The Mediterranean baked gratinated fennel is a light, simple, and easy-to-prepare side dish. It is a lively and colorful dish that recalls Mediterranean flavors with black olives, capers, and cherry tomatoes. There is indeed a play of textures, with crunchy fennel, juicy but soft cherry tomatoes, and slightly crispy breadcrumbs. It’s a side dish that will surely be liked by both adults and children. If you like tasty oven-baked side dishes, you can also try:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 3 People
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients for preparing Mediterranean baked gratinated fennel
- 2 fennel
- Half red onion
- 10 cherry tomatoes
- 12 black olives
- 8 capers in salt
- 2 tablespoons pecorino romano (grated)
- 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
- to taste extra virgin olive oil
Tools
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Spoons
- Baking tray
Steps to make Mediterranean baked gratinated fennel
To prepare the Mediterranean baked gratinated fennel, first clean the fennel well by removing the outer and tougher parts, wash them well, and then slice them not too thick. Then place them in a large bowl. Wash the cherry tomatoes well and cut them in half; I used Piccadilly cherry tomatoes, but you can also use datterini or cherry tomatoes. Add these to the fennel, then put in the black olives and capers. I used the salted ones; I washed them well under running water and added them to the rest of the side dish. Add 2 tablespoons of grated pecorino romano, season with salt and black pepper, add extra virgin olive oil, and 3 tablespoons of breadcrumbs. Mix everything well so that it is well seasoned.
Meanwhile, preheat the static oven to 392 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius). Take a baking tray; you can use baking paper or oil the tray well as I did, and spread the fennel side dish over it. Finally, drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil. When the oven is hot, bake the side dish for about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, let it cool slightly, and serve. Your Mediterranean baked gratinated fennel side dish is ready to be served! Delicious!
Storage and Tips
You can store the fennel in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
If you want an even tastier side dish, you can add more onions, or garlic, or add aromatic herbs, for example, dried oregano.
If you don’t like pecorino, you can opt for grated grana or parmesan.
