Alison Lambert has a versatile use for fennel fronds.
I always end up with a mass of delicate fronds (leaves) and wonder what I can do with the excess.
This fragrant pesto will cling to pasta, dress up potatoes and go perfectly with fish, pork or chicken.
Fennel frond pesto
Ingredients
1 ½ cups fennel fronds
1 clove garlic
¼tsp fennel seeds, ground
100g whole almonds, skinon, lightly roasted
pinch chilli flakes
1 lemon, juice
extra-virgin olive oil
salt
Method
This can be ground using a mortar and pestle or done in a food processor. Either way the end result is excellent.
Place the fennel fronds, garlic, fennel seeds, almonds and chilli flakes together and blend until it's a coarse paste.
Add juice from lemon to begin with (add more if needed later).
Pour in enough olive oil until the pesto becomes a thick sauce.
Taste, add salt and adjust the balance if needed.
Store in the fridge for 1-2 weeks, making sure the surface of the pesto is covered with a layer of olive oil.
Makes 250ml
Alison Lambert is one of the demonstrators at the Otago Farmers Market in Dunedin on Saturday mornings.
tasteofmylife.com
