Fennel Frond Pesto

Here is something else to do with fennel fronds besides this Wednesday's recipe in The Times: Make pesto! In my new book, I’ve already admitted to being a borderline pesto fanatic, and take an enormous amount of pleasure mashing almost anything green and aromatic with garlic and nuts and oil until slick and intense.That herbal, garlicky fragrance always makes me happy.

This recipe below is terrific tossed with pasta, especially when mixed with cherry tomatoes and cubes of buffalo mozzarella. Or use it as a sauce for grilled fish, thick beef steaks, or as a condiment for all those Labor Day burgers that are hopefully coming your way this weekend.

 

Fennel Frond Pesto

Time: 5 minutes

1 small fennel bulb with lots of bushy fronds

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons pine nuts or sliced or slivered almonds

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Chop off fennel fronds and coarsely chop enough to measure 1 cup (discard the rest of the fronds, save the fennel for later use, and of course eat the fennel bulb itself, it's great to dip into the pesto). Put the chopped fronds in a food processor or blender. Add the garlic, nuts, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a generous pinch of pepper to the food processor and process until finely chopped. Add 4 tablespoons of the oil and cheese continue to process until the mixture looks like pesto. Season with more salt to taste.

Makes 3/4 cup

 

Comments

[heather]

we just finished a bulb of fennel and i was about to pop the fronds in the freezer for whenever i make a stock. but now that i've seen this, i think fennel frond pesto would be a unique addition to our labor day barbecue! or for me to have on pasta for lunch. either way it's bound to be good.

cheers,

*heather*

[Erin Buhl]

Do you think this would work with Bronze fennel? I grew some in my garden a couple of years ago, but never used it for anything other than butterfly food. :-) I didn't realize when I bought it that you don't eat the bulb of bronze fennel...

[Melissa]

Erin - I actually don't know much about bronze fennel - did you try it? Would love to know if it worked!