The wild fennel sauce is a simple but highly aromatic sauce with a dark color.
It is a traditional Sicilian recipe.
A humble preparation rooted in peasant tradition.
Tasty yet digestible and light.
Wild fennel is rich in fiber and aromatic compounds, making the sauce flavorful without resorting to more elaborate ingredients.
Besides being a delicious and irresistible pasta condiment, it is excellent for seasoning meat or fish.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 2 People
- Cooking methods: Stove
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 1 bunch wild fennel
- 1 pinch garlic powder
- 1 cup cup tomato sauce (homemade)
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch mixed peppercorns (with grinder)
- 5.6 oz whole wheat spaghetti (square)
- as needed breadcrumbs (or whole wheat breadcrumbs)
Suggested Tools
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- 1 Pan with lid preferably glass
Preparation
Clean the wild fennel by selecting the tips, leaves, and the most tender part of the stems.
Wash them thoroughly.Bring water to a boil in a pot.
Add the wild fennel and blanch for 2-3 minutes.Transfer the wild fennel to a colander and let it drain well.
Keep the fennel cooking water aside for cooking the pasta.Pat it dry with kitchen paper.
Separate the fronds and cut the stems into pieces.
In a pan, heat a dash of garlic powder.
Pour the tomato sauce and bring it to a light boil.
Add a pinch of salt and grind the pepper.
Add the wild fennel and let it simmer: the longer it cooks, the more aromatic and darker it becomes.Your wild fennel sauce is ready.
In a small skillet, toast some breadcrumbs or whole wheat breadcrumbs – be careful not to burn it: whole wheat breadcrumbs are already dark colored.
Cook the pasta in the wild fennel cooking water if you kept it, rinse it under running water and drain.
Meanwhile, heat the wild fennel sauce.
Pour the pasta into the pan with the sauce and mix.Plate up.
Finish with breadcrumbs or whole wheat breadcrumbs and grind a little more pepper.Your pasta with wild fennel sauce and breadcrumbs is ready.
Enjoy your meal!
Storage, Tips, and Variations
For a more intense sauce, you can add aromas such as cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves to the preparation.
For a more flavorful sauce, you can add to the preparation of your wild fennel sauce:
– a couple of well-drained anchovies in oil, chopped into pieces;
– a handful of pine nuts.
Besides being a delicious and irresistible pasta condiment, it is excellent for seasoning meat or fish.
Store the sauce in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
FAQ
When is wild fennel harvested?
The plant is available year-round, but the most common harvesting periods for fresh consumption are from late autumn to late spring.
Where does wild fennel grow?
Wild fennel grows spontaneously in the Mediterranean area.
It thrives in fallow fields, along walls, and paths.How to substitute wild fennel
If you cannot find wild fennel, you can use fennel fronds.
