Fennel can be quite the divisive vegetable. It’s got a distinct aniseed flavour that people tend to love or hate. I love fennel and still remember the first time I tried it. I was staying with a friend at her relatives house just outside of Milan. Fennel was served as the hero of a simple salad and I was won over by the fresh, sweet flavour. If you’re not sure about fennel, baking it is a great way to try it. You can season it and the flavour will mellow as it cooks.
Phenomenal fennel: Wash, halve and season fennel in tray. Image © Skye Gilkeson
There are many health benefits of fennel. It can be eaten raw or cooked. Fennel contains vitamin C ( anti-inflammatory), potassium (fights high blood pressure) and folate (women, eat up). Fennel is also known as one of the slimming vegetables. It can absorb excess water from the digestive system and eliminate toxins from the colon, which is great to keep the digestive system running efficiently, keep your weight stable and tummy flat.
Many people throw the fennel fronds away, but they contain important B vitamins like B6, niacin (heart health) and riboflavin (digestive health, fatigue fighting, metabolism boosting) among others. If you don’t like the fronds on their own, throw them in a fresh juice with some green apple, celery, lemon and lime. Delicious!
Fennel seeds are often used in herbal tonics and teas to easy digestive issues and fight infection. You’ll often find them in detox blends for their anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and digestive cleansing benefits.
Make our delicious Roasted Fennel with Parmesan here
Bake the fennel for just 10-15 minutes or until browning and soft. Image © Skye Gilkeson
Skye is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Fit Traveller.
She is a journalist, writer, photographer, intrepid traveller and a former personal trainer with a passion for helping others reach optimal health.
As a TV journalist and producer, Skye has worked for household names such as 60 Minutes, Sunrise, TODAY and Nine News. She has also written for Women’s Health, Fodor’s Travel and Yahoo7 Travel, among many others.
Equally comfortable in a 5-star resort or hiking a far-off mountain, Skye loves the unexpected and enriching life experiences that each trip brings and can often be found in a backstreet chatting to locals with her camera in hand.
Skye is based in Sydney, working to master the balance between motherhood and her appetite for adventure.
Read more about Skye’s story here.