Simple and easy raw shaved fennel salad with basic vinaigrette, radishes, fresh herbs and Parmesan.
Do you ever find yourself wanting a simple side or salad to complement your main dish? If so this shaved fennel salad is your dish. You can devote all your time and effort to your main dish while having a simple side/salad that more than holds it's own against any main whether fancy or not.
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SHAVED FENNEL SALAD INGREDIENTS
- Fennel Bulbs
- Daikon Radish
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Lemon Juice
- Fresh Cilantro
- Fresh Parsley
- Salt
- Pepper
- Pecorina Cheese
SALAD INSTRUCTIONS
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Cut each fennel bulb in half lengthwise. Using a mandoline-type tool or very sharp knife, thinly shave the fennel. Transfer to a large bowl.
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Using the same mandolin/sharp knife slice radishes very thinly
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In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, herbs, salt and pepper. Pour the dressing over the fennel and radish, then toss well.
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Working over the salad bowl, use a vegetable peeler to shave the cheese into thin curls. Toss the salad gently once more and serve.
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Garnish with fennel fronds
SALAD CONSIDERATIONS
The combination of fennel and daikon radish works extremely well. If you don't have access to daikon, any radish will do. I chose daikon for visual effect as much as I did taste. You can't beat the bright colors it adds to a dish. The combination of crunchy fennel, subtle daikon pepperiness and herbal flavors make this dish irresistible.
The shaved fennel salad takes all of about 5 minutes at most to make and requires no cooking. If you have a mandolin on-hand to thinly slice/shave the fennel and radishes, you're looking at seconds vs. minutes. Then the hardest thing about the recipe becomes your ability to shake the vinaigrette ingredients.
Feel free to make any dressing you like, but skew towards a simple version as you want the fennel to remain the star. I used lemon juice, olive oil and fresh herbs and found this to play a great supporting role. It helps bring out the sweetness in the fennel and mask that strong licorice flavor while also adding more brightness.
Shaved Fennel Salad Cooking Tips
- Grilled fish such as this Cedar Plank Grilled Trout or chicken are great pairings with a shaved fennel salad.
- Apples, pears, olives or grapefruit (fennel pairing recipe) are great additions if you're looking to tweak this recipe.
- Invest in a mandolin. It will not only save you time making this recipe, but also give you flexibility and options for future recipes
- Let the fennel sit in the dressing for a few minute to mellow the fennel and minimize the licorice
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Ingredients
- 1 fennel bulb sliced/shaved paper thin with a mandoline
- Daikon radish sliced/shaved thin
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
- ½ tablespoon chopped parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon shaved Pecorina cheese
Instructions
- Cut each fennel bulb in half lengthwise. Using a mandoline-type tool or very sharp knife, thinly shave the fennel. Transfer to a large bowl.
- Using the same mandolin/sharp knife slice radishes very thinly
- In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, herbs, salt and pepper. Whisk in the oil. Pour the dressing over the fennel and radish, then toss well.
- Working over the salad bowl, use a vegetable peeler to shave the cheese into thin curls. Toss the salad gently once more and serve.
- Garnish with fennel fronds