Recipe: $2.50
Per Serving: $0.63
It's that time of year again - fennel season. So I guess fennel gets its start in October and stays until April? Definitely didn't know that.
Good thing I learned to love fennel last season! I don't always love the licorice smell that lingers in my tiny studio, but I've really come around to fennel itself. So though I was surprised, I wasn't the least bit upset about discovering a few bulbs in my CSA box.
Time to make some SOUP! This recipe is inspired by The Kitchn's recipe for Leek, Potato, and Fennel Soup, though I made several changes. First and foremost: OMG yogurt. I try not to actually ever type "OMG" because it's way too...not me, but sometimes I say it, and sometimes I think it…so there it is. Don't get me wrong, I like cream, and if that's your style, go for it. But we never have cream, and we always have yogurt, and yogurt is creamy and a little sour, which is even better.
You can also use bacon, of course, but I went with a different (and actually healthier - holler atcha omega-3's) source of umami. Anchovies. I've talked about them before on this here blog, and by themselves they're fishy and weird. But added into soup? Yum. They break down completely and disappear so you won't even know there's fish, it just gives the dish an extra oomph.
This is a pretty simple soup, and it freezes well. Enjoy!

Potato and Fennel Soup
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil or butter
- 2 anchovies minced (or about ½ teaspoon paste)
- 1 bulb fennel can sub with onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 ½ pounds potatoes I used 3 red potatoes and 1 yellow potato
- 4 cups chicken stock vegetable broth, or water
- ⅓ cup yogurt organic, plain or greek yogurt
- salt pepper to taste
- optional: parmesan or asiago cheese and parsley to garnish
Instructions
- Warm the oil/butter over medium heat in a large sauce pan. Add the minced anchovies and cook until they’re super mushy, 1-2 minutes. (If using anchovy paste, just saute it for 30 seconds or so). Add the fennel and garlic and cook just until soft. Remove vegetables and place in blender. Blend until smooth, adding a touch of the broth as necessary, and return to pan.
- Add potatoes to pan with half the remaining vegetable broth, salt, pepper, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for about 30 minutes or until potatoes are super soft. Mash the potatoes well, then add remaining vegetable broth and cook another 5 minutes. Be sure to add additional seasonings to taste! *Note: You can skip a few steps if you want to puree your potatoes in a blender or using an immersion blender. I find that it makes the potatoes gluey and I prefer to just mash them separately!
- Stir in the yogurt when you’re ready to serve it. Ladle into bowls, then top with your garnishes of choice and enjoy!
Nutrition
This looks super easy and delicious! I have a bulb of fennel that's been hanging out in my fridge for a couple of days... looks like I know what to do with it now!
Nice! Thanks Holly! I was so thrown off by all the fennel in my CSA last winter, and soup is such a simple solution. Also, just checked out your site and that Bulgogi Bao looks awesome! Definitely going to have to try it.