Tasty fennel baked in the oven, without béchamel, but with a flavorful walnut and rosemary mix… an easy and quick side dish that pairs with all seasonal main courses. The fennel is sliced and softened for a few minutes in a pan, then placed in a baking dish with the other ingredients, along with a bit of milk to facilitate baking. Try the baked fennel with walnuts, the recipe is very simple but truly delicious!
Here are more ideas for you:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 4 People
- Cooking methods: Oven, Stovetop
- Seasonality: Autumn, Winter
- Energy 106.22 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 4.42 (g) of which sugars 3.22 (g)
- Proteins 3.83 (g)
- Fat 7.52 (g) of which saturated 0.97 (g)of which unsaturated 0.53 (g)
- Fibers 3.35 (g)
- Sodium 121.15 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 160 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 fennel
- 1.4 oz walnuts (shelled)
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 sprig rosemary (or other herbs)
- breadcrumbs
- grated Grana Padano
- butter
- extra virgin olive oil
- salt
- pepper
Tools
- Baking dish
- Pan
- Cutting board
- Nutcracker
Preparation
Wash the fennel, remove the green parts and outer leaves, then cut into thin wedges.
Place them in a pan, with a drizzle of oil, salt, pepper, and a couple of tablespoons of water (1). Cook for about ten minutes, until they are fairly tender.
In the meantime, crack the walnuts, measure the indicated amount and chop them together with the rosemary and some fronds taken from the fennel tops. Optionally, you can add other herbs, such as thyme or sage.
Butter the baking dish (I used one with a 9.5 inches diameter) and sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
Arrange a layer of fennel and add a bit of the walnut and rosemary mix (2).
Form a second layer with the fennel and the remaining aromatic mix.
Finally, pour the milk and sprinkle the surface with breadcrumbs, grated Grana Padano, and a drizzle of oil (or a few knobs of butter) (3).
Place the dish in a fan oven at 375°F and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the surface is lightly golden.
Baked fennel with walnuts and breadcrumbs is ready, excellent both hot and warm!
Tips and Notes
You can pre-cook the fennel by steaming instead of using a pan.
You can arrange the fennel in a single layer, using a larger dish.
If your oven has aggressive cooking, reduce the temperature to 350°F and, if necessary, cover the dish with foil in the initial minutes.
FAQ
Can I avoid dairy?
Sure, you can omit the Grana Padano or replace it with a plant-based alternative.
You can replace the milk with vegetable broth.
