Finnochio Del La Pomodoro

The title sounds fancy, but what it means is "Fennel with Tomato soup" ...one of our favorites.

What is fennel? It's a veggie that looks like this and is sometimes called "Anise" or "bulb Fennel" or even "Finocchio".


Start by soaking and cooking some chick peas (or thawing some chicken). Next, cut the tops off of the fennel, setting aside the feathery leaves for a later purpose.



Cut each bulb in half again, right through the root, and then carefully cut away the root end.


Slice two fennel bulbs, and slice 2 onions as well.


Heat a large soup pot over medium high heat, and add olive oil and orange zest (dried or fresh...also called orange peel). Add your fennel and onions, and brown them until lightly browned.

Stir in finely sliced chicken breast if you are using chicken, and let it brown.

Add 1 can of diced tomatoes, 3 quarts of chicken or veggie stock, and about 2 cups of cooked chick peas.

Simmer until chicken is cooked through if using chicken. Garnish with the fennel leaves.