Sliced fennel, orange & almond salad

Fennel is a flowering plant species in the carrot family. It is a perennial herb with yellow flowers and feathery leaves. its native to the shores of the Mediterranean but now has become widely naturalized in many parts of the world.

Fennel is a highly aromatic and flavorful herb used in cookery, sweet desserts and toothpastes. In India, Fennel fruits are consumed as mukhwas -an after meal digestive and breath freshener. In 2014 , India produced 60% of the world output with China and Bulgaria as leading secondary producers.

This is an experiment that turned out really good - I had never had Fennel bulbs - the closest was a fennel seed

Ingredients

• 3 bulbs of fennel

• 1 handful of almonds

• 3 oranges

• a few springs of fresh mint

• 2 handfuls of rocket

• sherry vinegar

• extra virgin olive oil

Method

1. Using a peeler, shave the fennel, then place in a bowl of ice water.

2. Toast the almonds in a dry frying pan, then coarse powder it.

3. Peel and very thinly slice the oranges, then arrange on a platter.

4. Pick the mint leaves. Drain the fennel, spin, then mix with the mint, rocket, a splash of sherry vinegar and oil, and season well with sea salt and black pepper.

5. Scatter the fennel mixture over the oranges and top with toasted almonds.