Fennel
Fennel is wonderfully dynamic as it can be used as an herbal additive or eaten wholesale as a vegetable. Fennel comes as a large ‘head’ which is sort of a cross between celery and Pak Choi. When braised or slowly baked it takes on a sweetness with hints of aniseed and is an ideal accompaniment to foods high in fat such as pork. The tips of fennel can be finely shredded and used raw as an eye-catching garnish, and if you encounter Fennel Seeds, these can be ground or added whole to dishes to give more depth. Use Fennel seeds sparingly as they are very strong.
Please see a recipe featuring fennel here
Please see a recipe featuring fennel here
Fenugreek
Fenugreek is herb that features predominantly in food that most would call spicy. Whether you are making an Indian dish or something from South America such as a Chili Beef, Fenugreek can add subtle hints of sweet and nutty flavour that taste almost like overcooked sugar.
Please see a recipe featuring Fenugreek here
Fig
Figs are one of the oldest fruits known to mankind and feature worldwide as a healthy source of vitamins and minerals. Figs are at their best when they are ripe and are super sweet. They tend to ripen quickly so it is common practice that they are preserved by drying them. The flesh of the fig and the crunchy seeds inside are edible.
French bean
Whilst called French beans, you might have heard them referred to as ‘green beans’. They are one and the same thing. They can be served finely chopped and raw in a salad, or if you prefer them cooked steam them until they are just cooked. The make an ideal filler in soups and stews and also feature very heavily in Asian cooking. With French beans it is a good idea to avoid overcooking as the texture turns very soft.
Fava bean (also known as broad bean)
Fava beans are a great source of vitamins, including vitamin C and Iron. They have a long pod which, once split, reveals a bright green treasure within. They can be eaten raw as a snack, or alternatively shelled and cooked.
Fig
Figs are one of the oldest fruits known to mankind and feature worldwide as a healthy source of vitamins and minerals. Figs are at their best when they are ripe and are super sweet. They tend to ripen quickly so it is common practice that they are preserved by drying them. The flesh of the fig and the crunchy seeds inside are edible.
Please see a recipe featuring fig here
French bean
Whilst called French beans, you might have heard them referred to as ‘green beans’. They are one and the same thing. They can be served finely chopped and raw in a salad, or if you prefer them cooked steam them until they are just cooked. The make an ideal filler in soups and stews and also feature very heavily in Asian cooking. With French beans it is a good idea to avoid overcooking as the texture turns very soft.
Please see a recipe featuring French beans here
Fava bean (also known as broad bean)
Fava beans are a great source of vitamins, including vitamin C and Iron. They have a long pod which, once split, reveals a bright green treasure within. They can be eaten raw as a snack, or alternatively shelled and cooked.
Please see a recipe featuring Fava (broad) beans here
Some details taken from article here
You will find a variety of articles and recipe ideas within this blog and it is important to note, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.
All the best Jan
31 comments:
...things that I'm not familiar with.
Fuji apple!
I have never had figs.
Adoro los higos y las habas. Genial receta te mando un beso
Yes I have used all of those. Lovely flowers.
Green beans are actually my favorite vegetable. And, fig fresh off the tree are a rare treat.
We got fennel growing in our garden.
Coffee is on and stay safe
I love fenugreek and fennel!
Yum. I enjoy them all. I also like your beautiful flowers beside the cup of tea. Thank you.
I grow fennel. I saved the seeds from last year. It's not going to get any bulbs on it this year.
I also eat a lot of green beans. In fact, today I had a squash, green bean, and tomato skillet meal because I bought way too much squash at the store to compensate for my squash plants dying a waterlogged death.
Some of my favorite foods begin with F. I love fudge, flan, and decadent french fries. Of course, only the french fries are single items. The others contain several ingredients.
All good things. I love fennel tea, too. Valerie
Broad beans are hard to find around here with just one or two real veg shops. Fava beans are a starter in many of the Skiathos restaurants - hope to be there soon.
Aha ... you mention figs. We love figs. We can't get ours to ripen. They stay hard on the tree.
Is it true the story that insects, (bees), enter the fig fruit and is digested by the plant? I saw it mentioned on TV and it was not 1 April.
God bless.
I've never used fennel or fenugreek, I tried figs a long time ago and didn't like them but I do love both beans, perhaps it's time I tried the other three.
Great post and info!
Have a great day and weekend!
Interesting.
Clever take on eating 5 fruits and veggies a day! And an interesting way to hit those F foods too. Happy start to your weekend. hugs-Erika
Hi Jan, I learned a lot today, thank you so much and all the best!
French green beans are about it!! I don't eat most of you "F"'s...You have to cook to use most of them, I guess...I don't :)
Me encantan los higos. En Extremadura es famosa la sopa de tomates con higos. Rico plato:))
Buen fin de semana. Cuidaros
Un abrazo.
I'm afraid mine is mostly B's, as in Berries. Yesterday I found the most delicious, HUGE sweet tasting blackberries...at the market.
such pretty flowers...i failed on the "F's"!! i must try harder!!
Hi Jan,
Insightful and informative post.
thanks for sharing
Five Friday of all F's....nice
Victor S E Moubarak said...
Aha ... you mention figs. We love figs. We can't get ours to ripen. They stay hard on the tree.
Is it true the story that insects, (bees), enter the fig fruit and is digested by the plant? I saw it mentioned on TV and it was not 1 April.
God bless
Hello Victor, many thanks for your comment and question.
Yes, it's true!
"If you always thought your childhood friends were pulling your leg when they told you figs were full of dead insects, it turns out they were right and you were wrong. Indeed, figs do contain digested wasps, which become trapped inside the fruit during pollination. Without this gross and deadly cycle, neither the fig tree nor the wasp could reproduce."
Please read more here
https://knowledgenuts.com/disturbing-truth-about-figs/
All the best Jan
I love figs. Yum.
Right ... I am not going to eat any more figs!
Thanx Jan. God bless.
That's creepy about the figs. Now I'm glad I don't like them! :)
Not ones I am up-to-date with. I do like fennel seeds and figs are okay. Not too sure about the beans? I might have had the French Bean. I like mangetout and eat them raw. But that isn't F. Argh struggling to think of one!
I like figs very much, unfortunately I eat it very rarely.
They are hard to buy in my country.
Have a nice, relaxing weekend.
Feliz semana. Besos.
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