Vermouth-Braised Fennel With Parmesan
SERVES 4
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425°F. Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
Meanwhile, trim the bottoms of the fennel bulbs and cut off the green tops. Cut the bulbs vertically into slices ¾ inch thick. Add the fennel slices to the boiling water and cook until just tender enough to pierce with a fork but still firm, about 6 minutes. Drain thoroughly in a colander.
With a slotted spoon, transfer the fennel slices to a 2-quart casserole. Drizzle evenly with the melted butter and sprinkle with the minced garlic. Then drizzle with the vermouth and sprinkle evenly with half of the Parmesan. Bake uncovered until the fennel begins to brown, about 30 minutes.
Remove from the oven and serve topped with the remaining Parmesan.
By itself, raw fennel has a strong licorice-like flavor. But when blanched, its flavor mellows wonderfully. I have been making this recipe for more than 25 years and I always come back to it when I want to serve something extra special to guests.
Ingredients
4 large fennel bulbs
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 garlic cloves, minced
½ cup white vermouth
½ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese