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Fennel

Fennel is an aromatic herb or spice with a sweet, anise-like flavor, used to season savory dishes, breads, and sauces.

Fennel — illustrative ingredient image

About Fennel

Fennel is an aromatic plant used as fresh foliage, tender stalks, the swollen bulb, or dried seeds and leaves. These parts serve different culinary roles: fronds act as a herb, the bulb is cooked as a vegetable, and seeds are used as a concentrated spice in breads, sauces, pickles, and savoury dishes.

Fennel has a sweet, fresh, anise-like flavour, though intensity varies by plant part and preparation. The bulb becomes tender and milder when roasted, braised, or grilled, while raw slices remain crisp. Fronds are delicate and green, and dried seeds have a stronger, warmer aroma than fresh foliage.

Fresh fennel may be sold as a bulb with stalks and fronds, as loose leafy material, or as dried leaves or seeds. Bulbs are trimmed and sliced or wedged; fronds are chopped or used as a garnish; seeds may be left whole, crushed, or ground before cooking.

Ingredient type
seasoning

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Where fennel appears

7 linked foods

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

Showing 1–7 of 7

Main dishes

Snacks

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

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

Fennel

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

Fennel nutrition & diet

Fennel nutritional value

Fennel, bulb, raw

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

Calories
31kcal
Protein
1.2g
Carbs
7.3g
Fat
0.2g

Per 100 g of the named reference food. Preparation, cultivar and product formulation can change these values; use the stated form when comparing.

Portions & preparation

Establish whether fennel means fresh leaves, tender stalks, bulb, pollen, or dried herb before using a reference, because these are distinct edible forms. Seasoning portions are usually small; assess the complete dish separately when fennel is blended with oil, salt, sauces, or other spices.

Compare the right form: Identify the exact fennel form—leaf, stalk, bulb, pollen, or dried herb—and match its edible portion; local naming and blends require confirmation.

Diet considerations

Fennel is plant-derived, but the catalogue term is ambiguous between vegetable and seasoning forms. Plain fennel fits plant-based patterns; compatibility changes in sausage, stock, cream sauce, bread, pickle, or spice blends containing animal products or cereals. The form and portion determine its carbohydrate pattern.

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 — Fennel, bulb, raw ↗. 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: .