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Fennel Seed

Fennel seed is a sweet, anise-flavored spice used in breads, sausages, pickles, and savory dishes.

Fennel Seed — illustrative ingredient image

About Fennel Seed

Fennel seed is the dried fruit of the fennel plant, commonly used whole, lightly crushed, or ground as a spice. The small ridged pieces are usually greenish to yellow-brown and have a pronounced sweet, warm, anise-like aroma. Whole seeds retain a distinct texture when chewed, while ground seed disperses its flavour more evenly through a dish.

It seasons breads, sausages, pickles, spice blends, sauces, roasted foods, and many savoury dishes. Seeds may be added whole for a gentle release of aroma or toasted and crushed for a stronger, more rounded flavour. Commercial products can differ in colour, freshness, particle size, and the proportion of whole seed retained.

The spice is sold as small ridged whole pieces, or as lightly crushed and ground seed; products may range from greenish to yellow-brown. Toasting, crushing, and grinding release aroma and change texture, while whole seeds retain more distinct pieces when chewed.

Ingredient type
seasoning

Forms & related ingredients

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Where fennel seed appears

14 linked foods

Find foods to recognise by country and type. Recipes and products vary; these are recorded ingredient connections.

Showing 1–12 of 14

Main dishes

Snacks

Desserts

Soups

Breads

Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for fennel seed

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

Fennel Seed

English

fennel seed (dried)

Search alias · Not a confirmed translation

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Fennel Seed nutrition & diet

Fennel Seed nutritional value

Spices, fennel seed

Per 100 g of the edible portion in the recorded food form.

Calories
345kcal
Protein
15.8g
Carbs
52.3g
Fat
14.9g

Reference values for the specific food form shown. Other varieties, brands and preparations can differ.

Portions & preparation

Use whole or ground dried fennel seed as the reference form, distinguishing it from fresh bulb, leaves, or fennel pollen. It is commonly used in small seasoning portions, while breads, sausages, pickles, and sauces may contribute most of the dish’s nutrition and should be assessed separately.

Compare the right form: Match dried whole or ground fennel seed, not bulb or leaves; references for spice blends, sausage, bread, and prepared sauces must match their recipes.

Diet considerations

Fennel seed is plant-derived and, by itself, can fit plant-based patterns. Dietary compatibility changes when it is incorporated into sausage, meat rubs, dairy sauces, breads, crackers, or cereal-containing blends. The seed’s small seasoning portion should not be treated as equivalent to a fennel-bulb serving.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Typically compatible
  • Vegetarian
    Typically compatible
  • Pescatarian
    Typically compatible
  • Keto
    Not established
  • Paleo
    May be compatible
  • Low-carb
    Not established
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Vegetarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Pescatarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Keto · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Paleo · May be compatible
May fit a paleo pattern, depending on the cut or form, processing and added ingredients.
Low-carb · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: USDA FoodData Central — Spices, fennel seed ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .