Fennel in tomato sauce, authentic flavor

05/10/2025

When you think of fennel, you usually imagine recipes like fennel gratin with béchamel or with sausage. This tomato version, however, is lighter yet equally flavorful and tasty. Easy to prepare, it’s also a great anti-waste recipe, as it allows you to use the outer fennel leaves that are typically discarded. The dish enhances the natural sweetness of the fennel, and its texture perfectly harmonizes with the tomato, creating a different and delicious side dish. Learning to recycle ingredients better is a great habit that benefits both us and the environment. A simple, light, and flavorful dish! Now, let’s take a look at this recipe from our Cesarina Anna of San Quirico d'Orcia.

“This is a dish my mom taught me, flavorful and tasty, created to use the tougher parts of fennel and avoid wasting them”.

Fennel in tomato sauce

The sweetness of fennel pairs with that of tomatoes in an easy, light, and tasty dish

DifficultyEasy

Preparation time20m

Cooking time40m

Servings5

€

CostLow

Ingredients

400 g of fennel
100 g of tomato puree
80 ml of water
Chili pepper to taste
Black pepper to taste
Salt to taste
Olive oil to taste
Oregano to taste
50 g grated Parmesan cheese (or nutritional yeast for vegans)

Method

Slice the fennel thinly after washing and drying it.
In a pot, add the olive oil, fennel, chili pepper, tomato puree, salt, and water. Cook over medium heat until the fennel becomes tender.
Wait for the water to evaporate, then add black pepper, oregano, and the cheese (or nutritional yeast).
Cook for 10 more minutes and serve.