, parsley, and thyme. Cheese: Fennel pairs well with cheeses such as parmesan, feta, and goat cheese. Nuts: Fennel pairs well with nuts such as almonds, hazelnuts, and pine nuts.

Can I eat fennel seeds raw? ›

Diet. Fennel has a crunchy texture and mildly sweet flavor, making it a pleasant addition to any dish, whether eaten raw or cooked. A person can eat all parts of the fennel plant or use the seeds as a condiment.

What happens if we drink fennel seeds water daily? ›

Regular consumption of fennel seeds water may help reduce inflammation in the body, which can be beneficial for individuals with inflammatory conditions or chronic diseases influenced by inflammation.

Should I crush fennel seeds? ›

How to prepare fennel seeds. You'll get more flavour out of fennel seeds by grinding or toasting them. To grind, either crush in a pestle and mortar, put in a sealed food bag and bash with a rolling pin, or whizz to a powder in a clean coffee grinder.

What part of fennel can you not eat? ›

Technically speaking, all parts of the plant are edible, but most people will find the stalks too tough and fibrous to eat. The leaves can be chopped and used to flavor salads, dressings, marinades and sauces. They tend to have a slightly more citrusy flavor than the base. The base (or bulb) is delicious raw or cooked.

Why do you soak fennel in water? ›

If you're especially sensitive to licorice flavor, you may even find raw fennel to be too pungent for your tastes. To tone down the flavor, Chowhound suggests slicing or chopping fennel and soaking it in water for half an hour.

Is it better to eat fennel raw or cooked? ›

Both raw and cooked fennel have health benefits. Neither one is better than the other.

What are the most common uses for fennel? ›

The fennel bulb can be eaten raw, sliced wafer-thin and added to salads; or it can be steamed, baked, braised or roasted and is commonly used in Italian and French cuisine. Just make sure to cut out the tough inner stalk before slicing or cutting into wedges.

What does fennel taste good on? ›

Serve it alongside chicken, lamb or fish for an easy and delicious weeknight side dish! Roasted fennel is one of my favorite side dishes for fall and winter; it goes well with just about any roast—especially chicken and lamb, or with a simple soup like Stracciatella.

How do you prepare fennel seeds for eating? ›

How to prepare fennel seeds. You'll get more flavour out of fennel seeds by grinding or toasting them. To grind, either crush in a pestle and mortar, put in a sealed food bag and bash with a rolling pin, or whizz to a powder in a clean coffee grinder.

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