Citrus and fennel are one of my favorite flavor combinations. The slight sweetness of the aniseed of the fennel is perfectly balanced by the fresh tartness of lemon.
As ever, be careful if you’re using a mandolin.
You’ll need (serves two):
- 1 large fennel bulb (reserve the fronds)
- 1 Meyer lemon
- 1 small cucumber/half a large cucumber
- 2 T chopped parsley
- 1 T chopped mint
- 1 t red wine vinegar
- olive oil
- salt
- white pepper
1.Trim the fennel and the cucumber. Using a mandolin or a sharp knife, slice fennel and cucumber thinly. Thinly slice half of the lemon. Mix everything together in a large bowl.
2. Dress cucumber and fennel with the juice of the remaining half a lemon. Grate the rind of the juiced lemon into the salad.
3. Chop a handful of the fennel fronds and the rest of the herbs. Mix in with the rest of the ingredients.
4. Season with salt and white pepper (this is just for aesthetic purposes, you can use black pepper too) and a drop of red wine vinegar. Drizzle with good olive oil and mix well before serving.
Ksenia, this salad looks great. The next time a fennel bulb comes my way I’ll give this recipe a shot. (Why white pepper as opposed to conventional?)
-Chris
Great, Chris, thanks! White pepper, as I said, is more a visual thing – the salad is so light and ‘white’ that, ideally, you don’t want specks of black pepper all over it.
I’ve not seen this combination of flavors before, it sound so fresh and light. I’ll be trying this one, as I have a few Meyer lemons sitting on my counter at the moment:)
Wonderful! I think it will be equally fresh and crispy as a winter or summer salad (though I may add some onions to the summer version).
What a great combo! We made a cucumber salad recently too! Wish we’d had fennel.
There is something so refreshing about cucumbers! And you know I love fennel. Helping me get through the winter months :).
Love the cucumber part. It looks so refreshing.
Thanks!
Looks fresh and delicious!
Thank you, Anne!
Fennels are everywhere now, I can’t wait to try this one…that is a brilliant combination of flavors.
Thank you! I adore fennel, every which way.