So what is Lucknow Fennel?Lucknow fennel is a special type of fennel seed. Small, crunchier, stronger and much sweeter with a very grassy taste. You may have had it with it was covered in a bright candy coating and offered in a small bowl at Indian restaurants.
The fennel is primarily grown in Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state of India. Often they are eaten plain as a breath freshener or a digestive, but can be used in lighter foods where it's distinctive qualities won't be lost.
Flavoring simple pastries, yogurts, pavlovas, young cheeses, or salads is a common practice when using Lucknow fennel, where as spicy or aromatic dishes often use regular fennel seed. Personally, I want to grind it with some sugar and make some sugar cookies with them.
Lucknow can be ordered online or found in specialty spice shops.
*looking forward to lucknow fennel seed sugar cookie* :)
ReplyDeleteWe use the candied version at work for a Kulfi dish. I love the colors of the candies, and now it is good to know where they originate from. Thanks for that.
ReplyDeleteI have just gotten some from an Asian store in London. It's sweeter than normal Asian fennel, which I now grind with coarse salt and use on and in everything! It's delicious!
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