Braised Fennel

Fennel is one of the most delicious and versatile vegetables in the kitchen. It is gorgeous when eaten raw; makes the best purée for fish and poultry; loves to be in pasta or the main player in a soup; and is a wonderful vegetable to braise, as it is here. It also roasts and grills well. It needs only to be cut into slices and barbecued, then drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. To roast fennel, cut the bulbs into portion sizes, either halve or quarter down the length