Skillet Braised Fennel
Fennel is one of the most versatile vegetables, especially when pan-roasted and braised as it is here. Its fresh licorice-like bite mellows into a caramel sweetness, which tastes great hot, warm, or cold.
Category
Main Course
Servings/Yield
4-6
Author
Lior Lev Sercarz, from "Mastering Spice" by Lior Lev Sercarz
Ingredients
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1 teaspoon fennel seeds (2 grams)
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1⁄2 teaspoon caraway seeds (2 grams)
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1⁄2 teaspoon celery seeds (1 gram)
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1⁄2 teaspoon
Mix together the whole fennel seeds, caraway seeds, celery seeds, and Urfa.
2 medium fennel bulbs, bottoms trimmed, cut into 8 (1⁄2-inch) wedges each
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Extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt
1 orange, ends trimmed (leave the rest of the peel on), cut into 8 (1⁄2-inch) wedges
1⁄4 cup golden raisins
Juice of 1⁄2 lemon
11⁄2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
Spice Blend
Fennel
Directions
To prepare the fennel: Put the fennel wedges in a large bowl, drizzle with enough oil to evenly coat, and sprinkle with the main spice blend and a generous pinch of salt. Toss to coat.
Heat a 12-inch skillet over high heat for a minute. Add the fennel in a single layer, arranging the wedges in tight concentric circles, leaving no space between the pieces (reserve the bowl that held the spiced fennel). Reduce the heat to medium-high and cook until the fennel is deeply browned in spots but not burned, about 3 minutes.
Use tongs or a small offset spatula to flip all the fennel wedges and cook until the bottoms are browned, about 5 minutes. Flip the pieces again and reduce the heat to medium. Cook, flipping the pieces and rotating the skillet as needed to redistribute hot spots and prevent any burning, until the fennel wedges are evenly browned, about 2 minutes. Return the fennel to the reserved bowl.
Add enough oil to the skillet to coat the bottom (about 2 tablespoons) and place the orange wedges in a single layer, spacing them apart. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, turning once, until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
Quickly return the fennel to the skillet, arranging it in the same tight concentric-circle pattern. Fit the orange between the fennel in concentric circles. Add 1⁄4 cup water to the bowl that held the fennel and then pour it into the skillet along with any spices and accumulated juices.
Scatter the raisins on top, then add the lemon juice and sprinkle with the vinegar. Cover and adjust the heat to maintain a low simmer, turning the fennel and orange slices just once as they cook, until the fennel is tender with just a little bite and has an even caramel color, about 15 minutes. Uncover, remove the pan from the heat, and serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.
Recipe Note
Recipe from "Mastering Spice" by Lior Lev Sercarz.
Photo © Thomas Schauer
Questions? Contact helen@laboiteny.com
