Fennel in foil packets, tasty and light, are quickly prepared and make a great seasonal side dish. I flavored them with olives, capers, aromatic herbs, and a pinch of garlic and chili… but you can customize the seasoning as you like, or leave them plain, with just a drizzle of oil, salt, and pepper. To cook them, I used an air fryer to save time, but if you don’t have one, you’ll find oven instructions at the end. Before removing them from the basket, I opened the packets and let the fennel cook for a few more minutes with a sprinkle of breadcrumbs so they would dry out a bit from their liquid… if you prefer them moister, you can skip this step. Try the recipe because it’s really easy and very tasty!
Here are other ideas for you:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 2 People
- Cooking methods: Air frying
- Cuisine: Vegetarian
- Seasonality: Autumn, Winter
- Energy 61.35 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 5.70 (g) of which sugars 3.32 (g)
- Proteins 2.96 (g)
- Fat 2.20 (g) of which saturated 0.31 (g)of which unsaturated 1.08 (g)
- Fibers 4.98 (g)
- Sodium 361.81 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 200 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 2 fennels
- 1 tbsp green olives
- 1 tbsp Taggiasca olives (or black)
- 1 tbsp capers
- garlic powder (to taste)
- chili pepper (to taste)
- aromatic herbs
- breadcrumbs
- extra virgin olive oil
- salt
Tools
- Parchment paper
- Aluminum foil
- Air fryer
- Bowl
Preparation
Clean the fennels by removing the stems and the outer leaves. Wash them well and cut them into thin wedges.
Place them in a bowl, season with salt, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, chili pepper (if you like) and a handful of herbs to taste, including a bit of their fronds.
Mix and add the pitted olives and rinsed capers from salt (1).
Cut 4 squares of parchment paper large enough and distribute the fennels on them. Close the packets and wrap the top closure with a piece of aluminum foil, as shown in the photo (2).
The aluminum helps keep the packets closed and prevents the parchment paper from moving and touching the fryer coil.
Place the packets in the air fryer basket and cook at 375°F for 15 minutes.
After the time, cut the top part and open the parchment paper slightly. Sprinkle the fennels with a little breadcrumbs (3), then continue cooking, leaving the packets open, for another 4 minutes at 390°F.
Fennel in foil packets are ready, serve them hot, bringing them to the table directly in their paper so they retain all their aroma.
Tips and Notes
You can make 4 small packets like mine, or 2 larger packets.
You can flavor the fennels with aromatic herbs and spices to taste. You can also add some Parmesan, along with the breadcrumbs.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Can I cook the fennel in foil packets in the oven?
Sure, you can cook them in a fan oven at 355-375°F, for about 30 minutes.
