I hate licorice. Actually, hate is a very mellow way of putting it. Despise would be better. Doesn’t matter if it’s red, black, purple, yellow or neon green, (and now the scene in Wizard of Oz with the horses changing color is stuck in my head) it’s all the same kind of disgusting.
So you might be wondering why the heck I’m throwing a fennel panini in your face when most would say fennel tastes like licorice.
Me too.
Here’s the thing, I love fennel.
First of all, how can you not love something as crazy-ass looking as that? I look at it and see a Mickey Mouse head crossed with a furry little alien. It’s freaky and cute at the same time.
I have no good explanation for why the candy can repulse me and yet this bulb, vegetable, whatever it is can taste so delicious while imparting the same flavor. Maybe it’s my general aversion to candy (just to be clear candy does not include chocolate) or maybe I’m just weird. Most likely both.
After munching on half the bulb while putting together a random panini for lunch, I decided to throw in some of the fennel for the heck of it. For a last minute decision, it definitely stole the show flavor wise with it’s bold licorice-y taste.
Things I would suggest doing while making a fennel panini:
1. Definitely add apple + cheddar. The added crunch is fun and the cheese helps mellow out the fennel a bit.
2. Butter your toast. Always. It makes all the difference in “paninifying”
3. Don’t wipe off the crumbs from the 15 inch serrated bread knife with your fingers and expect not to slice half way through one of them.
Just some basics, you know?
But even if #3 does happen, the result is still worth it and better for you than the candy.
- 2 slices of whole wheat bread
- ½ a small apple, sliced
- ¼ cup fennel, sliced
- ¼ cup cooked shredded chicken
- 4 slices sharp cheddar
- 3-4 basil leaves
- butter
- Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread.
- Layer all the other ingredients on the reverse side of the bread and form a sandwich.
- Press in a panini maker or in a skillet using something heavy to press down on the top of the sandwich until the cheese starts melting and the bread is toasted and brown.
- Enjoy warm.
{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
I had fennel the first time last year and I really like it, but my family isn’t to crazy about it. I love pairing fennel with pears, but I love your idea of pairing it with apples. Your sandwich looks yummy! Have a great week!
I need a panini press. pronto
Prior to having three kids, I also hated licorice (black licorice, not the flavored kind). But since having kids I have found I love black licorice. Weird that my tastes have changed.
I hate liquorice too (and that extends to liquorice flavour booze too) but I still haven’t quite mastered the art of liking fennel. I can see how this combo would be great though, maybe this will be the one that captures my heart?
Thanks for this wonderful post. I’m looking forward for your next post. thanks for sharing this knowledge for all of us,.Thanks for the recipe!
I can detect even the slightest addition of fennel seed in something. I don’t necessarily hate it but its just so pronounced. I do hate licorice also though, but fortunately for me it contains gluten so its the perfect excuse to never have to eat it again!
And I just my finger on the blender blade yesterday licking guacamole, no shame and well worth it.
It looks really good, but fennel and me are not friends. lol.
Yum! I need to buy fennel so I can make this!
So THATS the hand slicing you mentioned on IG! I’ve done that before. Yikes. Hope it heals up quick for you. Can you believe I’ve never had a panini?! Maybe one of these days I’ll get around to it. Looks fantastic though
never had a panini!? We need to rectify this asap.
LOL, I hate licorice but love fennel too. Never thought to sandwich-ify fennel and I think this is a great idea. Love the crunch of the panini with all the different flavors!
Fennel definitely takes some getting used to for me. I tried it once in a lasagna and it wasn’t my favorite – but I also despise licorice.
HOLY YUM.
And I admit I didn’t make this and I gave you a 5 on the rating. Why? Because you put apple and cheese on a sandwich (one of my favorite combos) AND gave me the idea to add fennel.
I love black licorice AND fennel. Did you know fennel helps ease digestion problems? I add fennel seeds by the pound to our sausage pasta sauce (which Mark hates … but too bad!).
haha, I love how you now justify yourself when rating the recipes after my little rant
You know it! I would have never even thought to actually rate a recipe before trying it (or remember to come back and rate it after I’ve tried it).
I hate black licorice with a passion. (red I like but that’s b/c it’s made with red dye #40 and HFCS..lol)
But I seriously LOVE fennel. Crazy but true. I dont think fennel and black licorice taste similar and am always like huh? when people compare the two! Resemblance? maybe. But they are very different to me. Glad I’m not the only one!
i hate licorice sticks too and do not understand how some people can stand to snack on it when they’re bored, include it in their lunch sack, whatever… i don’t like it. i like licorice tea though.
when i was about 11-12, i decided to stop eating candy (hard candy, lollipops, Skittles… that kind of candy). chocolates, Snickers bars, and Reese’s cups are not candy to me though. i love fennel but have never cooked with it, so thank you for the reminder that i need to watch out for it the store or market. 
yummy looking panini!
I hate black licorice for 364 days out of the year, but there’s always this one day where I will randomly get an intense craving and have to stop at the nearest TJ’s/CVS/whatever and buy a bag. Then I proceed to stuff my face for about 30 seconds before I decide that I once again hate it and throw the rest in the trash. I have no idea what my problem is.
And now I’m craving a panini and twizzlers… Thankfully it’s almost lunch time!
I really like fennel, especially when it’s paired well, and this looks so yummy. It’s one of those veggies I rarely buy unless I have a recipe in mind… I’m gonna pick some up! If it’s between bread with cheese, I could probably even get my 2yo to eat it!
I despise licorice and all of that licorice flavored liquor like Ouzo. Or is that anise? Whatever, I hate it. But I love fennel! I would eat this in a second.
Great way to add in some extra veggies! Also, I love your presentation. What kind of camera do you use?
I use a Canon T3 with a 50mm f1.8 lens.
ok, so I hate licorice too but since you do too and you added fennel to this panini, I agree I must try this sometime and get over myself and try something new. I love paninis and anything melted within 2 slices of bread. this looks so good!! i like that the fennel taste goes so well with apple, i can just taste it!! oh btw, come help me make photo boards
I LOVE FENNEL!! You know what I think it looks like? Wilson from Cast Away. Whenever I use it I go “WILSON!! WILLSOON!!!” it’s really strange. My husband judges me.
This panini looks AHHH-MAZING. I have to make it!
haha! I love this. It totally does look like Wilson! Wilson with horns
I love licorice! I wonder if that means I would hate fennel? I wipe knives like that all the time and have sliced my finger more than once. I never learn.
I love the addition of fennel here. Sounds scrumptious!
Funny I feel the exact same way on the whole licorice/fennel thing – HATE licorice and love fennel. Will definitely try this sandwich, but I might do mine on the grill
You inspire me to try new things! I’ve never had fennel before.
Yay, I found someone else like me! I hate licorice! Strangely enough though, my hubby makes homemade licorice that I actually don’t mind in small doses. But I do like fennel too, and fennel seeds. I’m not sure how I feel about this panini. It sounds delicious, but I’m kind of scared of the apple, I don’t do the apple and cheese thing. I think I’m the weird one out on that, but anyways… Also, I can’t get the word “paninifying” out of my head now. Thanks. Haha.
Looks delicious!! I love fennel as well, but I like the candy too
We ate this sandwich yesterday and it was delicious. Thank you very much for the recipe!