Fennel, Apple & Red Pepper Slaw: My Obsession with Washington's Green Grocer

Fennel: do you love it or love to hate it? For the longest time I thought I hated it: I'm just not a fan of licorice flavor. But more and more I find that I don't mind it too much especially when it's thinly sliced and is accompanied by citrus. Still, I rarely seek out a dish with fennel in restaurants or buy a bulb of fennel at a grocery store.

Last week, however, I had a chance to cook with it because it came in a box of produce from Washington's Green Grocer. Quite a few of my friends have been using this service to get fresh produce delivered to their door and have raved about it. After breaking my arm and not being able to carry as many groceries home as I did before, I decided to give them a try. Guess what? I'm in like!

By the way, this is not an ad :) I just find this service convenient, fun, delicious and worth the money.

Below is a dish I made using some of the produce in last week's box!

Fennel, Apple & Red Pepper Slaw: My Obsession with Washington's Green Grocer

Ingredients
1 fennel bulb, trimmed, outer layer removed, thinly sliced
juice of 1/2 grapefruit
1 Cameo apple, thinly sliced
1 red pepper thinly sliced
olive oil
1 tablespoon stone ground mustard
salt & pepper to taste
fennel throngs

Directions
1. Cover sliced fennel with grapefruit juice and let stand for about 30 minutes.
2. Add apples and red pepper. Drizzle with olive oil. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix together.

Note: you can also combine the fennel with apples and red pepper first. Then whisk together the grapefruit juice, olive oil, mustard, salt and pepper, and pour the mixture over the salad. It's up to you.

I loved this slaw: it was crispy, sweet, peppery and refreshing. It keeps well in the refrigerator and can be a light lunch on its own or a side for chicken or fish. Of course on its own it's perfect for Meatless Monday.

 

By the way, the bowls in the photos are the ones I bought in Minneapolis at Paper Source. I clearly have a bowl obsession :)

 

What's your favorite thing to make with fennel?