Thursday, April 24, 2014

Tomato Fennel Salad-New Food To Me

I was looking for something a little different and this simple Tomato Fennel Salad from Ina sounded good! I've never tried fennel before so it's perfect for a New Food to Me post too. I loved that I could literally taste every distinct flavor in this salad. The fennel was crisp and while it did have anise flavor, it wasn't overpowering. I really look forward to making this salad when gorgeous garden tomatoes are abundant.
Ina says this can be served immediately, some comments suggested letting it marinate for a while. Mine marinated for about 3 hours and I will say, I preferred it fresh and while the lemon was vibrant. The fronds would have added some pretty green color but they were limp and wilted on the bulb I bought so I didn't use them.

Tomato Fennel Salad-from Food Network
1 1/2 lbs heirloom tomatoes
1 small fennel bulb
2 Tblsp good olive oil
2 Tblsp fresh lemon juice
1 Tblsp cider vinegar
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  1. Core the tomatoes and cut into chunks (or in half if cherry tomatoes).
  2. Remove the top from the fennel and slice the bulb very thin.
  3. Mix everything, garnish with 2 Tblsp of the fronds if desired.
Eat well and have a happy day:@)

My New Foods List:
(If my sons happen to read this... relax! I still promise fairly "normal" Sunday dinners...)
hominy ~ artichokes ~ fish sauce (I'm scared) ~ almond paste ~ oyster sauce (scared again) ~ gorgonzola ~ dates ~ brisket ~ parsnips ~ adobo ~ meringue powder ~ fennel ~ goat cheese (I'm told to be scared) ~ souffle ~ red velvet anything ~ curry ~ capers ~ chow chow ~ pot stickers ~ pho ~ ponzu sauce ~ fondant ~ fire roasted tomatoes ~ Gruyere ~ Quinoa ~ Tetrazzini any kind ~ Divinity ~ Meyer lemon ~ lemon curd ~ leeks ~ shallots ~turkey tenderloin and Chipotle Powder


I'm Joining:

25 comments:

  1. Thank you for the fennel recipe my friend...I just love it! I cook it too with olive oil and it's one of my fav veggies. Lots of people don't like Fennel, like my mother and two daughters, lol!
    Hugs,
    FABBY

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  2. Looks delicious. I have never had fresh fennel, but I love the dried fennel in the spice department. I think fennel kind of has a licorice flavor. Does that sound weird? Joni

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    1. Howdy! Not weird at all, I agree with you about the flavor but I did find it milder than I expected. That was a pleasant surprise:@)

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  3. What a great combination!
    Mary x

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  4. I first tried fennel for an Ina recipe for scalloped potatoes. Thought it was interesting and liked the mild anise flavor. This recipe you have shared looks delicious

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  5. Love this combination. I like the flavor of anise, so I know I would really go for this salad.
    Sam

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  6. Your salad sounds great, Lynn. You have made a lot of progress through your list. Enjoy!

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  7. I've never eaten fennel before. I'll have what your sons are having! hahaha! Just kidding...it looks really good! Hugs!

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  8. Thinking about the tomatoes we will have in a few months makes my mouth water. I would love this salad, Lynn.

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  9. Now, this is one way I think I could try fennel! It would be great if you added it to the Food on Friday fennel collection over at Carole's Chatter! Cheers

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  10. I have tried fennel, Lynn, but this combination sounds like a winner! You're so right, too, that it will be even better with homegrown tomatoes. I love seeing you scratch off your list!

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  11. We love fennel Lynn, I've never had it in combination with tomatoes. I'm anxiously awaiting homegrown ones too! I'm waiting for you to scratch Red Velvet off your list :)

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  12. What a great looking recipe!! I'll have to try it!

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  13. I do like fennel, and I love the subtle flavor it lends, I wish people didn't shy away from it thinking it would taste overpowering like licorice because it is so good and doesn't really taste like licorice at all to me~I have never heard of it paired with tomatoes, and I agree, summer tomatoes would be extra good!
    Jenna

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  14. What a perfect spring/summer combo.

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  15. Well, that one sure is easy enough...add me to the list of those who've never cooked with fennel. I can't WAIT for the good tomatoes to start appearing...in the stores & in our pots on the deck!!!
    Thanks for telling us about this one, Lynn.
    So, why didn't you add some cayenne pepper???? LOL :-p

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  16. Hi Lynn!

    This salad looks lovely and I bet will be very good this summer, as you say, with fresh garden tomatoes. I'm really interested in your New Foods list. Are these things you haven't tried yet, or will be trying to cook with? When it comes to any kind of blue cheese or goat cheese, I'm REALLY scared. :-D I can't get past the smell. As an adult, I've learned to love artichokes, curry (in moderation), leeks, and I ADORE Meyer lemon and Gruyere cheese. Yum!!!!

    Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful weekend!

    Hugs,

    Denise at Forest Manor

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  17. I love salads, and this one sounds very good! Thanks for sharing your recipe.

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  18. What a beautiful salad Lynn! looks like spring!

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  19. This looks fabulous Lynn. I love the taste of fennel but never get around to buying it at the store.
    Love your new foods list -
    Fish sauce - stinky but doesn't taste yucky in foods.
    Oyster sauce - no biggie - just a soy type sauce.
    Goat cheese - I don't get the fuss - it is so mild and creamy - I think people freak out at the thought of a goat!
    Don't know ponzu myself!
    Parsnips - hated them growing up, still hate them!
    How fun to be trying out all of these things - they are all fabulous (except parsnips!!!)

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  20. Lynn, this sounds like such a yummy spring and summer salad!
    This is on my must try list now! Thanks!

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  21. I don't think I even know what fennel is. I could have sworn you were posting about onions and tomatoes. I like the idea of marinating.

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  22. You can't go wrong with an Ina recipe. I love fennel and tomatoes are a big favorite of mind. I will have to give this one a try this summer.

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  23. It looks good I don't know if I would like that much fennel - but I bet I would.

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