Fennel is one of the sweetest and most aromatic herbs that have a long history. Fennel is a member of the carrot family. It is an attractive violet flower that can be used both fresh and dried. Although fennel is grown throughout the world, it is best known for its seeds which are used both as a flavoring for food and also for herbal medication.
When buying the fennel vegetable always check for larger fennel bulb as compared to compact bulbs since they are firmer and better in flavor. Larger fennel bulb give you more fodder. When the stems are attached to the fennel seeds, make sure they are crisp and bright green. In the supermarket you will find fennel vegetable seeds in the spice and herb section. The seeds can be stored for some time in the refrigerator and then just throw them away, if you want to try them again later.
There are a number of health benefits of fennel plant. The bulb is rich in vitamin C and iron. These are very good nutrients for your body since vitamin c is an antioxidant that helps keep you healthy and the iron is needed by the body to perform various functions. Apart from these nutrients, the fennel plant is also famous for its anti-cancerous properties. It contains phytochemicals that are good antioxidants. They help to get rid of free radicals that cause serious diseases.
Fennel bulb does not have a bitter taste and hence it is an excellent alternative for tomatoes. Unlike tomatoes, fennel vegetables do not change in flavor when they are cooked. You can use them fresh or pick them while still green to add more flavor to your dishes. In addition, there is no need to wait for the flowers to dry up; the fennel bulb will dry up within a few days.
You can cook fennel vegetable in different parts of the world. You can use it either to make salads or as a raw vegetable to add flavor to soups, stews and stir fries. It can also be cooked with different parts of meats to make curries. Fennel bulb has a nutty, spicy and sweet taste, so it pairs well with different parts of chicken, beef, turkey and pork. It is also very good in vegetable dishes because it maintains a balance in the nutritional value of your food.
The fennel bulb can be dried and smoked. However, if you want to preserve the freshness of the bulb, be sure to slice off the fronds and stalks before cooking. Dried and smoked fennel stalks and fronds are used in Mexican soups, stews, salads, baby dishes and vegetable dishes.