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Melted Fennel Gratin
A brief simmer in chicken stock makes fennel meltingly tender, mellowing out its sharp licorice notes. A fennel dish to convert the fennel haters.
👥 4 Servings👤 Shilpa Uskokovic📖 bonappetit
🥘 Ingredients
Check off ingredients as you prepare them:
🍳 Cookware
- ●skillet
- ●pan
- ●spatula
- ●oven
📝 Preparation Steps
1
Melt 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter in a large cast-iron skillet (about 12") or braiser over medium heat. Add 1 large white onion, thinly sliced through root end, 6 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped, and a large pinch of kosher salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, 6–⏱️ 8 minutes.
. unsalted butter4 Tbsplarge white onion, thinly sliced through root end1Kosher salt
2
Meanwhile, halve 4 medium fennel bulbs, trimmed, some fronds reserved, through root ends; thinly slice lengthwise about ¼" thick.
medium fennel bulbs, trimmed, some fronds reserved4
3
Add 4 small dried bay leaves, 1½ cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth, ½ cup dry white wine, 2 tsp. freshly ground pepper, and a few large pinches of kosher salt to onion mixture. Stir to combine, then add fennel (pan will be very full) and cook, occasionally turning fennel with a heatproof rubber spatula, until broth is simmering and fennel has reduced in volume slightly, 6–⏱️ 8 minutes.
½ cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth1. freshly ground pepper, plus more2 tspKosher salt
4
Cover pan; cook, stirring occasionally and adjusting heat as needed to ensure mixture stays at a gentle simmer, until fennel is very tender, 15–⏱️ 20 minutes.
5
Heat broiler (place a rack in upper third if broiler is in the oven). Uncover fennel on stovetop and increase heat to medium-high. Add ½ cup heavy cream and cook, stirring occasionally, until cream reduces so all of sauce is clinging to fennel, about ⏱️ 5 minutes. Taste and season with more salt and pepper if needed (keeping in mind that the Parmesan is coming and it will add a lot of saltiness).
6
Scatter 2 oz. Parmesan, finely grated (about 1½ cups), evenly over fennel mixture; broil until cheese is melted and golden, about ⏱️ 5 minutes (watch it closely). Top gratin with reserved fennel fronds to serve.
. Parmesan, finely grated (about 1½ cups)2 oz
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