Food of the Month: Fennel (and recipe!) | O2 Fitness Club & Gym

O2 Fitness' Food of the Month for October is Fennel. Read on for a healthy and delicious Fennel salad recipe. Yum!

Fennel is an excellent source of vitamin C and is packed with fiber, potassium and folate. It is also a good source of calcium and iron. All parts of this plant – bulb, stalk, leaves and seeds – are edible! Raw fennel is crunchy in texture (like celery) and has a taste similar to licorice. When cooked, though, the vegetable softens and its flavors become sweeter and milder.

Fennel and Quinoa Salad with Parsley and Dill

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 medium fennel bulb, trimmed
• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
• 1⁄4 cup fresh lemon juice (from 1 to 2 lemons)
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste

Preparation:

1. Prepare an ice-water bath. Cut fennel bulb in half lengthwise. Using a sharp knife, slice lengthwise as thinly as possible. Place in ice-water bath.

2. Toast quinoa in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes. Add water, raise heat, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer; cover, and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; refrigerate, uncovered, until cool, about 1 hour.

3. Drain fennel, and pat dry. Add parsley, dill, lemon juice, oil, salt, and pepper, and toss. Divide quinoa among bowls. Top with fennel mixture.

recipe and image via Martha Stewart