Fennel Seeds

Table of Contents

• What are Fennel Seeds?
• What does fennel seed taste like?
• How to use fennel seeds
• What does a fennel plant look like
• How do you get seeds from fennel?
• How to cook with fennel seeds
• Should fennel seeds be roasted or raw?
• How do you toast fennel seeds in a pan?
• Fennel Flavour pairings
• Spices that pair with fennel
• Popular spice blends using fennel seeds 
• Herbs that pair with fennel seeds
• Other ingredients that pair with fennel
• Fennel and alcohol
• Fennel is commonly used to flavour digestive alcoholic drinks
• Health Benefits of Fennel
• Commercial fennel seed uses
• What is a good substitute for fennel?
• Fennel Seed Recipes

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What are Fennel Seeds?

Fennel seeds (also known as fennel spice) are small aromatic seeds with a green to yellow-brown colour and are used to flavour sweet and savoury food, infuse alcoholic drinks, pickling juices, marinades and teas. In addition, fennel seeds are scientifically proven to hold many health benefits.

What does fennel seed taste like?

The seed’s distinctive smell and taste are similar to that of liquorice (or aniseed) with warm, earthy and slightly sweet undertones.

How to use fennel seeds

Fennel seeds add spice to dishes in countries across the world, particularly Italian specialities such as salami, porchetta, fish dishes and tomato-based stews. South Asian and Sri Lankan recipes use fennel seeds heavily as part of their famous ‘masala spice blends’ which form the base of a variety of meat, fish, vegetarian and vegan curries.

What does a fennel plant look like

Fennel has a round bulb that grows underground with a long, green, feathery top sticking straight up high out of the soil. The feathery leaves that resemble dill, can also be used as a herb garnish.

Among the leaves are small yellow flowers and this is where the fennel seeds are produced. Every part of the plant is edible, from the bulb, feathery leaves, flowers and of course the seeds.

How do you get seeds from fennel?

During the late summer/early fall season, as the fennel plant reaches the end of its flowering cycle, the small yellow sprouting flower heads turn brown. The heads are then cut off the plant and left to dry completely. Once completely dry, the seeds are easily shaken loose from the stalk.

How to cook with fennel seeds

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.

Should fennel seeds be roasted or raw?

To release the seeds maximum flavour you should always roast fennel seeds before adding them to your dish or crushing them down into a powder.

How do you toast fennel seeds in a pan?

The fastest method to toast fennel seeds is in a dry pan over medium heat, moving the seeds around the pan often until they become fragrant. They can then be added whole to your cooking or finely ground down into a powder.

Fennel Flavour pairings

Below you will find a list of spices and herbs that pair perfectly with Fennel

Spices that pair with fennel

Anise, star anise, dill seed, nutmeg, cardamom, black pepper, cumin, coriander seeds, cassia, cinnamon, turmeric, cloves and fenugreek.

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Popular spice blends using fennel seeds

Madras Curry Powder, Chinese 5 Spice, Garam Masala

Herbs that pair with fennel seeds

Parsley, dill, chives, coriander, lovage, mint, thyme, rosemary, tarragon

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Other ingredients that pair with fennel

Chicken, veal, pork, bacon, pancetta, lamb, white fish, salmon, trout, tuna, shellfish, potatoes, courgette, tomatoes, asparagus, onions, spinach, aubergine, cucumber, ginger, pecorino cheese, ricotta, halloumi, honey, lemon, orange, apple, pear, watercress

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Fennel and alcohol

Without realising it, you may have recognised the taste of fennel before you knew what it was. Fennel is one of the three main herbs used to make absinthe, an infamous alcoholic drink that was first invented as a medicinal elixir and became a popular “mind-altering” alcoholic beverage in Europe in the late 19th century.

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Fennel is commonly used to flavour digestive alcoholic drinks

Fennel is commonly used in Scandinavian distilled spirits such as the digestive akvavit. Infused into various digestive Italian liqueurs, the most globally known being Sambuca. And playing quite a dominant role along with anise, fennel is instantly recognisable in the French classic, Pastis (Pernod)

Health Benefits of Fennel

Fennel is said to have many health benefits, acting as a stimulant to digestion and producing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects. Chewed or soaked into tea, vitamins C, E and K, along with Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Potassium, Selenium, and Iron are also there to contribute to blood pressure and circulation.

Commercial fennel seed uses

Fennel seeds are widely used in Chinese medicine for their warming or yang properties. In this context, it is often used to treat ailments such as abdominal pain and loss of appetite. It’s also listed as an ingredient in cough medicine and is used to enhance soaps and perfumes.

What is a good substitute for fennel?

With such a distinct flavour it can be tricky to find a direct substitute but there are a few options possible. Here are four alternatives that can be applied to achieve similar results:

Anise, Liquorice root, Caraway Seeds, A Splash of Pernod (Patis)

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Fennel Seed Recipes

Below is a selection of sweet and savoury recipes using fennel seeds