Grilled Fennel and Orange Salad Recipe

Updated August 09, 2018

Fennel is one of those foods that always surprises me. There are enough people out there I know that are so put-off by the stuff, I have it stored in my head that it can't be that good. So every time I do end up having it, it's always an amazement how much I really enjoy it.

Despite the strong anise aroma—something I too find a bit off-putting—the flavor tends to be a bit more mellow, especially after the fennel has been cooked, which it was in this particular salad. Grilled fennel was tossed with orange slices, almonds, mints, and a orange vinaigrette to come together as a might tasty side.

The grill gave the fennel a little sweetness and produced a nice contrast between the crunch and softness, while the juicy orange slices added another punch of sweetness that edged out over any remaining anise flavor. I'm pretty sure this combo could make at least a few fennel haters experience an unknown love for this bulb—often a surprise to myself.

Recipe Details

Grilled Fennel and Orange Salad Recipe

Prep 30 mins

Cook 15 mins

Total 45 mins

Serves 4 servings

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Ingredients

For the Vinaigrette:

Juice from 1 orange
Zest from 1/2 orange
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Salad:

2 bulbs fennel, sliced into 1/2-inch thick slices
Olive oil
Kosher salt
Freshly ground pepper
3 oranges, peeled and segmented
3 tablespoons sliced almonds, toasted
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves

Directions

In small bowl, whisk together orange juice, zest, mustard, and olive oil to make vinaigrette. Season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside.
Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and spread the coals evenly over entire surface of coal grate. Alternatively, set all the burners of a gas grill to high heat. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil grilling grate. Brush fennel slices lightly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill fennel over high heat until charred and slightly softened, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove from grill and roughly chop, discarding any remaining pieces of core.
In large bowl toss together fennel, orange segments, almonds, and mint. Drizzle on vinaigrette and serve.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
419	Calories
21g	Fat
61g	Carbs
6g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	419
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 21g	26%
Saturated Fat 3g	13%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 310mg	13%
Total Carbohydrate 61g	22%
Dietary Fiber 11g	40%
Total Sugars 40g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 237mg	1,187%
Calcium 190mg	15%
Iron 2mg	10%
Potassium 1024mg	22%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.