Braised Fennel Wedges With Saffron And Tomato Recipe

Fennel is a natural with seafood, so you might pair this dish with halibut or seared scallops. But it’s also good with rice, and black rice makes for an especially dramatic — and delicious — pairing. Be sure to leave the core in the fennel bulb. It’s what holds the wedges together.

+ ENLARGE

Photo: Christopher Hirsheimer and Melissa Hamilton

These braised fennel wedges are best enjoyed alongside seafood dishes or rice.

 

Servings:4

Ingredients

2 large fennel bulbs

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, thinly sliced

2 teaspoons fennel seeds

good pinch of saffron threads

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1 garlic clove, crushed

3 tablespoons tomato paste

1 1/2 cups fennel stock, chicken stock, or water

sea salt

1 tablespoon butter

freshly ground pepper

minced fennel greens or fresh flat-leaf parsley

Directions: 

1. Trim off the stalks and greens from the fennel bulbs. (Mince the greens for a garnish. If there are none, you can use parsley.) If the outer thick leaves of the bulbs look tough and scarred, as they often do, take a slice off the base to loosen them and set them aside for another use.
2. Halve each bulb lengthwise and cut the halves into wedges about 1 1/2 inches at the widest part.
3. Heat the olive oil in a wide sauté pan over medium-high heat. When hot, add the onion and fennel seeds, crumble in the saffron and thyme and then cook until the steam releases the color from the saffron, after several minutes.
4. Add the fennel wedges and cook them until golden, turning them and the onions occasionally. Once they are well colored, add the garlic, stir in the tomato paste and then add the stock and 1 teaspoon salt.
5. Scrape the pan to release the juices, then cover and simmer until the fennel is tender, another 15 minutes.