Perfect Shaved Fennel Salad
- PREP 18min
- TOTAL 18min
Our favorite shaved fennel salad is crunchy, a little salty, tangy, and so delicious that it’s hard not to stop at one serving. Use a mandoline slicer for super-thin shreds. If you don’t have one, slice the fennel as thinly as you can.
You Will Need
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, from 1 lemon (30ml)
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (45ml)
Half of a small shallot, very thinly sliced
⅓ cup toasted pine nuts
2 medium fennel bulbs
½ cup shaved Parmesan-Reggiano, 1 ¼ ounces (35g)
12 pitted green olives, finely chopped
Directions
1Make the dressing: In the bottom of a large bowl, whisk together the lemon zest, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, pepper, and olive oil until the dressing looks creamy and emulsified. Add the sliced shallots, toss to coat, and let them sit while you prepare the fennel (this softens their flavor).
2Toast the pine nuts: Place the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium-low heat. Toast, shaking the pan occasionally, until lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes. Set aside.
3Prepare the fennel: Cut the stalks off each bulb. Pull off about 2 tablespoons of the green, feathery fronds and reserve them. Discard the stalks or save them for broth.
4Trim the hard, browned bottom of the bulb. Then, stand each bulb upright and slice it in half from top to bottom. Use a paring knife to remove the hard core by cutting a small triangle around it. Using a mandoline, thinly slice the fennel crosswise (about ⅛-inch thick).
5Assemble the salad: Add the sliced fennel, reserved fennel fronds, toasted pine nuts, shaved Parmesan, and chopped olives to the bowl with the dressing and shallots. Toss well so everything is coated with the dressing. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then serve.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- Storing: This salad lasts up to 3 days in an airtight container in the fridge. A bit more moisture is released at the bottom of the container as it sits, but it should still be delicious.
- The nutrition facts provided are estimates.