Fennel is a perennial, pleasant-smelling herb with yellow flowers. Dried fennel seeds are often used in cooking as an anise-flavored spice. Fennel's dried ripe seeds and oil are used to make medicine.

Ingredients

2 fennel bulbs

sliced lengthways into 1cm-thick pieces

1½ tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp finely chopped black olive

1 garlic clove, crushed

juice 1 lemon

small handful each parsley

and basil, finely chopped

Method

1. Heat a BBQ or griddle pan. Toss the fennel in 1 tbsp of the oil, coating well. Cook for 5 mins on each side until golden brown and charred.
2. To make the dressing, put the olives, garlic, lemon juice and remaining oil in a bowl. Add the chopped herbs and combine. Lay the fennel on a platter and pour over the dressing. Eat warm or at room temperature.