fennel seed
Học thuậtThân thiện
A small wooden bowl is filled with oval, greenish-brown fennel seeds on a rustic kitchen counter.
Definition
- Noun:
- The aromatic seed of the fennel plant: "fennel seed" refers specifically to the small, oval, greenish-brown dried seeds harvested from the flower heads of the common fennel plant (Foeniculum vulgare). They are known for their sweet, licorice-like (anis-scented) flavor and aroma.
Usage
- Fennel seeds are used as a spice in cooking and baking.
- They are often chewed raw as a breath freshener or digestive aid.
- They are a key ingredient in certain spice blends, such as Chinese five-spice powder or Indian panch phoron.
Examples
- Noun:
- The recipe calls for a teaspoon of crushed fennel seed.
- She added fennel seed to the sausage mixture for extra flavor.
- After dinner, he chewed a few fennel seeds to aid digestion.
Advanced Usage
- "Toasted fennel seed": Seeds that have been dry-roasted in a pan to enhance their nutty flavor and aroma before use.
- Toasted fennel seed adds a deeper flavor to the curry.
Variants and Related Words
Fennel (noun): The plant itself, of which the seeds, bulb, and fronds are all used culinarily.
- The fennel bulb can be sliced and used in salads.
Florence fennel (noun): A variety of fennel cultivated for its edible bulb.
- Florence fennel has a crisp texture similar to celery.
Synonyms
- Spice seed: A general term for seeds used as spices.
- Anise seed (Note: This is a seed from a different plant, , with a very similar flavor profile, often used interchangeably in some contexts but botanically distinct).
Related Phrases
- Fennel seed tea: An infusion made by steeping the seeds in hot water, often consumed for its purported health benefits.
- She drinks fennel seed tea to soothe her stomach.
A small wooden bowl is filled with oval, greenish-brown fennel seeds on a rustic kitchen counter.
Noun
- aromatic anis-scented seeds