Everyone, perhaps, has heard that there is such a useful plant - fennel. What it is? Not everyone can answer this question without difficulty. But it has been used for food for more than one thousand years.
First of all, this plant, resembling dill, is appreciated for its delicate aroma, which slightly resembles the smell of anise liqueur. A sweet bulbous fruit perfectly stimulates digestion. Seeds in clusters after the dying of a yellow flower harden. They are used as a spice, eaten whole or ground.
Plant use
Many Mediterranean dishes include fennel. What it is? This can only be told by a person who managed to try this peculiar spice. Before use, the seeds can be fried so that the taste feels fuller, or you can grind the grains in a mortar. This ingredient is used in many mixes of spices: in curry, Provencal and Chinese seasonings. This spice well emphasizes the taste of fish, sausages, pastries and liquors.
Preparation for use
Cooking fennel goes through several stages:
- Young petioles can be served on the table as a dish of fresh vegetables. Leaves are used in salads or as a filling for fish.
- Rinse the bulb with water and prune the roots.
- Cut the prepared fennel in half or 4 parts, if desired, you can remove the middle.
Modern housewives will confirm that fennel is found in many recipes. What is it, you should find out before buying, so that the young housewife was fully armed before the start of culinary experiments.
Beneficial features
Many have heard about the benefits of a product like fennel. What is it, it is better to ask people who ate its fruits, especially in the autumn-winter period. It is believed that this plant is able to protect immunity in the cold season. Also, fennel broth is widely used instead of “dill water” for infants experiencing digestive problems in the first days of life.
Contraindications
Fruits and seeds should not be eaten during pregnancy and lactation, as well as children under six years of age. At the same time, grains, leaves and root are absolutely harmless, and the oil that is released from the seeds is very toxic. It is strictly forbidden to eat people suffering from hypertension or epileptic seizures.
Interesting Facts
Sweet dill, as this herb is also called, was popular in antiquity, many legends are associated with it. Among the Greeks, it was he who was considered the plant of victory. In the Middle Ages it was believed that this is a magical plant, the seeds of which will protect against spirits. Puritans used their grains to eliminate
dry mouth during prolonged prayers.
Fennel Tea
Young mothers are especially interested in how to make tea with fennel for the baby. Reviews make it clear that everything is natural in fashion, and few people are ready to use ready-made infusions in a pharmacy. To make tea yourself, you need to pour a teaspoon of crushed fennel seeds with boiling water and insist for about half an hour. The prepared drink must be filtered and cooled. This tea can be added to milk or baby food.
Be careful: the baby may begin an allergic reaction to an unfamiliar product. Therefore, do not give fennel to a baby without first consulting a doctor.