Monday, June 2, 2008

FENNEL SEEDS: Unexpected Must-Have Spice

It was a couple of months ago that I found a jar of fennel seeds tucked away in one of my cupboards. I was a little unsure of how to use this spice, so I just started throwing the seeds in with all sorts of stuff. I quickly discovered that I love the taste of fennel seeds and that by adding them to certain dishes, I am rewarded with increased dimension and flavor in an enjoyable, unobtrusive way. Fennel seeds are now regularly on my grocery list because I'm usually zipping through my jar.

I first fell in love with fennel seeds when I decided to add a teaspoon or so to my salad. Scrumptious! Then I thought it'd be groovy to add some to the vegetables that I was sauteing. Great! They add a very lively, while mellow, melt-in-your-mouth flavor. I like to add them both as a raw and a cooked ingredient. Because they are a hearty little seed, I tend to add them to dishes that have some chew, rather than soups or eggs.

It might just be me, but eating fennel seeds makes me feel happy. I often feel like I'm smiling when I'm eating them. I think they have some sort of magic.

Grab a jar and add a few to your favorite dishes. Your food will come alive with fennel seeds' gentle zing!

5 comments:

ram sire said...

ooohhhh niiiiiiiice.......

fennel is way underrated.

mom's got that awesome pasta w/ whole fennel recipe...

Anonymous said...

and fennel seeds are really helpful for stomach upsets and things like that, so you get an extra bonus from eating them - they taste good, and can help you feel better; apparently, in India, people chew fennel seeds to aid their digestion

Anonymous said...

I don't know, maybe it's just me, but you made me smile while reading your post. -Jules

Anonymous said...

As a member of the fennel seed advisory council, I have to say that this is the best rave about our not so well known product that has ever been written in the history of fennel seed reviews.

Thanks for the free advertising!

Anonymous said...

very nice; the fennel seed advisory council will be very pleased with the photograph