Fish with Fennel

Total Time Prep: 30 min. Cook: 10 min.
Yield 4 servings
Test Kitchen Approved
This brightly-flavored fish is a great showcase for fennel. You'll use the seeds, bulb and fronds. This is an excellent springtime recipe, when fennel is at its peak. —Barbara Stelluto, Devon, Pennsylvania

Ingredients

  • 1 medium lime
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1 large fennel bulb, sliced
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 teaspoons olive oil, divided
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 4 striped bass or barramundi fillets (8 ounces each)
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fennel fronds

Directions

  1. Cut lime in half; cut four slices from one half for garnish. Finely grate enough peel from remaining half to measure 3/4 teaspoon; squeeze juice from lime half. Set aside.
  2. In a dry small skillet over medium heat, toast fennel seeds until aromatic, about 1-2 minutes. Cool. Crush seeds in a spice grinder or with a mortar and pestle.
  3. In a large saucepan, bring 1 in. of water to a boil. Add sliced fennel and salt; cover and boil for 6-10 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain and pat dry.
  4. In a large nonstick skillet, saute fennel in 2 teaspoons oil for 3 minutes or until fennel is lightly browned. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Remove from the pan and set aside.
  5. In the same skillet over medium-high heat, cook fillets in remaining oil for 3-4 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily with a fork.
  6. Drizzle with lime juice; sprinkle with lime peel and crushed fennel seeds. Serve with sauteed fennel. Garnish with fennel fronds and lime slices.

Nutrition Facts

1 each: 285 calories, 8g fat (1g saturated fat), 80mg cholesterol, 276mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 3g fiber), 46g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 6 lean meat, 1 vegetable, 1 fat.

This brightly-flavored fish is a great showcase for fennel. You'll use the seeds, bulb and fronds. This is an excellent springtime recipe, when fennel is at its peak. —Barbara Stelluto, Devon, Pennsylvania
Recipe Creator

© 2025 RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC