Have you ever pulled out a jar of fennel seeds from your spice cabinet and wondered what a fennel plant looked like? What about anise? We commonly see these two items as ways to enhance food with flavor, but there is much more to these plants than you may realize. Learn the difference in appearance, taste, and nutrition of fennel vs anise, how to grow your own at home, and ways to incorporate them in a recipe.
Fennel is famous for its seeds that add spice to Italian sausage, and anise extract is a popular flavoring for desserts and pastries. If you look in the grocery store produce area, you might notice a section of fresh bulbous vegetables.
Closer inspection reveals bins of onions, garlic, fennel, and anise. Yes, fennel and anise are bulbous plants, and they look strikingly similar. Fennel and anise also taste alike with their hints of licorice. Even though they look almost identical in their bulb form and their flavor is comparable, they are two different plants with varying uses. Discover differences and similarities of a fennel plant vs an anise plant and how to use them.
Differences, Similarities, and Uses of Fennel and Anise Plants
While anise and fennel have some commonalities, you don’t want to mistakenly use the wrong one in a recipe. Find out how these two plants differ, tips for growing fennel and anise in the garden, and ways to combine their flavor in a dish.
Nutritional Difference between Anise and Fennel
There is a decent chance you have anise and fennel in your spice cabinet since they help flavor many foods. However, there is a difference between anise and fennel when it comes to nutrition.
Explore which vitamins and minerals these two plants have and which one is healthier for your diet. They also offer many benefits to your health.
Fennel and anise are native to the Mediterranean, low in calories, and contain some dietary fiber, but fennel is a better choice for increasing your fiber intake.
Fennel contains more magnesium and calcium, while anise is higher in iron. They both have vitamins A and C, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus.
Fennel is useful for various digestive problems, including bloating, intestinal gas, heartburn, and loss of appetite. It’s also great for upper respiratory tract issues, backaches, and visual problems.
Anise is helpful as a diuretic, expectorant, and appetite stimulant and relieves menstrual discomfort, nicotine dependence, insomnia, and constipation.
The Flavor and Appearance of Fennel vs Anise
It’s essential to understand the flavor difference between anise seed vs fennel seed plant before using them in recipes.
While they are similar, there are subtle differences that alter the final result of your dish. Determine how all parts of these plants differ in taste and appearance.
While it is not a root vegetable, fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a carrot or Apiaceae family member. There are two types of fennel, Finocchio or Florence fennel and herb fennel.
It has long stalks that weave together to form a bulb above ground. The top of these stalks have light, feathery leaves that resemble dill, and all parts of the fennel plant are edible.
The fennel bulb is sometimes called sweet anise, and it is crispy like celery when raw with a black licorice taste.
Cooking it sweetens the flavor and softens the texture to melt in your mouth. Fennel seeds are tasty in everything from sausage and pickles to soups and other savory dishes.
The anise plant (Pimpinella anisum) is an herb that is a member of the parsley family. It grows just under two feet tall with feathery fronds on light purple stems and white flowers that look like Queen Anne’s Lace.
At the end of the summer, the flowers go to seed – anise seed resembles carrot or caraway seeds. The leaves and seeds have a slightly sweet, licorice taste and are excellent in soup, salad, baked goods, liqueurs, and candy. Star anise is often confused for aniseed, but they are two different plants.
Is Anise a Good Substitute for Fennel?
We sometimes run out of certain ingredients while preparing a meal, and there is often not enough time to make a grocery run. It’s at these moments when we wonder if there are any substitutes. What is a substitute for fennel or anise, and are they interchangeable?
Anise seeds work as a substitute for fennel seeds if you’re in a pinch, but they are smaller and more potent than fennel. Caraway seeds are a better match than anise if you have them on hand.
Celery is an excellent substitute for recipes that call for raw fennel bulbs, and yellow and white onions and leeks are suitable for replacing cooked fennel.
If you need an alternative for anise seeds, consider star anise, fennel seeds, tarragon, or caraway seeds. Licorice root powder is also an excellent choice since it has a similar flavor.
The Many Surprising Uses for Fennel
Fennel and anise look somewhat the same and have a licorice-like flavor; however, there is a difference between anise and fennel for everyday use. Discover ways to use fennel while preparing food and some unconventional ways to incorporate this herb for your well-being.
Fennel is popular for making salads and side dishes, including roasted fennel and avocado fennel salad. It’s the perfect flavoring for chicken curry, Greek stir-fry, meatballs, homemade breakfast sausage, and meatloaf.
If you’re suffering from digestive issues, consider making fennel, coriander, and cumin tea to ease bloating. Try adding the fennel fronds to vinaigrette, stock, curry, pesto, and salsa for something a little different.
What is Anise Used for?
While anise is a substitute for fennel in some situations, there are many other uses for this plant. Learn which foods are suitable for enhancing with anise and ways to use different parts of the plant.
Anise essential oil and extract contain anethole, which gives anise its character flavor, and the extract is great for adding to coffee and hot chocolate for a little extra kick.
Try using it to make a licorice-flavored tea or add some to your favorite adult beverage. Anise seed is the ideal spice for Italian biscotti and other baked goods. The leaves and stems are also useful as herbs and the perfect garnish for fruits and salads.
Are Fennel and Anise Plants Easy to Grow?
Both fennel and anise are great additions to the herb garden. To top it off, they’re also simple to plant and grow. Find out how to start these plants from seeds and care for them to harvest fresh seeds, leaves, and bulbs for your kitchen.
Fennel and anise plants require full sun and well-drained soil to flourish, so choose a spot for your garden bed that meets these requirements.
Remove all weeds and grass and till the ground to loosen the dirt. Both seeds are safe to plant directly outside in the spring after the last frost.
To plant fennel, soak the seeds a day or two beforehand to encourage germination and sprinkle them over the ground. Push dirt over the top and water them lightly without washing them away. It’s often best to plant fennel in a pot or off by itself as it displays potent plant incompatibility with most other plants.
To grow anise, sow the seeds a half-inch deep with rows two to three feet apart. Water them right away, and do not let the soil dry as they germinate.
After germination, thin the seedlings and feed a well-balanced fertilizer. Consider spreading mulch over the garden to stop weeds and retain moisture.
Harvest fennel leaves when the plant is established, the seeds after the flower heads fade, and the bulbs 90 days after planting. Anise is ready for harvesting in August and September when the flowers go to seed.
Combining Fennel and Anise to Make a Healthy Dish
We don’t often think of pairing fennel and anise since they have a similar taste. However, a fennel bulb and anise seeds complement each other when combined. This roasted fennel with anise vinaigrette is a light and healthy side dish to just about any entree.
Start by roasting the fennel bulbs. Lightly oil the bottom section of a baking dish, position the bulbs in the pan, and sprinkle the tops with salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese. Bake the fennel for 45 minutes in an oven preheated to 375°F.
While the fennel roasts, prepare the vinaigrette by chopping the garlic, shallot, peppercorns, and aniseed in a blender. Add the vinegar and blend. Slowly drizzle in the oil while mixing until emulsified. Add the salt and pepper, drizzle the anise vinaigrette on top of the roasted fennel, and serve.
While there are many health benefits to consuming both fennel and anise, and they have a similar flavor, there are some differences that are important to understand.
All parts of both plants are edible, but anise is known for its seeds, while fennel seeds, leaves, and bulbs are all wonderful for cooking.
Now that you know the differences between fennel vs anise and ways to grow and use them, why not share our fennel and anise guide with your family and friends on Facebook and Pinterest?