Substitutes for fennel and/or anise?

[MYellowRose]

I can't eat fennel or anise, make me nauseous. I've seen several recipes that I would like to try but I need to know if there is something I could use instead of these. Don't want something with the same taste as it would defeat the purpose of substituting. Any suggestions? Would celery make a good substitute for the fennel do you think?

[Shamrock1121]

Any time you need a substitute for a food/ingredient, try Cook's Thesaurus (www.foodsubs.com) for a good place to start the process. You'll find lots of helpful information there. Here's what Cook's Thesaurus has on fennel:

fennel = finocchio = Florence fennel =bulb fennel = garden fennel = sweet fennel = (incorrectly) sweet anise = (incorrectly) anise Equivalents: 1 cup sliced = 87 grams; 1 bulb = 2 1/2 cups Notes: Fennel tastes like licorice or anise, and it's commonly used in Italian dishes. It's very versatile; you can sauté it and add it to sauces, braise it as a side dish, or serve it raw as a crudité. Substitutes (for fennel bulb): Belgian endive + 1 teaspoon crushed fennel or anise seed OR celery + 1 teaspoon crushed fennel or anise seed (celery takes less time to cook) OR celery + chopped onion + crushed fennel or anise seed (celery takes less time to cook) OR celery + Pernod, Ricard, or anisette (celery takes less time to cook) OR udo OR celery (celery takes less time to cook) Substitutes (for fennel leaves = fennel feathers): unsprayed avocado leaves OR hoja santa leaves OR parsley (end of information).

It sounds like you have a sensitivity or allergy to both fennel and anise, with the reaction you experience. You might try caraway seed for anise seed or fennel seed because it also has that licorice flavor.

-Karen

[AlchemyAcres]

"Don't want something with the same taste as it would defeat the purpose of substituting."

Substitute or replacement?

Assuming we're talking about whole or ground seeds......

It's impossible to recommend a replacement that would work in all recipes...fennel and anise are used in a zillion different ways, from sausage to candy!

If you're looking for a true substitute for fennel or anise in most savory recipes....tarragon leaf has a subtle, but similar flavor...a little goes a LONG way!!!

~Martin *:)

[MYellowRose]

Well Martin, I guess your right on the terminology, sorry about that! What I want would actually be a replacement that doesn't taste like licorice! UGH!!! I've had this allergy/sensitivity since I was a child in about third grade or so that I can remember.