Fresh fennel salad
This fresh fennel salad with apple, cucumber, celery and flat leaf parsley is a crisp, refreshing starter or side that comes together in minutes. The TM7 chopsping function delivers evenly cut vegetables and herbs in seconds, while the dressing of apple cider vinegar and olive oil is emulsified to a silky finish in the same bowl.
About this recipe
Fresh fennel salad with Thermomix TM7 is the kind of quick vegetarian starter that belongs in every weekly menu, especially on warm days when you crave something crunchy and clean. Searching for fennel recipes Thermomix usually leads to cooked dishes, but this raw salad proves the all-in-one kitchen machine shines just as brightly on cold preparations. The TM7 chopping function turns a whole fennel bulb, cucumber, celery stalk and apple into even, delicate slices in seconds, so every forkful carries the same balance of aniseed sweetness, juiciness and crunch. Fresh flat leaf parsley is chopped in the same bowl without bruising, keeping its colour and herbal brightness intact. The apple cider vinegar and olive oil dressing is then mixed into a silky emulsion that coats the vegetables far better than a hand-whisked vinaigrette. Serve this fresh fennel salad as a light lunch, a side at a summer barbecue or a palate-cleansing starter before a richer main course.
Preparation tips
- Reserve a handful of thin fennel fronds from the bulb and scatter them over the finished salad for extra colour and a gentle aniseed aroma that echoes the sliced fennel itself.
- Cut the apple last and toss it immediately with the apple cider vinegar dressing so the acid prevents browning while you plate the celery, cucumber and fennel.
- For a more substantial lunch, add toasted walnuts, crumbled feta or cooked chickpeas to the fennel salad; children often enjoy the apple slices cut slightly larger for extra sweetness.
Recipe variations
- Citrus variation: replace half the apple cider vinegar with fresh orange juice and add thin segments of orange to the fennel, cucumber and celery for a sweeter, festive salad that suits winter celebrations.
- Grain variation: fold the finished fennel salad through cooked couscous or quinoa and add pomegranate seeds, turning it into a filling vegetarian main course for busy weeknights.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Chopping the fennel bulb in the TM7 gives even, paper-thin slices in seconds, saving ten minutes of careful knife work. [Time Savings]
- The built-in scale weighs the olive oil and apple cider vinegar directly into the bowl for a perfectly balanced vinaigrette. [Built-in Scale]
- Mixing the dressing in the Thermomix emulsifies the vinegar and oil into a silky consistency that clings to every cucumber slice. [Multi-Function]
- Grating a touch of apple into the dressing in the TM7 adds natural sweetness and helps the vinaigrette bind beautifully. [Multi-Function]
- Whipping the parsley briefly in the TM7 bowl releases its fresh herbal oils without bruising the delicate leaves. [Multi-Function]
Ingredients
- fresh flat-leaf parsley
- fennel bulb
- green apple
- cucumber
- celery stalk
- apple cider vinegar
- olive oil
- salt
- ground black pepper